Written Answers Nos. 275-290
275. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments under the agri-environment options scheme 3 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8925/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013 and payment has issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. The application was also selected for a ground inspection which took place on 27 November 2014. During this inspection an issue was identified regarding the Commonage land. The person named was notified of this issue and the file was further reviewed and all issues found on inspection have now been satisfactorily resolved. The application will now be processed for payment in respect of the 2014 Scheme year with the intention of issuing payment at the earliest opportunity.
276. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will approve a grant for a new fodder growing system, using organic barley, that can produce feed on organic farms (details supplied), and thereby reduce the silage effluent, which is one of the most toxic sources of pollution on farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8954/15]
View answerThe fodder production system referred to is currently being promoted as an economically viable system of producing fodder or overcoming fodder shortages on organic livestock farms. The economics and application of such a production system, however, have to be carefully examined.
I am advised by my Department that the accepted comparison of feed is based on dry matter equivalents. A feed with 90% water, as in the case of sprouted grain central to the production system referred to, has considerably less feed value than the grain itself with 5% water, on a weight for weight basis. Furthermore, I am advised that research has shown that there is a net loss of dry matter over the sprouting/growing period of in excess of 20%.
In light of the above therefore, I have no plans to grant aid the production system referred to at this time.
277. Deputy Joe Costello asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to regulate for the production, sale and consumption of raw milk; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8979/15]
View answerMy Department is currently assessing the options available to it to counter the risks associated with the supply of unpasteurised milk for direct human consumption. The advice received from the FSAI and the Department’s experts is that there are serious health risks associated with drinking raw milk. Unpasteurised milk can contain disease causing bacteria including E.Coli O157, Campylobacter, Tuberculosis, Salmonellosis and Brucellosis.
Any measures considered will be subject to consultations with stakeholders.
278. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive payment under the bovine viral diarrhoea compensation scheme for five calves; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8985/15]
View answerMy Department provides financial support measures for farmers under the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea programme (BVD). In 2013 the terms and conditions of these supports required that all persistently infected (PI) animals were removed to a knackery, within agreed timeframes.
The herd owner concerned submitted an application seeking compensation for removal of persistently infected (P.I.) calves from his herd. However, as not all of the animals were disposed of via the knackery, he did not comply with the conditions and payment has not been made to date. My Department will now review this decision, taking into account the reasons the applicant was unable to comply with the requirements, and he will be informed of the final decision in due course.
279. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to roll out the social farming initiative under the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas budget; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9046/15]
View answerSocial farming initiatives will be rolled out with the involvement and support of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. My Department has approved an allocation of €40,000, from the CEDRA Rural Innovation Fund, to the Social Farming Across Borders (SoFAB) project. This project allows clients who use health and social services facilities to avail of the option of working on family farms as part of their therapy. SoFAB is operated through the LEADER company, Leitrim Development Company in collaboration with University College Dublin and Queen’s University Belfast.
As part of an INTERREG V programme, which concluded last year, this company has placed over 40 clients on 20 family farms on both sides of the Border. This was following a specialist 10 week training course for the clients as well as comprehensive training for over 60 personnel on the delivery of social farming. This funding allocation is being provided to support the SoFAB Support Office during 2015, to enable it continue its work and more importantly to assist it to develop new social farming initiatives around the country.
The Deputy will be aware that primary responsibility for implementation of the CEDRA report has been assigned to Minister of State Ann Phelan, TD and I have been working closely with her on this and other initiatives.
280. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a meeting will be arranged for a herdowner (details supplied) in County Mayo with the officials in his Department administering the rural environment protection scheme, in order to resolve outstanding issues. [9121/15]
View answerAn Inspector from this Department has agreed to meet with the herdowner named on Wednesday of next week, subject to this date being suitable for the herdowner.
281. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a new fodder growing system for organic farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9157/15]
View answerUnder the Rural Development Programme I have proposed the introduction of a new Organic Farming Scheme to deliver enhanced environmental and animal welfare benefits and to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food.
The principal support will be an annual area-based payment per hectare over a 5 year contract period. This rate is comprised of a higher payment for farmers converting land to organic farming for the first time, payable for the initial two year conversion period, with a greatly increased maintenance payment thereafter.
In recognition of the high cost of feed in the organic sector I have proposed the inclusion of an additional top-up payment of €30/ha to incentivise the growing of red clover as a source of high-protein, high dry-matter organic fodder and for its environmental benefits as a natural nitrogen-fixer.
The increased payment rates which are proposed for the different organic sectors are designed to compensate for additional costs incurred and income foregone by organic farmers. In addition to the Organic Farming Scheme, I am proposing a dedicated Capital Grant Scheme specifically for organic farmers. This will be based on the model developed under the last Programme which proved very effective in enabling organic farmers to purchase the specialist equipment they required. My Department has no plans to incorporate a fodder production system into the proposed list of grant aided equipment under this new scheme at this time.
The cumulative effect and the synergy between these various incentives and services are designed to achieve the stated objective of supporting the organic sector in Ireland.
282. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider the introduction of a grant for organic farmers for a fodder growing system, in view of the very high costs of purchasing organic feed and in view of the fact that the production of organic barley would be more cost effective; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9165/15]
View answerUnder the Rural Development Programme I have proposed the introduction of a new Organic Farming Scheme to deliver enhanced environmental and animal welfare benefits and to encourage producers to respond to the market demand for organically produced food.
The principal support will be an annual area-based payment per hectare over a 5 year contract period. This rate is comprised of a higher payment for farmers converting land to organic farming for the first time, payable for the initial two year conversion period, with a greatly increased maintenance payment thereafter.
In recognition of the high cost of feed in the organic sector I have proposed the inclusion of an additional top-up payment of €30/ha to incentivise the growing of red clover as a source of high-protein, high dry-matter organic fodder and for its environmental benefits as a natural nitrogen-fixer.
The increased payment rates which are proposed for the different organic sectors are designed to compensate for additional costs incurred and income foregone by organic farmers. In addition to the Organic Farming Scheme, I am proposing a dedicated Capital Grant Scheme specifically for organic farmers. This will be based on the model developed under the last Programme which proved very effective in enabling organic farmers to purchase the specialist equipment they required. My Department has no plans to incorporate a fodder production system into the proposed list of grant aided equipment under this new scheme at this time.
The cumulative effect and the synergy between these various incentives and services are designed to achieve the stated objective of supporting the organic sector in Ireland.
283. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Waterford will receive farm payments under the agri-environment options scheme 2. [9169/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from 1 September 2011 and payment has issued in respect of the 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and 75% payment will issue shortly. The balancing 25% payment will issue thereafter.
284. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the recent announcement regarding the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme and the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme+, if there will be a maximum and minimum number of acres that payment will be made in respect of, and if persons in hen harrier designated areas must have a plan to avail of the schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9171/15]
View answerAll farmers require the services of an approved GLAS adviser to prepare and submit a GLAS application on their behalf. A wide range of actions is available to all farmers and it is the adviser’s function to identify those actions most suited to the farm in drawing up the application.
The proposed maximum payment is €5,000 for eligible farmers per annum, with an additional €2,000 per annum for those in GLAS+, in return for exceptional environmental commitment. Farms identified as habitats of endangered birds, which includes the Hen Harrier, will automatically receive up to €7,000 a year, if the area managed is large enough.
Those farmers who choose the Hen Harrier must comply with the Department’s prescription for the management of hen harrier habitats, as outlined in the GLAS Specification document. The prescription must be applied across all areas identified by my Department on the holding in question, but there is no minimum area to qualify. If the area is within a designated Natura site, a Sustainable Management Plan must also be drawn up by the GLAS Adviser for the designated area in accordance with the designation for that site.
285. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the recent announcement regarding the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme and green low-carbon agri-environment scheme+, if he will please advise whether a farmer, who has finished with the agri-environment options scheme 1 and-or with the agri-environment options scheme 2, may transfer to these green schemes, and if it is possible to make this transfer without incurring a penalty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9174/15]
View answerI am pleased that, following long and complex negotiations with the European Commission, I was in a position to open GLAS on Monday 23 February 2015. Farmers who are already in AEOS may apply to join GLAS, if they see a benefit in doing so, and priority will be given to those AEOS farmers with Commonage land or with Hen Harrier priority environmental areas identified on their farms.
286. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current total and annual cost of State supports, and direct payments from the Exchequer, for farming households. [9181/15]
View answer287. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way the total and annual average current cost of State supports, and direct payment per farming household, has changed each year from 2008 to 2015. [9182/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 286 and 287 together.
The total amount of direct payments, from both Exchequer and EU sources, made to farmers by my Department in the years 2008 to 2014 and the annual average payment per farmer is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
2008 |
2009 |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
|
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
€ |
|
|
Total Paid |
2,630.2m |
2,331m |
2,137.18m |
2,027.06m |
1,894.27m |
1,769.81m |
1,758.56m |
|
Annual average payment |
18,690 |
16,766 |
15,502 |
14,699 |
13,880 |
13,066 |
13,003 |
The initial estimate for my Department on payments to farmers for 2015 is €1,785m. However, given the introduction of the Basic Payment Scheme replacing the Single Payment Scheme this year and the new Rural Development Programme, it is difficult to give any accurate estimate of the average payment likely per farmer for 2015.
288. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department, use solicitors firms (details supplied); the amount paid to these solicitors each year, from 2011 to 2014, by his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department; the date until which his Department, or State bodies or agencies under the aegis of his Department, are contracted to use these solicitors firms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9187/15]
View answerMy Department has not used either of the named companies in the period in question. As regards State Bodies, this is an operational matter for the bodies themselves.
289. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when area based payments for 2012 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9213/15]
View answerAn application under 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 April 2012. Payment has not issued as the holding concerned has not satisfied the minimum stocking density requirements as set out in the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme.
290. Deputy Dominic Hannigan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the number, and name, of all semi-State companies, statutory agencies, monitoring and advisory committees under the remit of his Department; details of the members of the boards of these organisations, including the profession or occupation of members; the expenses associated with membership; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9218/15]
View answerDue to the volume of the information requested by the Deputy, it was not possible to provide it in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
