Thursday, 5 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 120 - 129

GLAS Applications

Questions (120)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

120. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of approved agricultural planners in the country, approved to prepare green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme plans; the arrangements in place to ensure that the charges are reasonable; his plans to introduce a mandatory bonding scheme, where planners would have to insure themselves against claims by farmers for negligence or wrong information; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9728/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

GLAS is a voluntary Scheme and one of the requirements is that applications be prepared by approved planners. Around 700 planners attended GLAS Training and 348 of these have been fully approved as GLAS Advisers by my Department to date; the remainder are being approved on an ongoing basis once all qualifying criteria has been met and all required documentation has been submitted. This includes evidence of Professional Indemnity cover, a requirement which has specifically been put in place to protect farmers in the event that they have a legitimate claim against an adviser.

A list of approved advisers, with contact details, is available on the Department’s website for the convenience of farmers. This list is updated as soon as additional advisers are approved and I am confident that there are enough advisers available to allow farmers to make an informed choice as to who to use for preparation of their GLAS applications.

The choice of an approved adviser is a matter for individual farmers, or in the case of commonages is a matter to be decided by the shareholders. The charge for preparing applications and plans is strictly a contractual issue between the advisor and his/her client or clients and is not something my Department has a role in or is party to.

GLAS Applications

Questions (121)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

121. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to reserve places for commonage farmers in round two and three of the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, in view of the difficulty that will be faced by commonage farmers in making applications by the due date of 15 May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9729/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Following long and complex negotiations with the European Commission, I was very pleased to open GLAS for applications from Monday 23 February 2015. However, despite opening the scheme at the earliest possible opportunity, I fully appreciate that the timescale is tight for those proposing to submit applications, and particularly for commonage farmers.

The first Tranche for applications for GLAS will close on 30 April 2015 and to assist with the submission of applications by commonage farmers, I recently announced that all such applications can now be made on an individual basis through my Department’s dedicated online system. Commonage farmers will simply be required to submit a statement of intent to join a Commonage Management Plan, but the Plan itself need not be submitted by the closing date of 30 April. Instead, I have extended the date for submission of completed Plans to 3 July, 2015. I expect that this will give advisors ample time to walk and assess commonages during May and June, and to discuss with shareholders the requirements of the plan, in terms of individual stocking rates and activities to be undertaken.

I also anticipate from the interest shown to date, and given the number of advisors who have taken part in specific GLAS Commonage Training, that there will be very good uptake of the Commonage measure in Tranche 1.

GLAS Eligibility

Questions (122)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

122. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is precluded by European Union regulation from making payments under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme for five years to commonage farmers who join the scheme, after the first person in the commonage joins it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9730/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I am pleased to say that following discussions with the EU Commission, it has been agreed that where an eligible shareholder decides to join an existing GLAS Commonage Management Plan after it has been set up, he or she will still benefit from a full five years’ payments. Shareholders may join a pre-existing Commonage Management Plan up to Year 3 of that Plan and, provided that they continue with their own individual commitments on the commonage after the main plan has expired, they can continue to draw GLAS payment up the end of their own contracts.

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Questions (123)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

123. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a farmer (details supplied) did not receive compensation for disposing of calves which had bovine viral diarrhoea; the way the farmer would have had to dispose of the calves to be eligible for compensation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9732/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My 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 herdowner 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.

Wildlife Protection

Questions (124)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

124. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications for forestry grants and premiums on special protection area protected lands, particularly hen harrier special protection areas lands, will be decided; the reason for the delay in making these decisions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9735/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Hen Harrier is one of Ireland's rarest species of bird, and is protected at a European level under the EU Birds Directive. In 2007 the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) classified 6 Special Protection Areas (SPAs) for Hen Harrier conservation. Hen Harriers breed in open moorland and heath/bog habitats but they will also nest in young pre-thicket forestry plantations prior to canopy closure.

The Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht is currently developing a Threat Response Plan (TRP) for the conservation of Hen Harriers. The TRP is focusing on a number of key pressures namely, agriculture intensification, forestry and windfarms. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is a member of the interdepartmental Steering Group associated with the development of the TRP.

Since 2007, when the SPAs were designated, afforestation has been restricted within the SPAs, and since 2012 no afforestation projects have been granted approval. It is envisaged that the TRP will determine, inter alia, the circumstances in which afforestation, might be accommodated in Hen Harrier SPAs without impacting on the conservation of the species. In the circumstances, my Department is currently not in a position to grant approval for afforestation projects within the Hen Harrier SPAs.

GLAS Payments

Questions (125)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

125. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is an automatic top-up under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme plus for Natura 2000, national heritage areas and commonage land; the amount of the top-up; the conditions applying to it in such cases; the maximum amount of land on which it will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9736/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The proposed maximum payment under the GLAS Scheme 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. Other farms with two or more Priority Environmental Assets – which could include a combination of privately-owned Natura and Commonage - may qualify for GLAS+ provided that they have enough land to draw down the additional payment. NHA land does not qualify in its own right as a Priority Environmental Asset.

Special Areas of Conservation Management

Questions (126)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

126. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the special arrangements put in place under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme for farmers farming land designated as a special protection area in order to preserve the hen harrier; the maximum amount of hectares they can receive under the scheme or GLAS+; the maximum payments to which they will be entitled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9737/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

GLAS will be the main source of support under my Department for farmers with Hen Harrier habitat on their holding. Hen Harrier land is a Tier One Priority Environmental Asset and any farmer with identified habitat will secure priority access to the scheme.

The payment rate for Hen Harrier is €370 per hectare, and all identified land must be brought into GLAS. While the maximum annual payment to any farmer under GLAS is €5,000, I have decided that Hen Harrier farmers will automatically qualify for GLAS+, without the normal requirement for a second Priority Environmental Asset. This allows the total annual payment to increase to as much as €7,000, if the farmer manages 19 hectares or more of Hen Harrier habitat.

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Questions (127)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

127. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will be made for the sheep technology adoption programme 2014 in respect of a farmer (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9741/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Payments under the 2014 Sheep Technology Adoption Programme commenced in December 2014. Validations are still ongoing and payment for the person named will issue shortly.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Questions (128)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

128. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the 2014 agri-environment options scheme will be made to a farmer (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9742/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 September 2010 and payment has issued in respect of the 2010, 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. The application of the person named was also selected for an on-farm inspection, during which non-compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the Traditional Stone Wall Maintenance action, which resulted in a penalty being incurred. The person named was notified of this on 2 February 2015. Officials are currently processing the application on the basis of the inspection findings and payment in respect of the 2014 Scheme year, less penalty, will issue at the earliest opportunity.

Agriculture Scheme Data

Questions (129)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

129. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who received a single payment of less than €10,000 in 2014 who may expect to receive a single payment in excess of €10,000 in 2019, based on the recent projections issued to farmers; the numbers in receipt of a single payment in excess of €10,000 in 2014 who will receive less than €10,000 in 2019; the number, at present, in receipt of between €10,000 and €20,000 single payment in 2014 who will receive less than €10,000 on the same basis in 2019 and more than €20,000, respectively; the number in receipt of more than €50,000 in 2014 who will receive less than €50,000 in 2019; the number in receipt of less than €50,000 in 2014 who will receive more than €50,000 in 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9744/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The information is currently being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy directly.