Written Answers Nos. 125-135
125. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is entitled to a single payment; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38826/15]
View answerThe person named did not hold entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme. However, she did receive a direct payment in 2013 under the Grassland Sheep Scheme but this was under €100 (€14.76), and therefore she was ineligible for an automatic allocation right to receive entitlements under the new Basic Payment Scheme which takes effect in 2015.
Persons who never held entitlements under the Single Payment but who actively farmed in 2013 in the beef, dairy, sheep or arable sectors are eligible to receive an allocation of entitlements under the provision known as the Scottish Derogation. The person named did not submit an application form for this scheme and the closing date of 29 May 2015 has now passed.
My Department will make direct contact with the person named to see if there were any extenuating circumstances in relation to the non-submission of this application.
126. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal under the single payment scheme and the disadvantaged areas scheme (details supplied); if he will arrange for a site inspection on the merits of the person's appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38831/15]
View answerApplications under the Single Payment/ Disadvantaged Areas Schemes have been received from the person named for the years 2012, 2013 and 2014. The person named has appealed the Department’s assessment of the quantity of eligible land in a particular land parcel which she claimed. This land parcel is currently being reviewed by the Department. The results of this process will be forwarded to the person named on completion. At that stage, the opportunity will be afforded to the person named to request a field visit which the Department will facilitate if required.
127. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the country is free of BSE-contaminated product held in storage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38865/15]
View answerMy Department ’s systems for the control and eradication of BSE are robust and effective. This has been recognised by the World Animal Health Organisation and is demonstrable from the dramatic reduction in incidence since the disease’s peak in 2003. In the very rare circumstances in which an animal may be infected with BSE, my Department has an arrangement with an approved plant in Northern Ireland to incinerate the relevant carcases.
My Department's epidemiological investigation of an isolated case of BSE in 2015 confirmed inter alia that no concerns arise regarding the integrity of the commercial feed supply chain or the effectiveness of the feed control systems. In the 2009 and 2010 period, more than 3,800 feed inspections took place, and almost 2,500 feed samples, including 52 from suppliers to the farm on which the positive case was found, were tested for the presence of processed animal proteins. All tested negative for meat and bone meal.
128. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive a payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38868/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 14 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due under the Direct Payments Schemes as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
129. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38870/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 18 May 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being processed with the intention of issuing any payments due under the Direct Payments Schemes as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
130. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a single payment for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason for the delay; if the payment will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38872/15]
View answerAccording to records held in my Department the person named changed their herd number for the 2015 Scheme Year from a single name to joint names. In order to facilitate payment under the amended herd number it is necessary for the above named to submit an application to transfer the allocation right for entitlements from the single name to the joint names. An official from my Department has been in contact with the person named and the required Transfer form has been issued to him. Once the completed form has been received and processed by my Department payment will issue shortly thereafter.
131. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when applications under the disadvantaged area scheme (details supplied) will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38903/15]
View answerIn three of the four cases highlighted by the Deputy, processing of the applications under the Areas of Natural Constraints schemes has been finalised and payment has issued. In the fourth case, processing of the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
I have arranged for officials in my Department to write directly to the Deputy with the relevant detail in relation to the individual cases named.
132. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if there is any circumstances in which a retired member of the Defence Forces can have their pension reduced as a result of having being made an award for a deafness or injury claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38699/15]
View answerThe Army Pensions Acts provide for the grant of pensions and gratuities to former members of the Permanent Defence Force (PDF) in respect of permanent disablement due to a wound or injury attributable to military service (whether at home or abroad), or due to disease attributable to or aggravated by overseas service with the United Nations.
Section 13(2) of the Army Pensions Act, 1923, as amended, provides that “Any compensation which may be received from or on behalf of the person alleged to be responsible for the act which caused the wounding ... may be taken into consideration in fixing the amount of any pension, allowance or gratuity which might be awarded under this Act to or in respect of such person and if such compensation is received after the award of any such pension or allowance the Minister may review the award and, having regard to the amount of such compensation, either terminate or reduce the amount thereof.” The underlying objective of section 13(2) is to take into consideration awards (compensation, pension, gratuity or allowance) made ‘on the double’ from any source for the same disablement.
An individual decision based on the merits of each case is made by the Minister for Defence. This can result in a reduced pension or gratuity, or payment in full.
133. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Defence the number of applicants awaiting transfer in his Department to locations other than their present location; the number of applications by location; the rules that apply for such transfers; if an applicant has a defined position on the list for transfer; the grounds that apply to applicants being moved up or down on the list; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38753/15]
View answerThe Department of Defence does not maintain lists of staff wishing to transfer to other locations.
134. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence in view of the White Paper commitment to establish a school of peace at the Curragh, the steps he will take to advance this project; if he has provided designated responsibility to identified personnel within his Department or in the Defence Forces; if he will outline a timescale for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38830/15]
View answerThe White Paper on Defence, which was published in August 2015, sets out the policy framework for the Defence Organisation for the next ten years and beyond. I have asked the Secretary General and the Chief of Staff to submit a joint implementation plan which will identify priorities, responsibilities and timescales in relation to implementing the White Paper. Work on development of the implementation plan is ongoing.
With regard to the development of a new Institute for Peace and Leadership at the Curragh, the Government has committed to evaluating and developing this concept over the coming months. It is foreseen that the new Institute would have international standing and contribute to the overall development of knowledge and experience in the areas of peace support and conflict resolution.
Initial scoping work in relation to the development of the concept for the Institute has commenced within the Defence Organisation however it is too early in the process to identify specific timescales for the establishment and roll out of the proposal.
135. Deputy Shane Ross asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 356 of 20 October 2015, when exactly, and by whom, the decision was made to downgrade St. Bricin's Military Hospital to a military medical facility; if this decision was communicated to the Defence Forces representative associations and to the Houses of the Oireachtas; the reason St. Bricin's is listed as the Defence Forces logistics base hospital in all relevant Defence Forces regulations, administrative instructions and orders, if that is no longer the case; given that St. Bricin's continues to offer a number of services comparable to those offered in the Health Service Executive's county and regional hospitals, including radiology, day surgery, lying-in nursing services, consultant clinics and a laboratory service, none of which are offered in the other military medical facilities, the reason for the decision to downgrade the hospital; the Defence Forces' current infrastructure priorities; his views on whether the Defence Forces medical facilities have been given adequate priority in this Government's term of office; if he will commit to advancing the project to replace St. Bricin's immediately; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38847/15]
View answerWhile commonly known as St Bricin’s Hospital, in practice, this military medical facility provides only General Practitioner and limited out-patient services. There have been no lying-in facilities utilised for Defence Forces personnel in St Bricin’s since December 2012.
The closure of St. Bricin’s Hospital, Dublin and other military establishments was announced as part of the Budget in October, 2008. The decision was linked to the decentralisation programme. As part of the implementation of the Government decision to relocate the Defence Forces HQ under decentralisation, it was proposed that services being provided by St Bricin’s would transfer to The Curragh. It was anticipated at the time that St. Bricin’s would be disposed of, taking account of market conditions, so as to maximise the return to the Defence Forces and generate funding for reinvestment in Defence Forces equipment and infrastructure in accordance with Government policy. That decision included a provision that St Bricin’s would remain in operation as a military medical facility pending the provision of suitable alternative facilities. As I have previously advised, to date it has not proved possible to provide alternative facilities within available resources and the Defence Forces priorities in relation to infrastructure investment.
The Department is engaged in an ongoing capital building programme designed to modernise and enhance the training, operational and accommodation facilities available to members of the Defence Forces. The programme focuses mainly on infrastructural projects comprising the construction of new buildings and the refurbishment of existing buildings and facilities.
Current infrastructural priorities include:
Replacement of storage buildings in The Curragh,
Transport workshop refurbishment at barracks in Kilkenny and Limerick,
Completion of a new locker block in Cathal Brugha Barracks, Dublin,
Remediation works in McKee Barracks, Dublin,
Upgrading of dining facilities at Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel,
Upgrading of fire fighting system at the Oil Wharf, Naval Base, Haulbowline, Cork.
The intention is that St Bricin’s will continue as a military medical facility providing medical services for members of the Defence Forces for the foreseeable future.
The provision of all necessary medical services to Defence Forces personnel is given adequate priority by me and the military authorities. The optimum method of delivering these services is the subject of constant review.
