Written Answers Nos. 328-340
328. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has received a response from the Office of the Chief State Solicitor in respect of an issue of alleged milk quota fraud, for which a final report by his Department was received by that office on or before 4 June 2014. [11182/15]
View answerThe issue referred to by the Deputy is still under consideration by the Office of the Chief State Solicitor.
329. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a payment under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11213/15]
View answerAn application under the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 7 May 2013. A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the scheme revealed that some of the land parcels contained ineligible features. The person named was informed in writing of these findings. These reductions resulted in the establishment of an over-declaration of between 3% and 20% of the area declared by the person named which resulted in a reduced payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 6 March 2014.
Following the review of my Department's decision, sought by the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position on the ground was necessary. The unsuccessful outcome of this verification visit was notified to the person named on 13 February 2015 where he was advised of the option to pursue the matter to the independent LPIS Appeals Committee should he so wish.
330. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a forestry premium payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork further to being recommended for payment by the local forestry inspector. [11229/15]
View answerThe recommendation by the local forestry inspector to pay the 2015 premium in this case was contrary to standard Forest Service procedure and was therefore reviewed by the Regional Inspector. The decision, following the review, was not to accept the District Inspector's recommendation and to delay the payment of premiums until all remedial works are completed. A works programme in this respect has been submitted by the applicant's own forester on 6th February 2015.
The payment section will write to the applicant to inform him of the situation and requirements, i.e. that payments will not resume until all works specified have been completed successfully and the crop has responded to the fertiliser applied.
331. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the 2014 agri-environment options scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11230/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from the 1st 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. The application was selected for a ground inspection during which non compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the Traditional Stone Wall Maintenance and Species Rich Grassland actions. The application has been processed on the basis of the inspection findings and payment in respect of 2014, less penalties incurred, will issue shortly.
332. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the 2014 disadvantage areas scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11231/15]
View answerAn application under 2014 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 21 April 2014. Payment under the Single Payment Scheme has not issued as the person named holds no payment entitlements under that Scheme. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has not issued as the holding concerned has not satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements.
333. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under the 2013 disadvantaged area scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11271/15]
View answerAn application under 2013 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 28 March 2013. Processing of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application was completed following the submission of extra information, namely the flock register, and payment issued directly to the person named on 30 January 2014.
334. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers whose payment under the single payment scheme is €5,000 or less: the number of these farmers whose payment is greater than the average-per-hectare payment nationally; the reason those with gross payments of €5,000 or less have not been exempted from the revised payment arrangements under Common Agricultural Policy reform; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11282/15]
View answer335. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers whose gross payments under the revised single payment scheme, post Common Agricultural Policy reform, exceed €5,000, where the per-hectare payment is less than the national average; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11283/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 334 and 335 together.
The following table presents the requested information. All data is based on an estimate of the national average value of entitlements in 2015 and cannot be confirmed until all eligible land for 2015 is declared and verified. The estimated payment attributed to each farmer in 2015 is based on the entitlements held by the farmer under the Basic Payment Scheme plus the payment the farmer will receive under Greening.
|
National Summary |
Number of Farmers |
|
Number of farmers whose payment (including greening) is less than €5000 in 20 15 |
54,435 |
|
Number of farmers whose payment in 2015 is less than €5000 but whose payment per hectare is greater than the estimated national average unit value per hectare (€249 including greening) |
13,862 |
|
Number of farmers whose payment in 2015 is greater than €5000 and whose payment per hectare is less than the estimated national average unit value per hectare (€249 including greening) |
26,028 |
Convergence is a fundamental principle of the reformed Common Agricultural Policy as those with low value entitlements will have their value converged upwards over the period of the Scheme while those with high value entitlements will see a reduction in their value. Under this process, all entitlements will reach a minimum of 60% of the national average value of entitlements by 2019.
EU Regulations governing the calculation of entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme do not provide for exemptions from the revised payment arrangements.
336. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if participants in the agri-environment options scheme are allowed to transfer to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme before the expiry of their agri-envionment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11284/15]
View answerAll farmers currently participating in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) are eligible to submit an application to join GLAS in the first tranche of applications. Admission to the scheme will be on the basis of a hierarchy of environmental assets and actions with priority being given to those delivering the greatest environmental dividend. Where an AEOS participant's application for GLAS is successful provision will be made for them to transfer into GLAS and this may occur before the expiry of their AEOS plan. In such cases, AEOS payment will be made up to the date of the new GLAS contract.
337. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payments under the 2014 single payment scheme and the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11352/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 3 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection.
The inspection identified discrepancies between the areas declared and the area found resulting in an over-declaration in area of over 50% under the Single Payment Scheme. Based on the terms and conditions of this scheme this resulted in no payment being due in respect of the 2014 Single Payment Scheme and the application of an administrative fine to be offset against any future EU payments. The person named was notified of this decision by letter dated 20 January 2015. The determined over-declaration resulted in a reduced payment under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, which issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 7 January 2015.
A review of the outcome of the inspection by my Department determined that a field visit was required to verify the position on the ground. The results of this field visit are currently being finalised and the person named will be notified of the outcome of the field visit and of their right to seek a review as soon as possible.
338. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a review or an appeal ongoing at the present time in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo regarding the non-payment of 2014 farm payments; if he will provide the details regarding the penalty that has occurred; the steps that can be taken to resolve this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11355/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 17 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. Satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing inspection.
This inspection identified discrepancies between the areas declared and the area found resulting in an over-declaration in area of greater than 50%. Based on the terms and conditions of the schemes this results in no payment in respect of the 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes and the application of an administrative fine to be offset against any future EU payments. The person named was notified of this decision by letter dated 19 November 2014.
The person named has requested a review of this decision. As part of the examination of this review request my Department has determined that a field visit is required to verify the position on the ground. The person named will be notified of the outcome of the field visit once completed and of their right to seek a review of the decision.
339. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the repayment of a fine in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11369/15]
View answerThe Department's records indicate that in 2013, the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure applied to land on the holding of the person named above (including that deposited by animals) was 212 kg per hectare, which exceeded the limit of 170 kg's per hectare set down in the Nitrates Regulations.
The person named was notified of this decision on 14th October 2014. He appealed the decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office on 16th December 2014. The Appeals Officer disallowed the appeal and notified the person named on 17th February 2015.
An official from my Department will be in contact with the person named with a view to agreeing an instalment facility for the payment of this penalty.
340. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an agri-environment options scheme 3 payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; the reason the payment has not issued; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11443/15]
View answerThe person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from the 1st May 2013 and full entitlements have 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. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and full payment has issued to the person named – 75% payment issued on the 10th March 2015 and the balancing 25% payment issued on the 11th March 2015.
