Written Answers Nos. 206-226
206. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a dredging programme will be established for Howth Harbour (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41319/15]
View answerHowth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. While first and foremost a working fishery harbour, Howth similar to the other five Fishery Harbour Centres, has its own unique features which is home to a broad range of diverse economic and social activities.
My Department is conscious of the importance of both fishing and non fishing activities in Howth and endeavours to facilitate and develop both. This involves day to day operational support by Harbour staff and management and development and repair of infrastructure subject to available financial resources.
I am happy to advise the Deputy that, notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, in excess of €4.2 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth FHC as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme from 2011 to 2014. For 2015, I approved funding of €1.79 million for the maintenance and development of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. Major works for 2015 include the continued upgrading of the electrical system, provision of a small craft pontoon and traffic management works.
In addition I approved €150,000 for site investigation works at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre, the report on this site investigation will include vital information on the nature of the material to be dredged in any future dredging project. This information is necessary for the preparation of a Dumping at Sea licence application which will be required before any dredging project can commence.
As with all other developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, a dredging project at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre will be considered under future Capital Programmes on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing priorities.
207. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a roundabout is being installed in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41320/15]
View answerHowth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres, which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under statute to provide for the needs of fishermen and the fishing industry generally. However, all the Centres have unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social perspective. Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is no exception to this diversity, while first and foremost a working fishery harbour, my Department is conscious that it is also a very important tourist destination in addition to being a major venue for leisure activities with a wide range of recreational users of the harbour, including the yacht club, sport fishermen, walkers, tourists and other social users. These activities generate large volumes of vehicular traffic to the harbour.
Traffic Management is one of the areas where my Department has made investments to improve the safety of those visiting the harbour. Under my Departments 2015 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development programme I have allocated €115,000 in two tranches for these purposes, €75,000 in March and a further €40,000 in July. Areas attracting these funds include bollards, kerbing, footpath realignment and road lining. These monies augment funds allocated in previous years for the ongoing safety improvements at the harbour.
In matters concerning traffic management and road safety, my Department works closely with Fingal County Council and an Garda Síochána. In view of the high level of harbour traffic in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre and of health and safety concerns, a firm of consulting engineers examined the overall traffic management which considered traffic calming and pedestrian movements. The consultants conducted a Road Safety Audit and amongst the recommendations was a roundabout at the West Pier car park exit which is currently an unregulated junction.
A planning application to introduce traffic management measures, including the roundabout at the West Pier car park exit, was submitted to Fingal County Council. On the 23 September last my Department received a Notification of Decision to Grant Permission for a new roundabout and associated work at the West Pier car park exit.
The decision to grant was appealed to An Bord Pleanála on 21 October and the Department must now await the outcome of this process before proceeding any further.
208. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce pay parking in Howth in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41321/15]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, owns and directly manages six Fishery Harbour Centres located at Howth, Dunmore East, Castletownbere, Ros an Mhíl, Killybegs and An Daingean. Howth Fishery Harbour Centre is a working fishery harbour, however it is also a very important tourist and leisure destination with many restaurants and businesses operating on the Harbour.
The question of the introduction of paid car parking on Howth Harbour, as part of an overall review of traffic management arrangements, remains under consideration.
The Comptroller & Auditor General in his Special Report (No 82 of July 2014) and the related Report of the Public Accounts Committee of 24 June 2015 have asked the Department to review the position re pay parking in Howth, in conjunction with other Fishery Harbour Centres with a view to increasing income generation possibilities.
However, income generation is not the only factor to be considered in deciding whether pay parking should be introduced in Howth, there is a broad range of other factors to be taken into account before a final decision will be made on the matter. Most importantly, the safe operation of the Harbour is of paramount concern, in this context, traffic management and parking is recognised as an issue, particularly, though not exclusively, during the busy holiday periods.
Traffic and parking management within the Fishery Harbour Centre itself has been an issue for some time, particularly in the light of concerns raised about safety and emergency access by the Coastguard, the Lifeboat service, and An Garda Síochána. In this regard, upgrading works to the car park, including lining of parking spaces, have taken place as part of the harbour’s new traffic management scheme. In 2015 I have allocated €115,000 for the continuation of these improvements.
209. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the number of vacant buildings not being utilised in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre in County Dublin; the action he is taking to ensure that businesses are able to operate out of these disused buildings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41322/15]
View answerThe property portfolio in Howth, one of six Fishery Harbour Centres managed and operated by my Department, encompasses a range of diverse properties reflecting its remit as a working fishery harbour and its unique features which facilitate a broad range of other diverse activities which are important from both an economic and social perspective. My Department’s aim, working within the Government Framework for the management of State property and relevant legal frameworks, is to ensure that the sites within this diverse portfolio generate a competitive economic return while fostering a diverse range of maritime activities. In this context my Department reviews the portfolio of properties on an ongoing basis in order to optimise those returns to the Exchequer.
In June 2015 my Department offered two of these properties in Howth for tenancy under lease agreement by competitive public tender. The competitions were advertised on my Department’s website, in a national and local newspaper and within the harbour and were open to all interested parties. Lease agreements have been finalised with the successful tenderers for both properties.
While some properties in Howth may appear vacant they may be legally occupied. Others may not be suitable for tendering.
Currently there are two properties which are suitable for tendering but are subject to legal, operational or planning considerations and cannot be made available for tenancy until these issues are resolved. These issues are being progressed and, when appropriate, further tender competitions will be publicly advertised, in a similar manner to the previous competitions.
210. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the works carried out in 2015 under the fishery harbour and coastal infrastructure development programme in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre in County Dublin, in detail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41323/15]
View answerHowth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. While first and foremost a working fishery harbour, Howth similar to the other five Fishery Harbour Centres, has its own unique features which is home to a broad range of diverse economic and social activities.
My Department is conscious of the importance of both fishing and non fishing activities in Howth and endeavours to facilitate and develop both. This involves day to day operational support by Harbour staff and management and development and repair of infrastructure subject to available financial resources.
In 2015, I have allocated €1.79m for capital works at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre under the 2015 Fishery Harbour Capital Development Programme. The following table provides a breakdown of the approved projects in 2015:
|
Project 2015 |
Funding Allocated |
|
Safety and Maintenance |
€ 258,000 |
|
Disability Access |
€ 20,000 |
|
Traffic Management Works |
€ 115,000 |
|
Electrical Upgrade Final Phase |
€ 200,000 |
|
Provision of a Small Craft Pontoon |
€1,000,000 |
|
Site Investigation for West Pier Pontoon |
€ 150,000 |
|
Syncrolift – carriages & painting |
€ 47,000 |
|
Total |
€1,790,000 |
211. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for the development of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre in County Dublin over the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41324/15]
View answerHowth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute. While first and foremost a working fishery harbour, Howth similar to the other five Fishery Harbour Centres, has its own unique features and is home to a broad range of diverse economic and social activities. My Department is conscious of the importance of both fishing and non fishing activities in Howth and endeavours to facilitate and develop both. This involves day to day operational support by Harbour staff and management and development and repair of infrastructure subject to available financial resources.
I am happy to advise the Deputy that, notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, in excess of €4.2 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth FHC as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme from 2011 to 2014.
For 2015, I approved funding of €1.79 million for the maintenance and development of Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. Major works for 2015 include the continued upgrading of the electrical system, provision of a small craft pontoon and traffic management works.
Supporting the needs of the fishing industry and those of the wider range of harbour users, while continuing to deliver on a public service remit, will be foremost when considering future developments in the harbour. As with all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, future projects at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre will be considered under the Capital Programme on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing National priorities.
212. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the basic payment scheme and the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41341/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments (BPS)/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Schemes was received from the person named on 19 May 2015. The application for the ANC Scheme is integrated into the BPS application form and in order to apply for the ANC Scheme, applicants are requested to tick a box on the BPS application form. The person named has declared land parcels containing areas of natural constraints in their BPS application but has not applied for the ANC scheme via the tick box. The Department contacted the person named in early August indicating that she/he had not applied for the ANC Scheme and requesting clarification on his intentions in relation to applying for the Scheme. To date no reply has been received.
My Department also received two applications from the person named for the 2015 Scheme Year relating to the transfer of entitlements. The first was a 2015 Transfer of Entitlement Allocation Right and Reference Value application by way of Inheritance from a deceased person to the person named. The second was a 2015 Private Contract Clause application from the person named to a third party. As the first application was an Inheritance application it was necessary for my Department to request testamentary documentation in support of this transfer. There are also some issues in relation to land parcels to be resolved before both applications can be processed. Officials from my Department have been in contact directly with the person named to resolve these issues in order to facilitate processing of the applications.
213. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when approvals will issue under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2, dairy equipment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41373/15]
View answerThe new TAMS measure will make €395m available to Irish farmers for investing in on-farm infrastructure, facilities and equipment. All TAMS schemes have been opened and the applications received under the first tranches of both the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme and the Dairy Equipment Scheme are now being processed. All applications received are being examined and approvals will commence when all of the required checks have been undertaken. This is a complex process and as all applications for TAMS 2 must be made under a tranche-based approach, we are required to evaluate, rank and assess all applications received together. I expect approvals will commence before the end of the year for the Young Farmer Scheme and early in the New Year for the Dairy Equipment Scheme.
214. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a basic payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41374/15]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment /Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 28 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.
215. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action he is taking on the Chinese demand for certificates of compliance with cadmium levels of 0.5 milligrams per kilogram or less of live crabmeat and the decision by the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority to cease issuing certificates for exporters from 15 November 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41383/15]
View answerIn 2010, Ireland secured market access in China for live crab through bi-lateral co-operation between the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and their Chinese counterparts. This access built on previous arrangements for fisheries products and has more recently been part of wider trade missions to expand the access for Irish food and seafood products in China. In the specific case of live crab, I understand from the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority that there has been a steady increase in exports most recently estimated at €3 million in value with a significant number of Irish sea-fishing boats providing this product to up to 8 seafood export companies. On 29 October 2015, the Chinese food import authorities wrote to the Irish embassy in Beijing expressing concern about the levels of the heavy metal cadmium in live crabs coming from Ireland which the authorities determined exceeded Chinese limits and requested that Ireland ensure only crabs which meet the Chinese standards for cadmium be permitted for export. I am advised that the UK is currently experiencing similar challenges.
European legislation sets a limit of 0.5 mg/kg for white muscle meat from the limbs only; however the Chinese authorities are currently applying this limit to all crabmeat. I understand that crabs take in cadmium from the environment and it builds up in the brown meat of the crab to much higher levels than the white meat. In view of the Chinese request to meet this standard for live crabs, the SFPA notified Irish crab exporters of the new monitoring requirements and the difficulties this would pose for providing health certificates for live Irish crabs intended for export to China.
As part of efforts to support the trade of compliant safe seafood, a Memorandum of Understanding is in place with the Chinese import authorities which allows for technical dialogue. With the support of the Marine Institute and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the SFPA has sought to raise this issue with the Chinese authorities in recent weeks. The SFPA is leading on a technical response to the communication from the Chinese authorities before the end of November with a view to meaningful dialogue around reconsideration of the tissues to which this limit applies. To date, there have been two meetings with representatives of the crab industry to facilitate exploration of a range of approaches which may be adopted to address this challenge.
I am advised by the Marine Institute, that Irish waters have very low cadmium levels. It is important to bear in mind that heavy metals occur naturally at low levels in the marine environment and as such do not pose a food safety risk. I am satisfied that the procedures which are in place for monitoring the safety of Irish seafood, including live crab, meet the stringent European standards and consumers can continue to have high confidence in the quality of Irish seafood.
216. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if hares were sick or dying at Cashel Coursing Club in County Tipperary, resulting in the cancellation of meetings on 10 and 11 October 2015; if post mortems were carried out, and further to the official coursing club website stating unsuitable ground, if he will provide details of the unsuitable ground conditions. [39537/15]
View answerUnder the provisions of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, the regulation of coursing is chiefly a matter for the Irish Coursing Club (ICC), subject to the general control and direction of Bord na gCon, which is the statutory body with responsibility for the improvement and development of the greyhound industry, greyhound racing and coursing. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for the ICC. Nonetheless my Department has made enquiries and the ICC has indicated that Cashel Coursing Club postponed its meeting due to unsuitable ground conditions. It has also confirmed that all the hares in the care of Cashel Coursing Club for that event were certified healthy prior to their release.
A monitoring committee on Coursing, comprising officials from my Department, the ICC and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), carefully monitors developments in coursing. A review of the outcome of the most recent season indicates that 99.4% of hares were released back to the wild at the conclusion of the 2014/2015 coursing season.
217. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm the statement on Bord Iascaigh Mhara's website that chemicals are rarely used on Irish fish farms by providing the amount and nature of the chemicals used during 2012 to 2014. [41398/15]
View answerThe specific text on the Bord Iascaigh Mhara website referred to by the Deputy reads as follows; “Chemicals are rarely used on today’s Irish fish farms. The only chemicals used would be medicines which, if needed, are administered by a veterinary surgeon and detailed in records that are routinely inspected by the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Young salmon are vaccinated before being put to sea, which means that the use of antibiotics is almost non-existent ”. Control of the substances referred to, is governed by the provisions of Statutory Instrument No. 466/2008, EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES (CONTROL OF DANGEROUS SUBSTANCES IN AQUACULTURE) REGULATIONS 2008. As I have previously advised the Deputy, Regulation 8 of this Statutory Instrument imposes an obligation on all aquaculture operators to maintain and make available for inspection, records which relate to their licensed aquaculture operations. There is no legislative requirement on my Department to keep these documents on file as a matter of routine. However, as stated, aquaculture operators are obliged to make relevant documents available as part of any inspection undertaken in connection with the operation of their sites under the provisions of the applicable legislation.
218. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if independent monitors are on board the super trawlers off the west coast, as required under Council Regulation (EC) No 812/2004 of 26 April 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41429/15]
View answerArticle 4 (1) of Council Regulation (EC) No 812/2004 of 26/4/2004 laying down measures concerning incidental catches of cetaceans in fisheries, requires inter-alia, Member States to design and implement monitoring schemes for incidental catches of cetaceans using observers on board the vessels flying their flag and with an overall length of 15m or more, for defined fisheries. The fisheries subject to this requirement includes pelagic fisheries. The regulation does not require that every vessel carries an observer and the regulation puts the obligation on the Flag Member State to design and implement the scheme rather than the vessel or the coastal state in whose waters the fishing takes place. It is a matter of competence for the Flag Member State of the vessel concerned to ensure that observers are onboard where required under their national scheme. Ireland has submitted its Annual report for 2014 to the EU Commission in respect of the Irish fishing fleet.
219. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person in County Galway (details supplied) under the basic payment scheme, the areas of natural constraint scheme and the agri-environment options scheme 3 for 2015; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41434/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme /Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 17 April 2015. In relation to the Basic Payments Scheme, the person named has not established any entitlements and thus no payment is due under this Scheme.
Under the 2015 ANC Scheme, eligible applicants are required to have met a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of seven consecutive months and to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year. Payment under the ANC scheme has not issued in this case as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named to advise him of the outstanding issues. I understand that further documentation in relation to this issue is now to be forwarded to the Department. On receipt of this documentation, the application will be further reviewed.
It is expected that AEOS payments for the 2015 scheme year will commence towards the end of November for those cases where there are no outstanding issues on foot of administrative checks and inspections. Under the EU Regulations governing the scheme a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.
220. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) has not received payment following the decision of the appeals office dated 26 August 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41437/15]
View answerThe decision of the Appeals Office dated 26 August 2015 was in relation to the named person’s Pillar 1 payments only and the appeal decision was not applicable to his REPS application. Representatives of the person named have been in direct contact with officials from my Department in relation to this matter and they have been informed that the matter of entitlement to REPS4 payment in this case is currently under review and that my Department hopes to conclude that review at the earliest possible opportunity.
221. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants who are active farmers and who submitted an application under the 2015 basic payment scheme, but whose payments under the rural environment protection scheme are still outstanding, where his Department has stated that issues arose with the single payment scheme and the rural environment protection area scheme area cross-checks in 2012 and 2013; the number and details of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41438/15]
View answerThe number of cases where a REPS4 payment is still outstanding for the 2012 Scheme Year and the 2013 Scheme Year because of an issue that arose with the land areas under the Single Payment Scheme is 7. The breakdown of these cases per county is contained in the following table:
|
2012 |
Number of Cases |
2013 |
Number of Cases |
|
Cork |
1 |
Galway |
1 |
|
Galway |
1 |
Tipperary |
2 |
|
Monaghan |
1 |
Wicklow |
1 |
222. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of participants who are active farmers and who submitted an application under the 2015 basic payment scheme, but whose payments under the rural environment protection scheme remain outstanding, where his Department has stated that no issues of non-compliance were found at inspection, but where an issue arose with the single payment scheme reference areas, which issue has since been resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41439/15]
View answerThe number of cases where a REPS4 payment is still outstanding because of issues which arose originally with Single Payment Scheme reference areas, is 3.
224. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments under the rural environment protection scheme 4 are payable on the gross area; why he has withheld payments from participants where issues arose in relation to the single payment scheme eligible area; the number of participants who had payments withheld in 2012 and in 2013, where such an issue arose; by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41441/15]
View answerREPS 4 is generally paid on the gross area. However, payments have been withheld in relation to the Single Payment Scheme eligible area in some REPS 4 cases due to areas being deemed ineligible for REPS 4 purposes as they were considered not to be actively farmed. The number of cases where a REPS4 payment is still outstanding for the 2012 Scheme Year and the 2013 Scheme Year because of an issue that arose with the land areas under the Single Payment Scheme is 3, one in each of Laois, Tipperary and Galway.
225. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of instructions given to district superintendents regarding Keelderry commonage lands (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41442/15]
View answerThese inspections are currently the subject of legal proceedings and therefore I cannot comment on the matter.
226. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who, on 18 May 2011, authorised an official of his Department (details supplied) to omit the inspections of technical area officers in relation to Keelderry commonage lands, which was sought in an application on 20 March 2011 under freedom of information legislation, and which necessitated the applicant to make a further request on 25 May 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41443/15]
View answerThese inspections are currently the subject of legal proceedings and therefore I cannot comment on the matter.
