Written Answers Nos. 109-118
109. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide clarification regarding additional top-up moneys from the Exchequer to boost the €13.7 million European Union crisis fund; if he will dispense the funds to enable viability to those engaged in farming regarded as vulnerable who have endured dramatic income losses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39872/15]
View answerThe relevant EU legislative provisions providing for this direct aid payment came into force in the last number of weeks and provide that Member States have the flexibility to distribute this aid through the most effective channels at their disposal. It is a clear requirement of the provisions regarding this aid that the funds need to be distributed on the basis of objective and non-discriminatory criteria and also needs to ensure that farmers in the relevant sectors are the ultimate beneficiaries of the targeted aid.
I have discussed these matters with representatives of the dairy sector, most recently at the dairy forum on 29th September. I took the opportunity to update stakeholders regarding progress to date and to seek their opinions regarding how best to distribute this aid. Any decision on distribution obviously had to await the adoption at EU level of the relevant legislative provisions.
In addition my Department also has had discussions with representatives of the Irish pig sector. I am currently considering various options and intend to announce final decisions regarding the aid levels and mechanisms in the very near future.
110. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to review the way farm payments are dealt with (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39877/15]
View answerThis year, my Department receives over 135,000 applications from farmers under the Direct Aid Schemes, which are funded or partially funded by the EU. The Schemes involved include the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme.
Under EU Regulations, all applications must be subjected to robust administrative checks prior to payment. The main element of the administrative check is an area assessment. This is achieved by using the detailed database of individual land parcels. This is known as the Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) which currently records, electronically, some 1 million individual land parcels and which is required to be kept fully updated.
The Department’s systems in this critical area must meet demanding EU and national audit requirements. Only valid applications under the BPS and ANC that fully comply with the requirements of the EU legislation are paid. Consequently, all applications under the Schemes are subject to administrative checks. Cases that do not pass the validation process go into error and cannot be paid pending a resolution of the error concerned. These errors include over-claims, dual claims and incomplete application forms. In addition, applicants under the ANC scheme must fulfil stocking density and retention requirements. My Department enters into correspondence, mainly through the issuing of query letters to farmers, in order to resolve these error cases.
My Department has received approximately 120,000 applications under the BPS from applicants who currently hold entitlements and 102,000 applications from those eligible under the ANC scheme.
In relation to the BPS and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments began issuing in Ireland on 16 October 2015. This is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment was set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors.
Despite the extension of the closing date for the receipt of applications by two weeks, with a consequent reduction of the processing time available, Ireland is among the earliest to pay the BPS in the European Union and, to date, 107,875, farmers have received payments totalling €680.1 million.
In relation to the ANC Scheme, I can confirm that payments commenced, on schedule, on 23 September 2015 and that to date, 82,242 farmers have received payments totalling €175 million. There are no advance payments under this scheme.
As outstanding cases are fully processed and are cleared of any outstanding error, they will be processed for payment. My Department is prioritising the processing of all such outstanding cases with regular payment runs continuing over the coming weeks for all fully processed cases. Balancing payments under the BPS are scheduled to commence from 1 December.
111. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the bovine viral diarrhoea sampling programme is continuing, given that it was planned to be a three-year programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39880/15]
View answerThe National BVD Eradication Programme is an industry led programme delivered by Animal Health Ireland (AHI). The legislative basis for this is set out in SI 118 of 2014 which requires that all animals with a date of birth on or after 1 January 2013 must be tested for the presence of the BVD virus. Excellent progress has been made on the programme to date with a very high percentage of herds complying with the requirement to test their calves and the incidence of persistently infected (PI) animals falling from 0.67% in 2013 to 0.46 % 2014, with a further reduction anticipated in 2015. However, there are still a relatively small number of farms on which persistently infected animals are being retained.
I should emphasise that the BVD programme is an industry led programme. Nevertheless, my Department provides significant financial supports to farmers to encourage them to dispose of their persistently infected (PI) animals promptly. Details of these supports are available at: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/diseasecontrol/bovineviraldiarrhoeabvd/
Following consultation with the BVD Implementation Group, earlier this year my Department issued almost 500 restriction notices to non-participating herds, as they had failed to comply with their legal obligation to test their calves for BVD. These notices have led to steady progress being made in reducing the number of retained PI animals. The restriction notices continue to be issued by my Department’s local offices.
My Department also intends to write to herdowners informing them of the risks posed to them by the presence of PI animals on the farms of neighbouring farmers. These notifications will allow neighbouring farms to review their biosecurity generally and to take measures to protect their herds, including ensuring that boundaries are adequate to prevent nose to nose contact and grazing management (particularly of breeding animals) to minimise the likelihood of contact.
The epidemiological modelling work undertaken by AHI indicates that the eradication of BVD is achievable by 2020 provided that farmers remove PI animals in line with veterinary advice.
112. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the current entitlements due to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; if his Department will take account of the fact that this person has been farming for over a decade on leased land in its review of this farmer's eligibility for entitlements; the reason these previous years of farming have not been taken into account to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39890/15]
View answerThe number of entitlements to be allocated to any one farmer under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015 is based on the number of eligible hectares declared in 2013 or 2015, whichever is lesser. The person named declared 17.78 hectares of eligible land in 2013 and, in 2015 declared 18.76 therefore he will be allocated 17.7 8 entitlements.
The 2015 value of entitlements is based on a fixed percentage of the total value of entitlements owned by the farmer in 2014 plus the value of any payment received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme in that year. As with all farmers, a person’s direct payment in 2015 is no longer based solely on entitlements but is divided between the Basic Payment Scheme and the Greening payment. In 2014, the person named owned entitlements with a total value of €277.69.
In 2015 the person named has established 17.78 entitlements with an estimated unit value of €29.04. As this unit value is below the National Average, his entitlements will be subject to gradual increase from 2015 to 2019. For 2015, the total value of his Basic Payment Scheme entitlements and greening is €744.69 rising to €2694.07 by 2019. This represents an overall increase of 870% by 2019.
113. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Number 363 of 6 October 2015, if he will provide an update; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39891/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 17 May 2015. I can now confirm that processing of the application under both schemes has recently been finalised and payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
114. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the 2012 suckler welfare scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39895/15]
View answerThe person named registered 24 animals under the 2008-2012 Suckler Welfare Scheme.
Five animals were paid on 19th December 2014. The remaining nineteen animals have been cleared for payment which will issue in the coming weeks.
115. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will ensure that a basic payment scheme, BPS, map is digitised without delay for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon, given that the lack of a digitised map is preventing the person from applying for the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, and the only change is on an internal boundary wall; if he is aware that the farmer in question is in Tier 1, but was unable to apply in the first round due to a departmental mapping anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39911/15]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the Basic Payment Scheme on 22 April 2015. This application has been fully processed. The payment due should issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named. My Department has not been made aware previously of any issue in relation to a GLAS application. I have asked my officials to contact the person named to follow up on the matter.
116. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that the thoroughbred foal levy, administered by Horse Racing Ireland since 2000, is presently calculated using the advertised fee of the sire of the foal being registered, and not on the actual value of the foal, nor on the actual fee paid for the stallion in question; if he is further aware that under this methodology, small breeders with two to three mares, who produce up to 70% to 80% of all foals, contribute a proportionately higher foal levy amount on less valuable stallions; that more valuable stallions, commonly used by large stud farms, pay proportionately far less; if this regressivity in the design of the levy was intentional from the outset; if he is considering amending it to make the charge payable more progressive, according to the actual value of the foal and or stallion subject to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39920/15]
View answerThe current Foal Levy scheme, which was introduced in 2000 on a statutory basis, applies to all thoroughbred foals registered in Ireland.
The proceeds of the levy are used by Horse Racing Ireland to help fund the Irish Equine Centre, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. These organisations provide key support structures to the Irish thoroughbred breeding industry.
The foal levy is currently calculated with reference to SI 735 of 2011 which is the governing legislation. This legislation describes the process of determination of the fee and refers to the advertised value of the nomination as having a particular meaning which is “generally applicable for a covering of a mare by that stallion on 15 February in the year prior to the year of the birth of the foal by that stallion.”
It is not practical to calculate the levy on the value of the foal or on the actual fee paid due to the variety of arrangements.
The lowest foal levy band incurs a fee of €35.00, the second band is €50.00. Most small breeders fall into one of these two bands. The highest band, for stallion fees in excess of €30,001.00 is €650.00.
The levy was amended in 2011 and the rates and bands were reviewed at that time by the Foal Levy Committee and a number of additional bands were introduced and the fee applicable for the lower bands was reduced from €39 to €35 and from €77 to €50. To fund these reductions for small breeders the highest band was increased from €615 to €650. In 2014, 7% of income came from these two lower bands while 27% of the income came from the top band.
There is currently a very high compliance level with the Foal Levy scheme and it has been revised from time to time to ensure fairness in its application.
Against this background as outlined, I have no plans to change the current arrangements for the Foal Levy.
117. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is aware that there is no mechanism in place for a refund under the thoroughbred foal levy, should a foal which is subject to it die or become injured; if he will address this anomaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39921/15]
View answerThe Foal Levy applies to all thoroughbred foals registered in Ireland. There is currently a very high compliance level with the Levy.
The proceeds of the levy are used by Horse Racing Ireland to help fund the Irish Equine Centre, the Irish Thoroughbred Breeders Association and Irish Thoroughbred Marketing. These organisations provide key support structures to the Irish thoroughbred breeding industry.
Regarding foal levy refunds Horse Racing Ireland has informed me that there is a mechanism for granting such requirements. Any request for a refund is considered on its own merits.
118. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39924/15]
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.
