Written Answers Nos. 108-115
108. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 490 of 19 May 2015, if he will release a copy of the reply sent to the European Commission in response to a letter from the Directorate-General for Agriculture and Rural Development (details supplied). [27945/15]
View answerI have arranged for a copy of the letter requested to be issued directly to the Deputy.
109. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made in discussions with the European Union on achieving a reduction in the fine imposed on Ireland for overclaims on the land parcel identification system; the fine the European Union imposed on Ireland; when this matter will be brought to a conclusion, given the statement by the Minister in Question No. 4 of 14 May 2015 that he expected this matter would be concluded in the near future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27954/15]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware in May 2014 the EU Commission proposed a 2% flat rate financial correction for Ireland of €181.5 million arising from its Conformity Clearance audits in 2009, 2010 and 2012. The payments audited covered the period from 2008 to 2012 during which over €9 billion was paid to farmers in Ireland under the Direct Payment Schemes. My Department strongly refuted the application of this proposed correction as disproportionate to the true level of risk involved and accordingly sought a hearing with the Conciliation Body.
The Conciliation Body met with the Commission and officials from my Department separately in December 2014. The Commission held their position on the 2% flat rate correction before and during their meeting. The report of the Conciliation Body concluded that conciliation seemed within reach and that the Commission and my Department should continue to work together towards an agreed settlement. My Department has maintained regular contact with the Commission and has completed further work to quantify the level of risk to EU funds. This work was the subject of the Commission visit to Ireland during the third week of May 2014. Contact with the Commission is continuing on this issue.
110. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocation under the Commission for the Economic Development of Rural Areas fund in 2015 to each of the following elements of the 2015 work programme: pilot scheme for the development of female rural entrepreneurs, social farming, village and town regeneration and agri-tourism projects; the definition of social farming being used for the purpose of this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27958/15]
View answerFunding of €1 million has been provided in this Department’s 2015 Vote for pilot innovative projects which progress the CEDRA remit. Fuller details of the proposed schemes were set out in my reply to your recent Parliamentary Question 26568/15. The current provisional allocations are in the following table:
|
€ |
- |
|
€130,000 |
Programme to develop Female Rural Entrepreneurs |
|
€20,000 |
Development and dissemination of a pilot web–portal to link in one site all training/diversification/business development opportunities & events in two pilot regions, operated through Teagasc |
|
€330,000 |
Combined allocation for existing Social Farming projects and existing or start up community based food/artisan/craft markets or shops in villages/small towns |
|
€40,000 |
Social Farming initiatives under SoFAB operated through Leitrim Development Company |
|
€475,000 |
Proposals are being formulated for a competitive call on agri-tourism projects with a particular emphasis on food, beverages and the marine. Sanction is required from the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform |
Social farming is described as the practice of offering, on a voluntary basis, farming, horticultural and animal related work experience as a choice to people who avail of a range of day support services. This novel social support service allows people choose to participate in therapeutic outdoor agriculture related activities in a non–clinical environment. These operations can be run in a number of settings ranging from working family farms, local community initiatives through to a more institutional framework.
111. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a breakdown, in tabular form, of anti-malaria drugs prescribed to Irish troops operating in sub-Saharan Africa in 2015, by number of troops for each drug. [27759/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, malaria is a very serious disease. It kills approximately 1 million people per year in sub-Saharan Africa alone. It is a grave threat to any military force operating in that area. Currently Defence Forces personnel are operating in the following locations in sub-Saharan Africa; Western Sahara, Mali, Sierra Leone, Côte d'Ivoire and Democratic Republic of the Congo.
There are three anti-malarial drugs, all licensed by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), formerly the Irish Medicines Board, in use by the Defence Forces namely Lariam (mefloquine), Malarone and Doxycycline. The choice of medication is a medical decision made by Medical Officers in the Defence Forces having regard to the specific circumstances of the mission and the individual member of the Defence Forces. As the Deputy will be aware, the HPRA is the statutory authority with responsibility for quality, safety and efficacy of medicines in Ireland. The Defence Forces policy, in relation to the use of anti-malaria medication is in line with current HPRA approved summary of product characteristics (SmPC).
Unfortunately it has not proved possible to compile the full information in response to this question in the time available. I will write to the Deputy when the information is to hand.
112. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide a list of each of the current grant schemes that are administrated by his Department and that are available to community groups or projects; the total amount paid for each of these schemes for each of the past four years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27779/15]
View answerMy Department does not provide grants to community groups or projects.
113. Deputy Pádraig Mac Lochlainn asked the Minister for Defence if he will ensure that the viability of the Defence Forces Reserve in County Donegal is secured by providing full-time training in July 2015 for the instructors who have qualified to undertake the task of training new recruits. [27978/15]
View answerI am informed by the military authorities that it is not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. I shall provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.
114. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will reduce the bankruptcy period from three years to one year to encourage entrepreneurs back into business as soon as possible after bankruptcy because high-potential businesspersons are locked out of the system for three years and emigrate in many cases; and if this will be done as a step of last resort as a resolution to family home repossessions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27830/15]
View answerAs the Deputy will recall, a very substantial change to Ireland's bankruptcy regime was made by the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, which reduced automatic discharge from bankruptcy from 12 years to 3 years. This Government has also substantially reduced the costs of bankruptcy - from around €1400 in total in 2012, to just €270 euro from 1 January 2015. While bankruptcy used to be predominantly sought by creditors, since late 2013 almost all bankruptcies are sought by the debtor.
I recently referred the issue of reducing the bankruptcy term from three years to one year, and the associated topics raised in a recent Private Members' Bill by Deputy Willie Penrose, to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Defence and Equality, with a request that the Committee report to Government on its conclusions before the summer recess.
Both the Personal Insolvency Act 2012, and the Land and Conveyancing Law Reform Act 2013, contain provisions which are designed to ensure that agreed solutions, which are fair to all parties, are made available for debtors struggling with unsustainable debts, and in particular, that loss of the mortgaged home is an option of last resort.
As you may be aware, on 13 May the Government agreed a series of further measures to support borrowers struggling with unsustainable mortgage arrears. These include a major reform of the personal insolvency legislation, which will give the Courts the power to review (and, where appropriate, to impose) a proposed personal insolvency arrangement that has been refused by creditors, subject to certain conditions. The relevant amending legislation is a priority for me and the Government and will reflect the very fundamental principle that loss of ownership of a family home through repossession should be a last resort.
115. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which her Department remains in a position to address the issues of children in direct provision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27967/15]
View answerThe Reception & Integration Agency (RIA) of my Department is responsible for the accommodation of asylum seekers in the Direct Provision system. At end May 2015 there were 4,484 persons being accommodated in 34 accommodation centres, approximately a third of whom are children.
As the deputy will be aware, last week the Working Group set up last year to report to Government on improvements in the protection process, including direct provision and supports for asylum seekers, published its report. This report is comprehensive and includes 173 recommendations covering almost every aspect of the protection system and related parts of the process. The recommendations and their implications will be carefully considered by Government over the coming weeks. Many of the recommendations are of a cross cutting nature and will require further consultation with other Government Departments and Offices in the context of planning for their implementation. My clear intention is to go back to Government as soon as possible with proposals regarding implementation of the report's recommendations, including those specifically relating to families and children.
