Written Answers Nos. 87-94
87. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a review will be carried out by his Department on the stocking rate requirements currently being imposed on a farmer (details supplied) in County Donegal with regard to their current circumstances in order for them to continue to avail of their current payment while the situation is resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9496/15]
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 and 2014 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.
The stocking density pertinent to AEOS is the one provided in the sustainable management plan prepared by the applicant’s planner in accordance with the scheme specifications published by my Department. These stocking numbers must be adhered to for the duration of the plan.
However, under the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, a Force Majeure clause may be invoked to terminate the plan if a beneficiary is unable to continue complying with the commitments given for reasons beyond their control.
In such cases the herdowner, or their representative, should inform the Department in writing to the AEOS Section, Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford, with relevant evidence, within ten working days of being able to do so. Each such case can then be considered on its own particular merits.
88. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9557/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 September 2010 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 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. During these checks in respect of the 2014 Scheme year it was discovered that two parcels of land included on the AEOS application of the person named were included on the SPS application of another herd owner.
The Species Rich Grassland and Traditional Hay Meadow actions claimed on these parcels on the AEOS application were therefore ineligible for payment under the AEOS scheme. As contracts under AEOS must run for at least five years, the payments which issued in respect of these parcels must now be recouped.
On 25 November 2014, a letter issued to the person named setting out this decision and providing the option to submit an appeal within 10 days. An appeal was received from the person named and following review the original decision was upheld. He was then informed of the right to appeal this decision to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, which he did. The Agriculture Appeals Office will now adjudicate on the case.
89. Deputy Brian Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo have not yet been transferred to a new owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9580/15]
View answerMy Department received an application on 24 April 2013 to transfer 2.26 entitlements to the person named by way of sale.
At the time the application was received the entitlements concerned were subject of a long-term lease to another farmer. Therefore, it was not possible to transfer the entitlements to the person named.
The application was rejected and a letter was issued to both parties from my Department on 14 May 2013 advising that the application had been rejected due to the fact that the transferor did not have sufficient entitlements to transfer to the person named.
90. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter regarding an anomaly in the new payment system in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9600/15]
View answerThe person named did not own any entitlements in 2014 nor during any year of the Single Payment Scheme. He received a Single Payment of €4743.35 under the 2014 scheme year based on his leasing in of entitlements from another farmer. For the purposes of calculating the value of entitlements in 2015, the value of these entitlements is attributed to the owner of the entitlements, not the lessee.
The value of entitlements allocated to a farmer in 2015 is based on the value of the entitlements owned by the farmer in 2014 plus any payment received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme. As the person named did not own any entitlements in 2014, his single payment in 2014 does not give rise to any value to carry forward to 2015. The person named received a payment under the Grassland Sheep Scheme of €591.36 and this payment forms the basis of his calculation in 2015. The process of convergence increases this value to €2,023.45 in 2015 and to €7,818.06 by 2019. This represents an increase in value of almost 800% compared with 2014.
In the event of further queries on issues such as this, the CAP advisory centre at 0761 064438 is available to farmers for advice on all aspects of CAP Entitlements.
91. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not yet received a refund regarding their 2010 single farm payment scheme despite being informed that this refund would issue to the person shortly; when this refund will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9602/15]
View answerIn recent months my Department has been prioritising payments under the 2014 Single Farm Payment and the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Schemes. However, I have arranged to expedite the outstanding payment due to the person named under the 2010 Single Farm Payment Scheme and same will issue directly to the nominated bank account of the applicant within the coming weeks.
92. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of senior civil servants who retired since 2011 in his Department who have been appointed to a State board under his aegis following their retirement; if he will provide in tabular form the names of these persons, the boards to which they were appointed and the appointment process followed in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9943/15]
View answerNo retired civil servant was appointed to the board of any State body under the aegis of my Department since 2011.
93. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide details of all properties rented by his Department; the annual cost of the leases; the duration of the leases; and the capacity and occupancy of each premises as of 31 January 2015. [9455/15]
View answerThe following are details of properties rented by my Department:
|
Property Rented |
Purpose |
Duration |
Maximum Capacity |
Total Occupancy |
Annual Cost |
|
Unit 2, Rathcorrick, Cavan , Co. Cavan. |
Reserve Defence Forces Unit |
1 year |
100 |
43 |
€19,680 |
|
Unit 3-4 Cleveragh Business Centre, Sligo. |
Reserve Defence Forces Unit |
1 year |
73 |
73 |
€12,500 |
|
Unit 3 Mullingar Business Park, Mullingar , Co. Westmeath. |
Reserve Defence Forces Unit |
1 year |
100 |
66 |
€30,750 |
|
Unit 4 Rossview Business Park, Port Road, Letterkenny , Co. Donegal. |
Reserve Defence Forces Unit |
2 years |
70 |
70 |
€12,300 |
|
Scoil Phadraig, Mallow , Co. Cork. |
Reserve Defence Forces Unit [part-time] |
1 year |
100 |
63 |
€2,000 |
94. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Defence the number of senior civil servants who retired since 2011 in his Department who have been appointed to a State board under his aegis following their retirement; if he will provide in tabular form the names of these persons, the boards to which they were appointed and the appointment process followed in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9947/15]
View answerThe State Boards under the aegis of the Department of Defence when the Government took office were the Civil Defence Board, the Army Pensions Board and the Board of Coiste an Asgard.
No retired senior civil servants have been reappointed to positions in the above agencies.
