Written Answers Nos. 90-98
90. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the changes he has made in the current rural development programme to the knowledge transfer measure; the update on the roll-out of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35071/15]
View answerUnder the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme Knowledge Transfer Groups across a range of sectors, including beef, dairy and sheep, will be established. The design of the measure has been informed by experience from previous discussion groups, extensive stakeholder consultation, and the relevant EU regulations. Participants are required to attend Knowledge Transfer Group meetings and complete a Farm Improvement Plan. I believe that the combination of both farmer knowledge exchange meetings and one to one interaction between the farmer and advisor in the development of a Farm Improvement Plan will ensure the transfer and exchange of information and best practice to participating farmers. The analysis of previous discussion group schemes and consultations leading up to the design of the Knowledge Transfer Programme highlighted the importance of addressing all aspects of a farming enterprise including profitability, environmental sustainability, farm safety and animal health and welfare measures.
In response to input from a range of stakeholders, some modifications in relation to the implementation of the Knowledge Transfer Programme have been addressed in relation to two specific requirements as follows:
- As currently constituted, participation in more than one Knowledge Transfer group across sectors is not permitted. This is largely due to potential double funding which would arise from the completion of more than one Farm Improvement Plan for a single farming enterprise. I have, however, asked my officials to examine how farmers could participate in more than one Knowledge Transfer group across two sectors, while at the same time avoiding double funding issues.
- The issue of allowing a named nominee to attend a Knowledge Transfer Group has also been raised and, following on from further consideration of this issue, an appropriate named nominee will now be allowed to attend meetings in the place of a farmer participating in a Knowledge Transfer Group. This would include spouses/partners or children of 18 years or more.
Initially, Groups in the Beef, Dairy and Equine sectors are being established. The relevant regulation requires that these Groups and facilitators be evaluated using ranking and selection criteria to ensure the best quality groups are initiated. This process is ongoing and once completed all candidate facilitators will be notified of the outcome. Following this, a final list of Knowledge Transfer facilitators and the sectors they have been approved to operate groups under will be published on my Department’s website.
91. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that meat factories are using a new and different mechanical grading formula over the past few weeks, and that this is being used to assess, grade, and pay farmers for their cattle; if these changes were known to his Department; if his Department has made sure that these changes have not impacted negatively on farmers; his views that the farmers should have been informed of these changes; the steps he will take to protect farmers interests in this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35073/15]
View answerThe Department, in accordance with the recommendations of the Beef Activation Group, carried out a re-calibration trial on the mechanical beef grading system in 2013/14. This trial was conducted strictly in accordance with EU rules and was overseen by the Department with a panel of international experts. In addition, Teagasc acted as an independent body designated by the Department to analyse the results of the certification test. The trial resulted in the generation of a new set of equations approved by the EU Commission, based on a large sample size and based on the current bovine population. Testing of the installation of these new equations, which were approved by the EU Commission, is currently underway at a number of factories across the country under the close supervision of authorised classification officers of my Department. This testing is purely a technical exercise to ensure that the mechanical grading system continues to perform to the highest standard. It is intended that such testing will be conducted in each establishment operating classification using automated grading techniques with a view to the rolling out of the system across the country at some future point.
Regarding the protection of farmer’s interests in this matter, this testing is carried out under the close supervision of authorised classification officers of my Department ensuring that no financial detriment occurs to any farmer during the testing process. In addition, the EU Commission lays down rules for the monitoring of establishments operating classification using automated grading techniques which my Department strictly adheres to.
92. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is opposed to meat factories imposing unviable carcass weight limits on beef farmers, which could damage our beef industry, particularly the suckler herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35074/15]
View answerThe November 2014 Beef Round table discussions resulted in a comprehensive agreed package of measures to further develop the beef sector and included commitments for all parties including processors, farm organisations, my Department and various state agencies. As part of that package, agreement was reached between MII and farming organisations that processors would not impose any price penalties on animals based on weight up to 31st December 2015, but equally that farmers presenting heavier stock would provide adequate notice to processing plants. While specifications of this nature are ultimately determined by market requirements, I would expect all of the participants at the Beef Round table to adhere to the agreement reached on weights.
93. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers to date who have terminated their contracts under the agri-environment options scheme; the rural environment protection scheme, in order to join the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme, GLAS, in line with the statement in reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 324 to 327, inclusive, on 29 September 2015, where he stated that much expenditure under transitional arrangements may transfer directly to GLAS expenditure, as these farmers transform their existing contracts into new GLAS contracts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35075/15]
View answerThe Department is finalising the processing of GLAS applications. Confirmation that the AEOS contract has been terminated will be sought from farmers and my officials expect to be in a position, by early November, to provide a definitive figure for the number of farmers who terminated their Agri-Environment Options Scheme contracts in order to join GLAS.
94. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan for the slaughter of 16 cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35076/15]
View answer95. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when all outstanding payments which were withheld from a person (details supplied) in County Cavan for the past number of years will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35077/15]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 94 and 95 together.
Payments were withheld arising from suspected interference with a TB test and, since the person concerned has initiated legal action, it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the matter.
96. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of a review undertaken within his Department following a judgment in a court case (details supplied); if this report was forwarded to the person; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35078/15]
View answerThe court case the Deputy refers to related to a farmer from Cavan. Following on from the case, my Department carried out a review into certain aspects of the case.
I can confirm to the Deputy that a copy of the report was provided to a member who had made representations on the herd owner’s behalf.
97. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of commonages in the municipal district of Connemara in County Galway; the name of each commonage; the details of the commonages that have been assigned to a planner to draw up commonage plans under the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme, GLAS; the total area of each commonage and the number of shareholders in each commonage; the number of active shareholders in the commonage, based on the most recent data available to his Department through application for area aid; the number of farmers in each commonage who have applied to join GLAS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35080/15]
View answerMy Department has recently compiled a database of Commonages throughout the country, which is publicly available on the Department’s website and is regularly updated. Most of the information requested by the Deputy can be freely obtained from this database, which can be accessed through the following link:
http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/farmerschemespayments/glas/commonagedataforglas/ ].
In this database, all commonages are listed in county order, indicating the townland and their unique identifier number. The total area of each commonage, along with the active shareholders based on the most recent data available to the Department, is also shown. The database also shows the Commonage Advisors who have already been appointed and this information is updated regularly, as further appointments are made. Only commonages in excess of 10 hectares require the appointment of a single advisor.
The individual shareholders who have applied for GLAS are not identified on that database for Data Protection reasons, but this information is provided to the appointed Commonage Advisor by my Department. However, a full breakdown of all applications received, and identifying those with commonages, is supplied as follows.
|
County |
Submitted |
Submitted with Commonage |
|
Carlow |
299 |
53 |
|
Cavan |
961 |
24 |
|
Clare |
1684 |
85 |
|
Cork |
2347 |
327 |
|
Donegal |
2043 |
670 |
|
Dublin |
66 |
13 |
|
Galway |
3250 |
701 |
|
Kerry |
1853 |
610 |
|
Kildare |
305 |
5 |
|
Kilkenny |
473 |
9 |
|
Laois |
393 |
16 |
|
Leitrim |
1067 |
141 |
|
Limerick |
1130 |
16 |
|
Longford |
536 |
9 |
|
Louth |
160 |
36 |
|
Mayo |
2681 |
809 |
|
Meath |
481 |
0 |
|
Monaghan |
611 |
0 |
|
Offaly |
505 |
1 |
|
Roscommon |
1585 |
31 |
|
Sligo |
978 |
112 |
|
Tipperary |
1233 |
96 |
|
Waterford |
393 |
64 |
|
Westmeath |
680 |
1 |
|
Wexford |
859 |
34 |
|
Wicklow |
362 |
71 |
|
26935 |
3934 |
98. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35087/15]
View answerThere is no change to the list of rare breeds eligible for support under GLAS, and this list includes Dexter cattle. The full list of eligible rare breed animals is comprised as follows: Connemara Pony, Kerry, Moiled and Dexter cattle, Irish Draught, Kerry Bog Pony and Galway Sheep. The conditions for qualifying as a rare breed are very strict and I have no plans to add any additional breeds to this list. Priority entry to GLAS is available for those with rare breeds who were registered with the relevant breed society and had stock in 2012 and/or 2013. In the case of the Kerry Bog Pony and the Galway Sheep, which are of particular conservation concern, those acquiring stock in 2014 and registering with the relevant breed society will also be eligible under the next tranche of GLAS.
