Written Answers Nos. 100-107
100. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that Teagasc - the Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority - is enabled to recruit additional agricultural advisers in the context of there having been a reduction in excess of 40% in terms of front-line advisers in the past eight years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27836/15]
View answerThe new delegated sanction arrangements for the management of public service numbers announced by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in Budget 2014 will provide public bodies with greater discretion over staff appointments, but strictly within an overall pay framework. I expect the delegated sanction arrangements for the management of staff numbers in Teagasc to be finalised shortly. Formal delegated sanction will be subject to Teagasc compliance with binding pay bill ceilings. Within the parameters of that over arching policy, the question of allocating additional resources to the advisory service is an operational matter for Teagasc.
Teagasc is also re-configuring the way in which it delivers advisory services. The actions include greater use of discussion groups, sub-contracting the delivery of non-core work, and establishing strategic alliances with private providers. The primary objective of such arrangements is to maintain the strong focus of Teagasc advisors on knowledge transfer activities while also providing a scheme - support service to farmers.
101. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware of additional information regarding the way in which animals belonging to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare were treated by the Turf Club and Horse Racing Ireland; if there has been an investigation or an examination of the facts surrounding this person's grievance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27861/15]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. The Racing Regulatory Body (Irish Turf Club) is a private body charged under legislation with responsibility for the integrity and the reputation of Irish racing in Ireland and Internationally. The person named has been previously advised that his complaints in relation to the welfare of his horses fell outside the remit of the Department and that such complaints should have been addressed either as a civil matter between the person named and the other parties concerned and/or by way of reference to An Garda Síochána for investigation.
The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 came into operation on 6th March 2014. This has changed the legislative framework under which the Department operates. Arising from the commencement of the Act all animal welfare matters now come within the remit of the Department and the Department is in a position to investigate any such matters occurring since the commencement. However, as the Act does not have retrospective effect, matters which took place prior to 6th March 2014 and were not part of the remit of the Department at that time remain outside the Department’s competence.
I am not aware of any additional information recently made available in relation to this matter.
102. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will advise on the situation pertaining to a farmer (details supplied) in County Roscommon; his views that it is most unsatisfactory that those acting on behalf of the farmer were not contacted by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27883/15]
View answerThe estate of the person named submitted an application for the 2014 Single Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes on 15th May 2014. Issues were identified with the applications and these were the subject of correspondence between my Department and solicitors acting for the estate. Correspondence was received in my Department from these solicitors on 22nd June 2015, which dealt with the issues raised in earlier correspondence. The application has now been processed based on the information provided and any payment due to the estate will issue in due course. An official from my Department will make direct contact with solicitors for the estate regarding this matter.
103. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a single farm payment to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27892/15]
View answerMy Department has no record of a 2014 Single Farm Payment application having been received from the person named. Correspondence regarding the 2014 Single Farm Payment application was received on 28th April 2015 from the person named along with medical evidence and this is currently being reviewed by officials of my Department. An official will be in touch with the person named as soon as this review is completed.
104. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will received the remainder of a single farm payment; and if he will expedite the matter. [27901/15]
View answerAn application under the 2014 Single Farm Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2014, declaring 3 land parcels one of which was subject to LPIS Review. The person named was paid an advance and balancing payments on 16 October and 1 December 2014 respectively. Following the completion of the review, a supplementary payment under the 2014 Scheme was made to the nominated bank account of the person named on 6 July 2015.
105. Deputy Michael Colreavy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the case of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [27914/15]
View answerThe herd in question has been restricted on foot of an investigation of animal traceability issues by my Department and An Garda Síochána.
106. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his definition of active full-time young farmers; the entitlements they may claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27918/15]
View answerThe basic definition of a ‘young farmer’ is specified in the EU Regulation governing direct payments and is applicable to all Member States. In addition Member States have the discretion to add further eligibility criteria as regards appropriate skills and/or training requirements. To qualify as a ‘young farmer’, a person must meet all of the following conditions: S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme; S/he is setting up an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application; S/he has successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC level 6 or its equivalent.
There is no requirement for a young farmer to participate in farming on a full time basis. However, the young farmer must exercise control over the farming enterprise, either solely or jointly with one or more other farmers, in terms of management, benefits and financial risks. The Young Farmers Scheme provides an additional payment per entitlement activated by the young farmer up to a maximum of 50 entitlements.
Persons who meet the definition of young farmer are automatically eligible to participate in the National Reserve and in the Young Farmers Scheme. The National Reserve allocates entitlements on the basis of one entitlement per eligible hectare declared by the young farmer up to a maximum of 90 entitlements. Existing entitlements with a value below the national average will be increased to the national average.
It should be noted that the National Reserve applies an off-farm income threshold whereby persons in receipt of an off-farm income greater than €40,000 in either 2013 or 2014 will not be eligible for an allocation of entitlements from the Reserve.
107. Deputy Billy Kelleher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of investment his Department is making in horticulture; if his Department liaises with local authorities to foster a greater appreciation of horticulture, especially in urban areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27932/15]
View answerThe Scheme of Investment Aid for the Development of the Commercial Horticulture Sector provides financial support for the development of the horticulture sector, by grant aiding capital investments in specialised plant and equipment as well as emerging technologies specific to commercial horticulture production. The Scheme aims to facilitate environmentally friendly practices, promote the diversification of on-farm activities, improve the quality of products and improve working conditions.
The 2015 round of the Scheme was heavily oversubscribed with applicants seeking in excess of €8.5m in aid when the approved 2015 budget for the Scheme was €4.2m.
Each individual proposed investment is assessed on its merits by a Selection Committee established to award funding. The Selection Committee decides which horticulture-specific investments would make the strongest contribution to the objectives of the Scheme within the available budget.
As the Scheme is targeted at commercial producers of horticultural products, the Department has very limited involvement with local authorities in fostering urban horticulture. However, under the CEDRA remit for which Minister of State Phelan has responsibility, a new pilot scheme will be advertised very shortly to assist social farming operations. Social farming offers work experience on farms, horticultural operations or with animals to people, many of whom are from urban areas, who avail of a range of day support services and as such provides a range of benefits to farm families, service users and society as a whole.
Bord Bia also has some limited involvement with Local Authorities in the urban Horticulture arena. Such involvement includes: amenity horticulture businesses use their Bord Bia Quality Programme certification when tendering to provide product and services to local authorities. Dublin City Council have been involved with the Bloom event and during 2015 supported the Bloom fringe activity in the City and activity on site. The organisation of certain horticulture events organised at public authority venues, such as the Rare and Special Plant Fair.
My Department also funds the Food Dudes programme managed by Bord Bia. This aims to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption by repeat tasting, supported by role models (Food Dudes Heroes) and small rewards. The original programme was completed in 2014 having reached 477,423 primary school children in 3,127 schools (95% of primary schools).
A Boost Programme commenced in primary schools in 2014 with the Junior Cycle tasting fruit and vegetables daily for a 16 day period and the Senior Cycle enjoying 4 tasting days. Additional Department and EU funding under the EU School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme will double the reach of Food Dudes/EU School Fruit and Vegetables Scheme over two years to 800 schools and 160,000 children in 2015/2016, compared to 390 schools and 70,000 children in the 2013/2014 school year.
The programme has been evaluated a number of times and shown to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and that this is sustained over time.
