Written Answers Nos. 118-125
118. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive rural environment protection scheme payments for 2013; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2870/15]
View answerThe person named commenced REPS 4 in April 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. During the SPS cross-checks in 2013 an issue arose in relation to the redigitization of land parcels contained in the REPS Agri-environmental plan of the person named. This has necessitated further investigation which is now coming towards completion with the intention of issuing payments at the earliest possible opportunity.
119. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the disadvantaged areas scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2871/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2014. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 9 January 2015.
120. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide information on the Killybegs jobs initiative which was established in 2011; the names of the members of the initiative’s high level group; the expenses claimed by the members of this task force; the minutes of the meetings of this task force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2895/15]
View answerOn 3 June 2011, I announced a pilot jobs initiative for Killybegs, following the launch of an economic report for the European Commission, which assessed the status, development and potential diversification of Killybegs as a fisheries dependent community. The aim of this initiative was to create 250 cross sectoral jobs in the Killybegs area by 2014.
To drive forward the initiative, I established a High Level Group on Job Creation in the Killybegs Region and requested that the Group identify the potential actions required to deliver job creation in the following five key areas, that is; promoting seafood value added activity; enhancing ancillary services; developing offshore supports; promoting tourism and marine leisure; and promoting the green economy and renewable energy.
The High Level Group comprised representatives of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation (who chaired the Group), Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Donegal County Council, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Enterprise Ireland, local industry and from my Department. BIM provided secretariat services to assist the chair. The Group finished its work in 2011 and its Report is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/publications/2011/KBHLGReport.pdf.
The Report of the High Level Group identified how the original target of creating 250 new jobs could be achieved and set out cross-sectoral recommendations under 8 headings to address constraints that may impact on achievement of the jobs target. From 2012, the High Level Group met periodically to review and drive progress. It established a local implementation group in 2012 to further enhance delivery on the action items identified within the 2011 Report. I understand that figures are not yet available on the extent of job creation achieved by 2014.
In relation to expenses, I expect that the public sector representatives on the Group would have claimed their normal travel and subsistence expenses at public sector rates, but I had no role in that matter. There was no arrangement for payment from public monies of expenses to non-public sector members of the Group.
121. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal for a grant for a milking machine in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2906/15]
View answerThe position regarding this case is that the Agriculture Appeals Office received an appeal from the above named on 15 December 2014. The Department file and statement were requested and were received on 8 January 2015. The case has been assigned to an Appeals Officer who will be in direct contact with the above named regarding the appeal. A written decision will issue when a full examination of the case is concluded.
122. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress that has been made on issuing a licence for mussel farming (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2914/15]
View answerThe aquaculture licence referred to by the Deputy is in respect of mussel farming located in Kenmare Bay.
Kenmare Bay is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site).
My Department is constrained by European law from issuing or renewing aquaculture licences for sites located within Natura 2000 areas (areas protected under the EU Birds/Habitats Directives) until such time as an ‘Appropriate Assessment’ has been conducted to assess the potential of the proposed aquaculture activities on the conservation objectives for that Natura site. The licensing process must take full account of the outcome of that assessment in reaching a determination on any particular licence application.
My Department, in conjunction with the Marine Institute and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, has engaged in a major programme to gather the necessary baseline data appropriate to the conservation objectives of aquaculture sites located within designated Natura areas, including Kenmare Bay.
The Appropriate Assessment process has now been completed by the Marine Institute in respect of the Bay.
My Department is currently examining the outcomes of the Appropriate Assessment with a view to formulating policy recommendations in respect of individual licences held by operators in Kenmare Bay. Such policy recommendations will take account of all national and EU legislative requirements and will reflect engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of each licence application. This process which is very detailed in nature is ongoing.
Aquaculture operations (including the application referred to) that are covered by section 19A (4) of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 may continue to operate pending a final determination in each case. This allows aquaculturists who have submitted valid renewal applications to continue aquaculture activities, subject to the terms and conditions of the old licence, pending a decision on the renewal application.
My Department continues to make every effort to expedite the determination of the Kenmare Bay aquaculture licence applications having regard to the need to comply with all relevant national and EU legislation.
123. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not received a grassland payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2924/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. Processing of this application has recently been completed and the payment due will issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
124. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not received their suckler cow grant payment and single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2925/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2014 and the advance and balancing payments issued on 16 October and 1 December 2014 respectively. An issue arose during the processing of the applications by the person named under the 2013 Beef Data Programme and 2014 Beef Genomics Programme. This issue has now been resolved and payments under both measures will issue shortly.
125. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on a sheep technology adoption programme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [2957/15]
View answerThe person named was initially cleared for participation in the Sheep Technology Adoption Programme on the basis of flock size. However, payment validation identified a breach of Section 8(c) of the Terms and Conditions for the 2013 Sheep Technology Adoption Programme which states: “Herd owners who are participants in the new Development Programme for Dairying or who received payments in respect of their participation in the Dairy Efficiency Programme 2010 – 2012 shall not be eligible to participate in the STAP.”
As the person named was a beneficiary under the 2012 Dairy Efficiency Programme he was not therefore eligible for payment under the 2013 Sheep Technology Adoption Programme.
