Written Answers Nos. 156-166
156. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the 2014 beef data scheme will be completed; if there will be any linear cut to these payments, due to excessive demand under the scheme; the proposed linear cut; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25226/15]
View answerThe processing of applications under the Beef Data Programme is at an advanced stage. Payments under the Programme will commence before the end of June. Under the Programme, farmers who participate are required to submit the required data on suckler cows and their calves after birth and again after the calves are weaned. The Deputy will be aware that elements of the Beef Data Programme and the nationally funded Beef Genomics Scheme were amalgamated in the new Beef Data and Genomics Programme funded under the 2014 – 2020 Rural Development Programme. In that regard, it is very encouraging that the level of participation in the Beef Data Programme increased by 21% to 32,300 participants in 2014.
In view of the increased participation level in the Programme and the fact that the Commitment 2 data (e.g. quality and docility of calf) is still being submitted by farmers in respect of autumn born calves, I have decided that payments under this year’s Programme should be staggered with an 80% advance payable immediately with the balancing payment issuing later this year when the 2014 processing is completed. The 2013 rates of aid will continue to apply this year, these were as follows:
|
Number of calves |
Rate per calf |
|
1 to 30 |
€ 20 |
|
31 to 50 |
€ 10 |
The 80% advance payment details are as follows:
|
Number of calves |
Rate per calf |
|
1 to 30 |
€ 16 |
|
31 to 50 |
€ 8 |
It is also important that the 10% Modulation deduction, which applied to the combined payments in excess of €2,000 under the Single Payment Scheme, the Grassland Sheep Scheme and the Beef Data Programme in 2013, is not deductible under the 2014 Programme.
157. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of veterinary surgeons employed by his Department in each year since 2008; the reason for the decline in veterinary surgeons employed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25244/15]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy in relation to veterinary staff employed by my Department is contained in the following table on a Full Time Equivalent (FTE) basis.
Since 2005 my Department has been engaged in a major programme of re-organisation at all levels. This has been facilitated by changes in the schemes administered by the Department, reductions in disease levels, the advanced use of information technology and a programme of internal reviews of business units, including major reviews of the local office network, which had led to improved business processes and greater efficiency. This re-organisation also took account of the Government moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the Public Service.
In the context of ensuring effective service delivery, my Department continually reviews staffing levels in all areas of operation in the light of operational needs and overall Government policy on staffing levels.
|
To end of Year |
Veterinary FTE Staff Numbers |
|
2008 |
358.4 |
|
2009 |
333 |
|
2010 |
217.9 |
|
2011 |
303.6 |
|
2012 |
286.4 |
|
2013 |
280.65 |
|
2014 |
266.50 |
|
To End of May 2015 |
267.70 |
158. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any compensation will be payable to a person (details supplied) whose herd was locked up for ten weeks awaiting the results of tests carried out on an animal in the herd; the reason for the delay in this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25248/15]
View answerThe holding in question was restricted under the TB Eradication Scheme on 9 April 2015 following the disclosure of a suspect lesion in an animal which the herdowner had sent for slaughter. Such lesions are sent for laboratory testing to confirm or otherwise the presence of TB. In cases of this nature, the holding from which the animal originated must be restricted until a negative laboratory test result is available and will remain restricted if that test result is positive. The nature of the test is such that the process which must be followed in the laboratory to confirm a test negative result may take up to 10 weeks before the final result is available. In such cases, my Department must comply with disease eradication legislation which requires that the herd must remain restricted until a negative test is determined. In the case in question, a negative test result was available on 17 June following which the holding was derestricted on 18 June 2015.
The On-Farm Market Valuation scheme is the principal compensation measure available to herdowners whose animals are removed as reactors under the TB Scheme. However, this scheme applies only to animals removed as reactor. Since the animal in question was not removed as a reactor, the herdowner is ineligible for payment under this scheme. While the holding was restricted, the herdowner was permitted to sell animals directly to slaughter.
159. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, a breakdown of the number of farmers, in each county, who have suckler cows, broken down by herd size, zero to ten, 11 to 20, and so on; the number of farmers, broken down on the same basis, who have applied for the beef data and genomics scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25249/15]
View answerThe Beef Data and Genomics Scheme closed for applications on the 5th June. Approximately 30,000 applications were received by the closing date. Initial processing has been completed and I expect that approval letters will issue shortly. The information requested is not yet available but is currently being compiled. It will be forwarded to the Deputy directly as soon as it is finalised.
160. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine on what basis a 100% reduction is being made in a person's farm payments (details supplied) in County Mayo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25334/15]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was received from the person named on 15 May 2014. The application was processed and an advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 16 October 2014 with the balancing payment issuing on 1 December 2014. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued on 5 June 2015. These payments issued direct to an alternative payee in accordance with a garnishee order which was received by my Department on 11 June 2014. The garnishee order remains in place.
161. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will extend the wild deer testing for tuberculosis carried out in County Wicklow, as the infection rate is 20% and this statistic demands the roll-out of this programme to other wild deer populated counties, as deer are travelling extensively onto farmland and grazing, in many cases, on the same grounds as farm animals; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25344/15]
View answerI refer to my reply to Question No. 471 on 9 June to the Deputy in connection with the survey conducted by my Department on the incidence of TB in deer in Wicklow. In that reply, I explained that further laboratory analysis of cultures is ongoing in relation to tissue taken from the deer to identify linkages between the TB found in deer, badgers and cattle. This work has not been completed yet.
As I indicated to the Deputy in my reply on 9 June, responsibility for wild deer rests with my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the Wildlife Acts. However, my Department monitors the incidence of TB in wild deer nationally through the analysis of suspect lesions or carcases submitted by farmers and hunters who are permitted to slaughter deer under licence from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Submissions of deer since 1st January 2014 from farmers and hunters to our Regional Veterinary Laboratories indicate very low levels of TB in wild deer in all areas with the exception of parts of Wicklow.
I should point out that the tuberculosis herd incidence rate for cattle in West Wicklow is 12.4% and in East Wicklow is 6.3 %, both of which are well above the national average of 2.75%. The findings in relation to the Wicklow deer study will be considered by the recently established Irish Deer Management Forum (IDMF) which will assess the findings and make appropriate recommendations in relation to all aspects of deer management for Wicklow and nationally.
162. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the annual cost of introducing a living wage or minimum-threshold gross salary of €11.45 per hour in his Department and the bodies under his aegis. [25351/15]
View answerBased on introducing a minimal threshold hourly rate of €11.45, the estimated additional annual cost in relation to staff employed by my Department would approximately be €120,000.
The parallel information in respect of State Bodies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the Bodies themselves.
163. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Defence if his Department uses any system software for the auto deletion of e-mail messages; if so, his Department's guidelines on the use of such a system; and the length of time e-mails are stored before they are auto deleted. [25177/15]
View answerMy Department does not use any system software for the auto-deletion of email messages.
164. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 398 of 16 June 2015, if he or his Department will provide an estimated costing for the re-establishment of the previous three-brigade structure, as previously requested; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25319/15]
View answerThe current organisational structures of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) ensure that it can operate efficiently and effectively within a strength ceiling of 9,500 personnel. Within that strength ceiling, the return to the previous three Brigade structure would cause a range of inefficiencies arising from under-strength Units and an unnecessary increased administrative burden. This would compromise the current operational effectiveness of the PDF creating an unacceptable impact.
165. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Defence the annual cost of introducing a living wage or minimum threshold gross salary of €11.45 per hour in his Department and the bodies under his aegis. [25354/15]
View answerThe Defence Organisation includes civil servants, military personnel, and civilian employees attached to military installations.
The annual cost, including Employer's PRSI, of introducing a minimum wage of €11.45 an hour in respect of Civil Service Staff and Civilian Employees employed by my Department is estimated at €30,937.
The pay structures and conditions of service of members of the Permanent Defence Force contain professional and technical remuneration elements in addition to allowances in the nature of pay which reflect the unique aspects of military life both at home and abroad. As such, the non-standard time and attendance patterns of military personnel and the rates of remuneration associated with a wide spectrum of duties undertaken by such military personnel can vary across the different branches of the Defence Forces and, consequently, does not facilitate the general application of a threshold rate of pay.
166. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if her Department uses any system software for the auto-deletion of e-mail messages; if so, her Department's guidelines on the use of such a system; and the length of time e-mails are stored before they are auto-deleted. [25184/15]
View answerMy Department does not use any system software for the auto-deletion of email messages.
