Written Answers Nos. 383-396
383. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of farm payments to persons (details supplied) in County Cork; the reason for reductions following a ground inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1060/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 16 April 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Ground Eligibility inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Ground Eligibility inspection. This inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of greater than 50%. Based on the terms and conditions of these schemes this resulted in no payment in respect of either the Basic Payment or the Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes and the application of an administrative fine to be offset against any future EU payments.
The person named was notified of this decision on 6 November 2015. The person named was also notified of the right to seek a review of this decision. To date no request for a review has been received by my Department.
In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of any such review the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
384. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1065/16]
View answerAn application to the second tranche of GLAS scheme for the person named was received by my Department on 8 December 2015. The application is one of over 14,000 applications submitted as part of this second tranche of the GLAS scheme.
All GLAS applications received, including the application of the person named, are now being assessed by my Department in line with the requirements set out in the scheme Terms and Conditions. Successful applications will have a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016 and 2016 payments under the scheme will be due to issue in the last quarter of 2016.
My Department is not aware of any issue regarding an incorrect herdnumber, as suggested, but will contact the applicant as requested.
Question No. 385 withdrawn.
387. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1157/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS 1 contract on 1 November 2010, and has been paid in full for the 2010-2014 scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must take place. As 2015 is the final year of payment, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before the last payment can be processed. It is expected that these checks will be completed shortly.
388. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will urgently arrange the processing of payments to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the area aid scheme as communication from his Department in this matter has been lacking and the person needs the payment to cope with farming over the winter period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1159/16]
View answerAn application under Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes is currently in progress and an official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named in an effort to resolve outstanding matters. 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.
389. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he last met formally with the chairperson and chief executive officer of Horse Sport Ireland and when he will meet the chairperson and chief executive officer again; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1165/16]
View answerI last met formally with the Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer of Horse Sport Ireland at the first meeting of the ‘Reaching New Heights’ Implementation Committee on 20 October 2015. Although I am in regular contact with the Chairman of Horse Sport Ireland on an informal basis, no arrangements have been made to meet formally in the near future.
390. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Wexford under the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1173/16]
View answerMy Department received a Transfer of Entitlement Allocation Right and reference Value application from the above named herd owners. This application has been fully processed and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme issued on 11 January 2016.
391. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford under the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1174/16]
View answerThe person named and another received an allocation right in respect of 53.28 entitlements under the 2013 scheme year. In 2014 the person named and another changed the registration details of their farming enterprise and formed a company.
In order to comply with the regulatory requirements pertaining to the Basic Payment scheme, it is necessary that a transfer of entitlements from the sole traders to the entity of the company takes place.
This transfer has now been fully processed and the payment will issue shortly.
392. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; when the person will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1184/16]
View answerAn application to the second tranche of GLAS scheme for the person named was received by my Department on 8 December 2015. The application is one of over 14,000 applications submitted as part of this second tranche of the GLAS scheme.
All GLAS applications received, including the application of the person-named, are now being assessed by my Department in line with the requirements set out in the scheme Terms and Conditions. This process will identify which applications will be approved under the Scheme. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their application. Successful applications will have a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016. As with other agri-environment schemes, such as REPS and AEOS, first instalments of the annual payments are generally made in the last quarter of the year in question. For 2016, it is planned that a 75% first instalment of the GLAS premium will issue before the end of this year.
393. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1185/16]
View answerThe person named established 61.36 Entitlement Allocation Rights under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. The total value of these entitlements is €11,207.88 including Greening. The person named formed a registered farm partnership with his son, and submitted an application on behalf of the farm partnership under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme.
A farm partnership is a legal business arrangement where two or more individuals come together combining their respective resources to achieve mutual benefits. Members of a farm partnership who own individual sets of entitlements receive a combined payment. It is therefore incumbent that my Department identifies and ensures that entitlements held are licensed for use in the partnership. Consequently, should the partnership dissolve the entitlements return to the relevant owners. My Department has established a robust procedure to ensure the integrity of this identification process. Processing of this application has recently been finalised, and payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the Farm Partnership concerned.
The person named also submitted applications under the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. Once payment under the Basic Payment Scheme has been made, the applications to the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme will be processed with a view to payment issuing as soon as possible thereafter.
394. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter regarding the cutting down of forestry (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1239/16]
View answerCoillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.
Coillte has confirmed that the tree felling, to which the Deputy refers, was on foot of a felling licence issued by my Department and that it was a windblown area due to Storm Darwin. As required under the legislation under which the felling licence was issued, namely the Forestry Act 1946, one of the conditions attaching to the licence is that the clearfelled area must be replanted with trees within a certain timeframe. This re-planting obligation will remain even if the land is sold.
In relation to the interest expressed by a third party about possible acquisition of the land, land transactions are an operational matter for Coillte who has advised, in this regard, that they are willing to engage directly with the stakeholder involved to discuss their interest and assess the options.
395. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an appeal due by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath under the rural environment protection scheme will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1255/16]
View answerAn oral hearing at the Agriculture Appeals Office was held in this case on 1 December 2015. The person concerned and his representatives were notified of the outcome in writing by the Agriculture Appeals Office on 31 December 2015. The appeal was allowed by the Agriculture Appeals Office and they are returning the file to the relevant area within the Department this week for the appropriate action to be taken on foot of that decision.
396. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to have the entitlements to which a farm partnership (details supplied) is duly entitled allocated to the said partnership as it has not received any payments due to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1256/16]
View answerThe person named established 44.76 Entitlement Allocation Rights under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. The total value of these entitlements is €12,520.47 including Greening. The person named formed a registered farm partnership with third parties, and submitted an application on behalf of the farm partnership under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme.
A farm partnership is a legal business arrangement where two or more individuals come together combining their respective resources to achieve mutual benefits. Members of a farm partnership who own individual sets of entitlements receive a combined payment. It is therefore incumbent that my Department identifies and ensures that entitlements held are licensed for use in the partnership. Consequently, should the partnership dissolve the entitlements return to the relevant owners. My Department has established a robust procedure to ensure the integrity of this identification process. Processing of this application has recently been finalised, and payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the Farm Partnership concerned.
The person named also submitted an application under the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. Once payment under the Basic Payment Scheme has been made, the application to the Young Farmers Scheme will be processed for payment to issue as soon as possible thereafter.
