Written Answers Nos. 92-98
92. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal to his Department regarding a decision on an ineligible area in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22552/15]
View answerA review of the lands declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels declared contained ineligible features.
In order to clarify the position regarding the area of any ineligible features my Department arranged for a ground verification check to be undertaken. This check confirmed the 2013 area over-declaration as 20.85 % in the case of both the Single Farm Payment and the Disadvantaged Area Schemes. As 20.85 % is greater than 20% of the newly established eligible area in respect of both Schemes, no payment was due to the person named under the 2013 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes.
A letter detailing the outcome of the verification check was issued to the person named on 25 May 2014. By letter dated 23 June 2014, the person named opted to avail of his right to appeal to the independently-chaired LPIS Appeal Committee. Following due consideration, the LPIS Appeal Committee have partially allowed his appeal on parcel H19701056 and decided that an area of 17.13 hectares was eligible as forage area for 2013. This reduced the level of over-declaration from greater than 20% to a reduction of between 3% and 20% under both the Single Farm Payment and the Disadvantaged Areas Schemes. Payments due under the 2013 Single Farm Payment will issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly. The person named was notified of the decision in writing on 5 June 2015. The person named can appeal this decision to the Office of the Ombudsman if he so wishes.
93. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) will be considered for the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, having failed to make an application due to technical issues with the scheme's website; if the fact that the person's planner attempted to complete the application on time will be taken into account, considering that the person was in contact with his Department's information and technology section; his views that it is fair that the person is excluded despite repeated attempts to join; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22559/15]
View answerAt the outset, I would like to note that almost 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is very much in line with the projections I made when launching the scheme. The online application system developed within my Department functioned extremely well but some issues did arise as can be expected with the roll out of any new IT system. Issues were dealt with as they arose but I am aware of a small number of cases, including the application of the person named, where it appears that attempts to submit valid applications before the scheme closed failed. My Department is examining this limited number of cases with a view to accommodating the farmers involved. However, this will only be possible where it can be clearly shown that it was not in fact possible to submit the application online.
94. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will designate a facility (details supplied) in County Kerry for whitefish landing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22570/15]
View answerI have recently received a request to designate Renard Pier in County Kerry for the landing of Monkfish and Hake. Under Council Regulation (EC) No 1224/2009, fish species subject to a multi-annual plan must be landed at designated ports of landing. Hake is a species subject to a multi-annual plan and any landings of Hake greater than 2 Tonnes must be landed at a port designated in accordance with Article 43 of regulation (EU) No.1224/2009.
In order for a port to be designated for hake landings greater than 2 Tonnes, it must meet the criteria for designation set out in the EU regulations. This states that such ports shall have
(a) established landing and transhipment times;
(b) established landing and transhipment places;
(c) established inspection and surveillance procedures.
In addition to the EU requirements under national measures applicable only to Irish vessels, Monkfish landings in excess of 750kg must be landed at a designated port. This is set out in S.I. No. 55/2013 - Monkfish (Control of Landings) (No. 2) Regulations 2013.
It is the responsibility of the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) to develop the necessary procedures, establish a presence at the port and notify the European Commission if a port is designated for Hake under Article 43 of regulation (EU) No.1224/2009. I have asked the SFPA for views on the designation of Renard Pier for the landing of Hake and Monkfish and I will give the matter full consideration when I have received a response.
95. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a national deer cull; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22576/15]
View answerAs I indicated to the Deputy in my reply to a Question last July 2014 (28157/14), responsibility for wild deer rests with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the Wildlife Acts. Officials from my Department provide ongoing advice to keepers and their veterinary practitioners on disease control measures and bio-security in relation to wildlife, including deer, and are available to discuss these issues with herdowners. However, my Department has no statutory role in the management of wild deer and has no authority to call for a national cull.
In relation to the Wicklow study on deer, my Department applied for and was granted a licence by the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht to shoot deer out of season from an area of County Wicklow, south of the Sugar Loaf and north of Roundwood in October, 2014. The sampling of 103 deer was completed in January 2015. The study revealed that some 4.8% deer had visible lesions and 15.5% cultured positive overall. A previous survey in this region in 2008 found a lower visible lesion rate but the culturing methodology used was different.
The exercise also involved the culling and examination of badgers from the same area. 26% of the badgers were cultured positive for TB. Strain typing to show linkages between the TB in deer, badgers and cattle in the area has not been completed yet.
The findings in Wicklow indicate that, as expected, there are pockets of deer where infection is present. The high level of TB infection in badgers is also of concern and may well be a key factor in this multi-host outbreak of the disease. There is an active badger control programme in operation in Wicklow and this has led to a reduction in the incidence of TB in cattle in recent years.
A non-statutory Irish Deer Management Forum (IDMF) has recently been established, with an independent chairperson and includes representation from stakeholder groups, including farming, forestry, conservation, hunting and other interest groups as well as Coillte and officials from my Department and from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Results from the Wicklow deer study have been passed on to the Forum and these will be discussed at the next meeting, due to take place this month. It is intended that this forum, including all of the stakeholder representatives, will assess and progress all aspects of deer management.
96. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the compensation scheme for calves testing positive under the bovine viral diarrhoea compensation scheme, in view of the fact that the current compensation for these animals is totally inadequate, and this is causing hardship for farmers with infected herds; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22590/15]
View answerThe farming community stands to gain approximately €100 million per annum from the eradication of BVD. Notwithstanding these gains which fall exclusively to the farming community, I have introduced a system of supports towards the removal of persistently infected (PI) calves.
Earlier this year, in the context of the compulsory phase of the Programme now reaching its critical third year, I announced a re-focusing of financial arrangements for farmers faced with the removal of persistently infected BVD calves born in 2015. The re-focused supports provide for an increased payment of €140 for each beef breed PI born in a suckler herd that is shown to be disposed of to a knackery within 5 weeks of the first test. A reduced payment of €90 will apply in respect of such calves disposed of to a knackery within 7 weeks of the first test. For dairy herds, the focus of the supports available is on the loss of the dairy breed heifer calf where there is a payment of €100 for each PI calf born and disposed of to a knackery within 5 weeks of the first test. A reduced payment of €50 will apply in respect of such calves disposed of to a knackery within 7 weeks of the first test.
In addition to the supports for removal of PI calves, my Department has committed to continue to provide, free of charge, a blood based test to confirm the PI status of those calves that give a positive test result on tag testing. The Department is also providing a blood test for the dams of those calves and any progeny of PI cows.
97. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a payment system in place for the new farm safety scheme; if so, the details of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22601/15]
View answerI am pleased to say that there has been a high level of interest in the Farm Safety Scheme with over 6,200 applications received. To date over 4,200 approvals have issued to applicants to undertake work under the scheme and the local offices of my Department are querying further applications with farmers with a view to ensuring that as many applicants as possible undertake measures to improve safety and save lives on their farms.
A dedicated payment system for the Farm Safety Scheme has also been developed and payments for works completed under the scheme will issue in the very near future.
98. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing a single farm payment for 2014 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22652/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas scheme application on 15th May 2014. Issues were identified in relation to a number of parcels claimed by the applicant in 2013 and these are under review following an appeal by the applicant. This caused a delay in the processing of the 2014 application, however the 2014 application has recently been finalised and payment, less a minor reduction relating to an over-claim, will issue shortly, directly to the nominated back account of the person named.
