Written Answers Nos. 162-172
162. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway did not receive a sheep technology adoption programme payment or a beef technology adoption programme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5204/15]
View answerThe person named participated in the 2014 Beef Technology Adoption Programme (BTAP) and 2014 Sheep Technology Adoption Programme (STAP). In relation to his participation in the 2014 STAP scheme the Terms and Condition of the Scheme state: “applicants who are selling lambs directly for processing must apply for membership of the Bord Bia Beef and Lamb Quality Assurance Scheme (BLQAS) and achieve certification by 3 October 2014.”
According to my Department’s records, the person named was not certified on this date and as such does not qualify for payment. If the person named wishes to appeal this decision he can do so by applying in writing to Innovation Unit, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Buildings, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise. In addition, it is advised that any new facts or fresh evidence presented in support of his case should be included along with any supporting documentation. In relation to his participation in the 2014 BTAP Scheme, his application is cleared for payment, which will issue shortly.
163. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway received a substantial reduction in their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5205/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 23 April 2014. Following processing, full payment issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named, the first instalment issuing on 16 October 2014 and the balance issuing on 1 December 2014. Following the Reform of the CAP, changes were made to the payments under the Single Payment Scheme. Under the 2013 Scheme, payments were subjected to a 10% Modulation deduction with the first €5,000 paid to all farmers exempt from the deduction. The monies deducted under Modulation were made available to Member State for funding Pillar II Schemes. From 2014 , the Modulation deduction no longer applied but the total amount of funding was deducted from the National Ceiling and permanently transferred to Pillar II. As the National Ceilings of Member States were reduced, the EU Regulations provided for a reduction in the value of payment entitlements to ensure compliance with the Ceilings. The discretionary provision in the Regulations to exempt any farmer, who was paid €5,000 or less in 2013, was applied in Ireland in order to protect smaller-scale farmers. The rate of reduction in Ireland on all other farmers in order that the adjusted Ceiling would be respected was 10.49%.
164. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions that have been held at official and political level with the Russian authorities in relation to the ban on pigmeat exports from Ireland to Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5225/15]
View answer165. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Russia has eased the ban on the import of live pigs and pigmeat products from some member states of the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5226/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 165 together.
Since the introduction of the Russian ban on imports of EU pig products in January 2014, my Department has continually monitored the situation and continues to engage at EU level and with the Russian authorities on how the restrictions imposed could be lifted. This reflects the importance of the market to Ireland given that nearly a quarter of all European pigmeat was exported to Russia before trade was restricted and that in 2013, Ireland exported 20,165 tonnes of pork and pigmeat to Russia with a value €55m. This was up from 15,057 tonnes (€39m) in 2012.
A high-level team from my Department visited Moscow on 18 December last for discussions with the Russian authorities on a range of agri-food matters which included the ban on pig products. This was followed by a second meeting on 10 January. The meetings were organised on foot of bilateral discussions which I had with the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Ireland. At those meetings the Russian authorities confirmed that they continue to view the ban as an EU-wide issue. Notwithstanding some media reports that certain EU MS are making particular progress on having parts of the ban lifted my understanding is that all MS are still restricted in full by the ban.
At EU level the Commission has referred the matter to the WTO for resolution and the issue has also been on the agenda at the Council of Ministers. At recent Council meetings I have joined with other European Ministers in requesting the European Commission to continue to monitor developments on markets, and have called for the introduction of remedial measures such as private storage aid. The Commission have acknowledged the significant decline in pig prices and will keep the situation under review. They have also committed to actively working with Member States to remove SPS barriers to trade and open new markets, and agreed to provide an additional €30m in funding under the EU Scheme for Promotion of Agricultural Products to support market developments in third country markets.
I am pleased to report that overall Irish pigmeat exports in 2014 increased by 10%, to a value of €570m. Exports to Asia alone are estimated to have risen by 20% to China, 210% to Japan and 650% to South Korea. International trade is expected to improve in 2015, reflecting the ongoing increase in demand in response to growing per capita wealth in China, and the redirection of pigmeat usually directed towards the Russian market to different locations such as South Korea and the Philippines. I am pleased to report also that we have secured major market access successes in the second half of last year including Vietnam and the Philippines which are already proving to be valuable outlets for Irish pigmeat.
I am of course aware of the current price difficulties for Irish pig farmers and have met with farm organisations and with processors on a number of occasions to discuss possible solutions to alleviate these difficulties. I am also continuing in my efforts to secure new third country markets, which has been a priority of mine since assuming office. I will continue to work closely with like-minded Ministers in the EU to persuade the European Commission to come forward with market response measures in response to current price difficulties. In addition my Department will continue to engage with the Russian authorities and with a view to lifting the pigmeat restriction as a priority.
166. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans in relation to a project (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5232/15]
View answerIn October 2013, sanction was received from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to proceed with the extension to the existing Government Offices at Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise to facilitate the consolidation of Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine staff. However, funding was not provided and, consequently, this project has not been advanced. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine consider it a priority that staff are consolidated in order to reintegrate and co-locate different business areas that have cross-over functions. The OPW has been working with the Department with this consolidation in mind and in 2014, three leases in Gandon Court, Portlaoise were surrendered.
OPW proposes to commence a space audit of the State owned Government Offices on the Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise in the coming weeks. This will establish the potential for consolidation of staff through re-configuration of the space with a more modern open plan layout and furniture.
The provision of the extension will be reviewed following completion of the space audit.
167. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their disadvantaged areas payment for 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5237/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2014. Processing of this application has recently been completed with payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme due to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
168. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding allocations approved for each local authority in 2014 and the amount paid to each of these local authorities in 2014; the funding allocated to these local authorities in 2015; the amounts paid to the local authorities to date in 2015 following the Government decision of 11 February 2014 to allocate funding for the clean-up, repair and restoration works in relation to public infrastructure damaged in the period from 13 December 2013 to 6 January 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5246/15]
View answerLocal Authority harbours, piers and slipways are owned by the Local Authorities themselves and responsibility for their repair and maintenance rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. My Department, however provides funding for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
In 2014, in addition to funding provided to the Local Authorities under our Capital Programme, additional funding was provided under a ‘Storm Damage’ Programme. The ‘Storm Damage’ Programme was an exceptional, once off measure as part of the Government's overall response to the impact of the Winter Storms last year on the public pier harbour and slipway network linked to fisheries and aquaculture.
The table details the total funding allocations approved and the total expenditure by this Department in relation to all Local Authority funding for 2014.
|
Local Authority |
2014 Approvals |
2014 Expenditure |
|
Clare County Council |
€232,650 |
€232,389 |
|
Cork City Council |
€187,500 |
€0 |
|
Cork County Council |
€915,700 |
€709,454 |
|
Donegal County Council |
€1,267,750 |
€747,793 |
|
Fingal County Council |
€11,250 |
€0 |
|
Galway County Council |
€2,241,000 |
€2,145,846 |
|
Kerry County Council |
€313,290 |
€301,882 |
|
Louth County Council |
€84,750 |
€20,712 |
|
Mayo County Council |
€1,772,100 |
€1,739,622 |
|
Sligo County Council |
€150,300 |
€150,121 |
|
Waterford County Council |
€768,000 |
€511,046 |
|
Wexford County Council |
€1,820,400 |
€710,515 |
|
Wicklow County Council |
€198,900 |
€196,766 |
|
Local Authority Programme Total |
€9,963,590 |
€7,466,146 |
The Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2015 is currently under consideration.
169. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 79 of 29 January 2015, the reason incorrect information (details supplied) was provided. [5250/15]
View answerThe original PQ was answered on 29 January 2015, based on the information available to the LPIS Appeals Unit on that date. The inspection file relating to the person named, which confirmed the completion of the inspection, was not completed until after that date. The file is currently being processed and the person named has been contacted by an official of my Department to advise him accordingly. My Department has also undertaken to contact the person named, by phone, to verify the findings of the verification visit as soon as the processing is completed.
170. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases of animal cruelty prosecuted in 2014; the number of of convictions secured; and the average sanction imposed. [5269/15]
View answerProsecutions have been taken under animal welfare legislation including the Protection of Animals Act, 1911 and 1965; the Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013 which I commenced in 2014 (and which replaced the aforementioned Protection of Animals Acts) and under related EU animal welfare legislation. In terms of cases initiated by and on behalf of my Department, there is in the order of thirty cases being progressed with three prosecutions to date. With regard to the three cases, in one case sanction will be administered by the Courts at a later date, in another the individual was prohibited from keeping animals of the type in question and in the third case the individual was ordered to sell his animals.
171. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to increase the penalties for cases of animal cruelty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5270/15]
View answerThe Animal Health and Welfare Act, 2013 substantially increased the penalties for cases of animal cruelty. Under the Act, on summary conviction a person can receive a fine of up to €10,000 and on indictment €250,000 and/or imprisonment up to 5 years. There are fixed penalty payments for lesser offences. There are no plans to further increase the penalties.
172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a disadvantaged areas scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5304/15]
View answerThe person named is one of a number of applicants under the 2012, 2013 and 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, whose cases are impacted by the requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in 2011 and who applied for derogation in this regard. The person named subsequently submitted additional information to my Department which following review unfortunately did not provide sufficient reasons to allow the application. The person named has been notified of the outcome in writing and advised of the option to appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman should they so wish.
