Thursday, 12 Mar 2015

Written Answers Nos. 142-150

GLAS Eligibility

Questions (142)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

142. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to address issues with the online application system for the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, which are that land parcels under the land parcel identification system cannot be split and used for more than one measure, that a farmer cannot split his area based measure into two parts in the one land parcel identification system parcel, and that new lands cannot be brought into the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme other than those lands declared in 2014; the reason for these problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10929/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

It is a key requirement in the approval process of the Rural Development Plan that all proposed actions are verifiable and controllable and my Department’s online system for GLAS has been designed with this very much in mind. The different combinations of actions which are permitted together on the one parcel are already built into the system, which should significantly reduce error rates later, and resulting penalties for the farmer.

However, it is not true to say that a farmer cannot split a parcel when applying for GLAS. On the contrary, the online system includes a facility to split a parcel to deliver up to three area-based actions. By way of example, a 12 hectare parcel could be split to deliver a combination of Traditional Hay Meadow, Low Input Permanent Pasture and Wild Bird Cover, generating an annual payment of just under €5,000. The adviser can do this, online, on behalf of his or her client. Where a parcel is not split, one area based action may be selected together with certain linear actions provided no issue of double payment arises.

The application system is based on parcels declared in 2014 Single Payment Application and subsequently verified by my Department. Parcels being declared by a farmer for the first time in 2015 must be verified and this cannot be completed before the closing date for receipt of applications, 30 April 2015. If farmers wish to deliver GLAS actions on newly acquired parcels in 2015 it is open to them to apply under the next application Tranche.

Question No. 143 withdrawn.

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Questions (144)

Martin Heydon

Question:

144. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps being taken by his Department to assist and support farmers in completing the basic payment scheme and applications to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme ahead of 15 May 2015 deadline; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10988/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Information sessions on GLAS and the BPS Scheme, which commenced on Monday of this week , are being rolled out across the country to inform farmers of requirements under these schemes. These meetings are open to all to attend. Details of the venues and times have been published in the national and farming press and are available on the Department website. Feedback from the initial meetings is very positive. Department personnel are available at these meetings for question and answer sessions following the presentations. I would encourage farmers to attend where possible. On a practical level both schemes have bespoke online application systems that streamline the application system.

In addition I have ensured that both schemes have dedicated e-mail addresses and Lo Call phone numbers to deal with farmer queries as they arise.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Questions (145)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

145. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the 2014 agri-environment options scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10993/15]

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. These checks are currently being finalised in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and once successfully completed, payment will issue at the earliest opportunity.

Departmental Staff Remuneration

Questions (146)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

146. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the correct pay level in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare, currently a civilian employee and previously a member of the Defence Forces, whose pay level was previously set at €30 per week above the level applicable to general operatives; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10907/15]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

As the Deputy is aware, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has responsibility for the development and implementation of public service pay policy throughout the Public Sector.

The employee referred to is employed with the Department of Defence as a civilian Storekeeper Clerk (SKC) Grade II, BFW Stores, in the Curragh Camp and is currently on the 2nd Long Service Increment (L.S.I. 2) of the SKC II pay scale. My Department is satisfied that this is the correct rate of pay in this particular case.

Environmental Policy

Questions (147)

Martin Heydon

Question:

147. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Defence his views on a proposal (details supplied) regarding the Curragh plains, County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10989/15]

Written answers

Minister for Defence

As you may be aware, the management and protection of the Curragh plains, one of the most open and accessible areas in the Country, is an ongoing process which is the responsibility of the Department of Defence.

Officials from my Department have in the past met with various parties involved in the use and management of the Curragh. A wide range of issues are discussed at these meetings including the development and protection of the Curragh plains and how best to deal with the many day to day issues of illegal parking, dumping, etc. These meetings have been found to be of use in addressing these issues.

With regard to your proposals I have, in the first instance, requested my officials to invite a representative group of interested parties to a meeting to address the issues you have raised.

Residency Permits

Questions (148)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

148. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current or potential residency status in the case of persons (details supplied) in Dublin 1 who has resided here for six years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10887/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

If the persons whose details were supplied have made applications for asylum or subsidiary protection, the Deputy will be aware that it is not the practice to comment on such applications for so long as they remain in the protection process. The position in this regard is in accordance with Section 19 of the Refugee Act 1996 (as amended) which provides for the protection of the identity of asylum applicants.

Protection applicants are issued with a temporary residence permission pending a final decision on their application.

Garda Operations

Questions (149, 155, 157)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the success of Operation Fiacla, within the north central division of the Dublin metropolitan region, including the numbers arrested, charged and subsequently before the courts, in respect of offences under this operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10888/15]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

155. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the progress to date in respect of Operation Creeper within the north central division of the Dublin metropolitan region, including the numbers arrested, charged and subsequently before the courts, in respect of offences under this operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10899/15]

Bernard Durkan

Question:

157. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the success of Operation Acer within the north central division of the Dublin metropolitan region, including the numbers arrested, charged, and subsequently before the courts, in respect of offences under this operation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10904/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 149, 155 and 157 together.

I can advise the Deputy that Garda operations tackling burglary are currently co-ordinated under Operation Fiacla, which is the national operation targeting burglary crime. This operation is supported by regional operations, of which Operation Acer is in force throughout the Dublin area, including the North Central Division. Operation Creeper is a further and related operation, which assists in the surveillance of Acer targets by monitoring their movements.

In so far as the overall national operation, Operation Fiacla, is concerned, as of 28 February 2015, this has led to the arrest of 12,374 persons with charges being brought against 7,010 persons nationally. Within this total, and since Operation Acer commenced in early 2012, I am advised that there has been 5,389 arrests, 2,746 charges and 1,087 convictions for burglary in the Dublin area, up to 3 February 2015. In so far as the North Central Division is concerned, there have been 899 arrests and 511 charges to date.

I am further advised that under Operation Creeper 167 persons were arrested in 2014. These targets were selected from the list of Operation Acer targets as a result of high criminal activity and also as a result of patrolling in areas with high incidents of burglary. Of those arrested, 46 were arrested in the North Central Division, of which 42 were charged with offences.

I can also advise the Deputy that in addition to these policing responses, I am currently carrying out a broader and urgent review of the criminal justice system's response to the problem of burglaries. In this regard I am working closely with the Garda Commissioner and other relevant criminal justice agencies to ensure that an effective, whole of system response is in place in relation to burglary. This includes a focus on interagency measures in relation to the management of prolific offenders, visible policing, crime prevention support for communities and an examination of legislative issues. Burglary is a persistent and highly damaging crime, and I am committed to tackling it on a number of fronts, and through a partnership approach between criminal justice agencies and the community.

Residency Permits

Questions (150)

Bernard Durkan

Question:

150. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if an application for residency status will be accepted in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway whose parent is an Irish citizen and who first came to this country as a minor in the company of their parents; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10889/15]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that the person concerned was registered in the State under Stamp 2 conditions valid until 15 August 2011. They should be advised to make an application to INIS for Stamp 4 conditions on the basis of family dependency of an Irish national arising from their parent's naturalisation.

Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to the INIS of my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from the INIS is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.