Written Answers Nos. 140-149
140. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures of which a person who owns a private, non-designated mountain under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, can avail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6494/15]
View answerAll GLAS applicants must engage the services of a professional advisor to prepare and submit an application. A wide range of actions is available to all farmers and it is the advisor’s function to identify those actions most suited to the farm in drawing up the application. However, where specific Priority Environmental Assets have been identified on an applicant’s holding, these must be addressed.
141. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the shorthorn breed will be designated as a rare breed under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6495/15]
View answerNative/Indigenous breeds are regarded as those that originate in a certain country. In Ireland, for Bovines this includes Kerry, Dexter & Irish Moiled. The Shorthorn is not regarded as a native breed and accordingly cannot be included in the Irish list of native breeds in danger of being lost to farming.
142. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who have applied for the national reserve and young farmer top-up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6496/15]
View answerThe National Reserve and Young Farmers Schemes opened for applications on Monday 5th January 2015 in respect of the two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Entrant as set down in the EU Regulations governing the operation of the Scheme. Applicants who meet the definition of ‘young farmer’ may apply to both the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. Up to Monday 9th February 2015, applications have been received online from 286 applicants. A further 735 applications are in progress online but have not yet been submitted.
Of the 286 applications submitted, 266 applications relate to the Young Farmers Scheme, 208 applications relate to the National Reserve Young Farmer priority category and 14 applications relate to the National Reserve New Entrant priority category.
143. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the items and works eligible for grant assistance under targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6497/15]
View answerThe Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 period was submitted to the EU Commission for approval in July 2014. The following investments have been identified as priority areas which will be targeted in the TAMS scheme:
(i) dairy equipment,
(iii) low emission spreading equipment,
(iii) animal welfare and farm safety (specifically beef and sheep handling facilities) farm nutrient storage and animal housing,
(iv) pig and poultry investments in energy, water meters and medicine dispensers,
(v) organic capital investment, and
(vi) a young farmer capital investment scheme.
144. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person involved in a mixed enterprise will qualify for two separate knowledge transfer measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6498/15]
View answerThe draft 2014-2020 Rural Development programme proposes the establishment of Knowledge Transfer Groups across a range of sectors, including Beef and Dairy, that will see farmer meetings facilitated by highly qualified advisors and will involve the transfer and exchange of information and best practice. All participating farmers will be required to develop a Farm Improvement Plan in the initial year of participation and to update it in the 2nd and 3rd years. This plan can include a Profit Monitor, Carbon Navigator, Herd Health Plan and Herd Improvement Plan. As many of these elements will be common to Farm Improvement Plans across the sectors and to address concerns of double funding, farmers are prohibited from participating in more than one group at the same time.
145. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants to date under the farm safety scheme; the funding allocated for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6499/15]
View answerFarm Safety is a critical issue facing farming today and is something that I am seriously concerned about. Statistics show that accidents on farms cause more workplace deaths than all other occupations combined. It is important for everyone to continually highlight the need for farmers to think safety first in all tasks they perform - simple behavioural changes may be all that it takes to save a life. The current Safety Scheme has been designed to overcome some of the particular hazard s which may be present on farms. A total of €12.2m has been allocated to this scheme and 6,299 applications for aid were received before the final closing date in January. All applications are currently being processed in my Department.
146. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons likely to qualify for the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme+; the funding allocated for this particular scheme in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6500/15]
View answerThe detailed consideration of Ireland’s Draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) by the EU Commission is now at an advanced stage and the new Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is a key component of that programme. I intend to open GLAS as soon as agreement is reached with the EU Commission.
GLAS+ provides for a ‘top-up’ of up to €2,000 per annum, and will initially be targeted at farmers who have to undertake a high number of mandatory actions. I have allocated a total of €1,450m to the GLAS Scheme, including GLAS+, over the course of the RDP period. It is anticipated that some 25,000-30,000 will be approved for entry to GLAS this year, and some of these will undoubtedly qualify for GLAS+. Until applications have been submitted and assessed, it is not possible to say how many applicants will qualify for GLAS+.
147. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, will open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6501/15]
View answerThe detailed consideration of Ireland’s Draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) by the EU Commission is now at an advanced stage and the new Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is a key component of that Programme. I intend to open GLAS as soon as agreement is reached with the EU Commission.
149. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the responsibilities and powers that have been delegated to the Minister of State at his Department, Deputy Ann Phelan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6570/15]
View answerOn 15 July 2014 Minister Phelan was appointed to be Minister of State at the Departments of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and Transport, Tourism and Sport with special responsibility for rural economic development, rural transport and, in particular, the implementation of the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Area (CEDRA) Report.
The thirty four CEDRA recommendations are very wide ranging and cover issues that fall within the remit of a number of Government Departments. The recommendations cover areas as diverse as investment and finance, local enterprise support, community capability building, social enterprise, broadband, roads, water, rural transport, artisan foods, creative industries, tourism and recreation, marine and renewable energy. Minister Phelan has established and chairs an Inter-Departmental Group to coordinate and oversee action on all these issues. This does not necessarily involve specific delegated functions. Insofar as my Department is concerned there are no legislative acts to be formally delegated to Minister Phelan.
