Wednesday, 22 Apr 2015

Written Answers Nos. 72-77

Milk Quota

Questions (72)

Brendan Griffin

Question:

72. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the milk quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15881/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The issue of the level of the super levy bill is a matter for decision at EU level and it is not within my gift to amend the final bill or the rate to be paid. As the Deputy is aware, I was consistent in my efforts at EU level to reduce the super levy burden on farmers in the final year of quotas. In this context I welcome the proposal from Commissioner Hogan to allow the super levy bill to be paid over three annual instalments, which will significantly ease the cash flow burden of paying the bill.

I have committed to availing of this scheme at national level and my Department is currently finalising the details. I will be making a further announcement on its implementation very soon.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Questions (73)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Question:

73. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the 2014 disadvantaged 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. [15882/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under 2014 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 2 May 2014. Processing of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application is now complete and payment will issue at the earliest possible date, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Harbours and Piers Development

Questions (74)

Thomas Pringle

Question:

74. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide for a crane on the slip in Killybegs Harbour, County Donegal, which is needed to facilitate the small inshore boats; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15911/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.  The provision of a crane on the slipway at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre, is not included in this years Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. However, as with all infrastructural requirements in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, consideration on the provision of a crane at Killybegs will be kept under ongoing review, subject of course to demand, available funding and other competing priorities.

In addition, the Deputy should also note that under the 2015 capital programme, I have allocated €1,315,000 for safety, maintenance and development works in Killybegs, €700,000 of which is for the second phase of a small craft harbour. It is anticipated that when completed, the small craft harbour at Killybegs will help many of the inshore vessels with the provision of better berthing and access in the harbour.  

Horse Racing Industry

Questions (75)

Michael Lowry

Question:

75. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department is actively recruiting agricultural officers with a view to carrying out drug inspections within the horse racing sector, given the need to carry out such testing out of season to ensure that doping is not occurring during training; if he will address the issue of drug testing in the Irish race horse sector; and the action his Department is taking to address this issue. [15916/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Racing Regulatory Body (The Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee) is responsible for the integrity, including doping control and forensics, of racing in Ireland under legislation. Its integrity services are provided at licensed racecourses, point to point meetings and in out-of-competition situations. As part of its remit, the Racing Regulatory Body carries out a drug testing programme and authorised officers from my Department cooperate with the Racing Regulatory Body in these matters where appropriate. There are no plans to recruit agricultural officers specifically for the purpose of conducting out-of-training testing of race horses.

Funding for the Racing Regulatory Body is provided through the integrity services budget which it agrees annually with Horse Racing Ireland. I understand that increased funding of €7.35m has been provided by HRI to the Racing Regulatory Body in 2015 for integrity services. Within the above budget, a sum of €2.25m has been allocated for doping control which includes a provision for out of competition testing and for new investment in this area.

In 2014, 3,085 blood or urine samples taken from horses were tested, 2 of which proved to be positive for a prohibited substance. 84% of these samples were taken at the racecourse, 11% at point to points and 5% at trainers’ yards. The nature of drug testing in horseracing is changing globally with a greater move towards out of competition/in training testing.

In the past two years the Turf Club and the Irish National Hunt Steeplechase Committee tested over 430 horses in training.

Horse Racing Ireland has established a Drug Testing Task Force comprising representatives of the Racing Regulatory Body, owners, trainers, breeders, sales companies and stud book authorities to recommend future strategies for drug testing within the industry here. The work of the Task Force is ongoing and it is due to report by the middle of this year.

Separately, Horse Racing Ireland and the Racing Regulatory Body has commissioned a review of the laboratory facilities available to Irish racing by Dr Terence Wan, the head of the laboratory of the Hong Kong Jockey Club which is responsible for doping control in that jurisdiction, and I expect that this exercise will also contribute to ensuring that such controls are operated as effectively as possible into the future.

Agriculture Schemes

Questions (76)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

76. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that farmers who have made applications to the national reserve will be corresponded with to provide them with an opportunity to provide his Department with any outstanding documentation or items not included or satisfactorily completed in their application; if he will ensure that incomplete applications are not automatically disqualified without providing the applicants with an opportunity to amend their application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15934/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The National Reserve opened for applications under the two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Entrant on 5th January 2015 and the closing date for receipt of applications under these categories was 31st March 2015. Phase 2 of the National Reserve launched on 1st April and will have the same closing date as the Basic Payment Scheme. Applications under the National Reserve will be processed and assessed for eligibility by reference to the Scheme Terms and Conditions. Where outstanding documentation or further information in support of an application is required my Department will be in direct contact with applicants with a view to resolving any outstanding issues.

Basic Payment Scheme Eligibility

Questions (77)

Patrick O'Donovan

Question:

77. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding entitlements in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/15]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The number of entitlements to be allocated to a farmer in 2015 under the Basic Payment Scheme is based on the number of hectares the farmer declares in 2013 and 2015, whichever is lesser. When producing the Guide to Basic Payment entitlements which issued to all farmers in February 2015, only data relating to the number of hectares declared by farmers in 2013 was available to the Department. The final calculation of the number of entitlements to be allocated will take place when farmers declare their eligible land in 2015 and will take account of any loss of land through transfer. The person named declared 37.04 hectares of eligible land in 2013 and his Guide to Basic Payment Entitlements reflects this position. Any transfer of land to his son will reduce the number of hectares he declares in 2015 and the number of entitlements allocated with be reduced accordingly. The person named also has the option of entering into a Private Contract Clause whereby entitlements would be transferred with the land.

My Department will make direct contact with the person named to fully explain the options available to him and to assist him through the process.