Written Answers Nos. 397-409
397. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received payment under the agri-environment options scheme 3; the reasons for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1280/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS 3 contract on 1 May 2013 and has been paid in full for the 2013 and 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 be completed before any payment can issue.
These checks are now complete and payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year is expected to issue shortly.
398. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when final payment will issue under the agri-environment options scheme 1 to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1285/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS 1 contract on 1 November 2010, and have 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.
399. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how a person (details supplied) in County Mayo can submit an application to his Department under the Hardship Recognition Scheme for Farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1287/16]
View answerThe recent severe flooding caused widespread flooding of farmland and has impacted on a significant number of farmers. My Department is urgently addressing these problems through a range of actions.
The Animal Welfare Helpline has been operating throughout the period of the floods, including on Christmas Day and New Years Day. Arising from farm visits by Teagasc and Department personnel, as well as requests to the animal welfare Helpline, emergency arrangements were put in place to provide feed under Department Emergency Feed Provision Arrangements for the worst affected farms. Almost 300 tons of concentrate feed has now been provided to over 100 farmers, avoiding welfare issues arising.
In addition to these emergency provisions funding has been provided by the Government for a new Fodder Aid scheme for farmers who have suffered fodder losses as a result of this flooding. Support under this scheme will apply to the loss of silage, hay, straw and concentrates where there is evidence of damage caused by flooding during the months of December 2015 and January 2016. It is anticipated that assistance will be provided to up to 300 farmers and will be subject to the de minimis provisions of EU state aid rules.
Application Forms for the scheme are available on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s website, the Department’s local office network and from Teagasc offices.
It should be noted that, to ensure swift payments under the scheme, the closing date for applications for this scheme is Friday 22 January 2016.
A further measure is under consideration to cover a very small number of farmers who have experienced extreme hardship, including through the loss of livestock. Any such measure must comply with European Commission State Aid rules.
400. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the agri-environment options scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1288/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS 3 contract on 1 May 2013 and has been paid in full for the 2013, 2014 and 2015 scheme years. Payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year issued in two parts: - 85% in the amount of € 2,518.71 on 22 December 2015 and 15% in the amount of €444.48 on 23 December 2015.
401. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when balancing payments to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry under the basic payment scheme/areas of natural constraint scheme will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1305/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 20 February 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The 2015 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraint application of the person named was selected for a remote sensing inspection. This inspection resulted in findings of an over-declaration in area of greater than 2 0%. Based on the terms and conditions of the schemes this resulted in no payment in respect of the 20 15 Direct Payments Schemes. The person named was notified of this decision on 30 November 2015.
Following direct contact from the person named, the 2015 position was reviewed by the Department and the area determined as eligible for payment has increased. Processing of any payments due as a result of this change in area are now being finalised and will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
402. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments due to persons (details supplied) in County Limerick under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme and otherwise will be paid. [1306/16]
View answerAn application under the Young Farmers Scheme was received in respect of the persons named on the 22 May 2015. One of the eligibility conditions for participation in the Young Farmers Scheme is that by the 31 December 2015 an applicant must have completed or commenced an Agricultural Qualification at FETAC Level 6 or its equivalent. It has been confirmed to my Department that the person named did not meet the entry criteria for the Distance Education Course he had indicated in the application. The applicant was offered the option to attend a Part Time course which he did not pursue. As such the person named does not meet the minimum educational qualification required for participation under the Young Farmers Scheme. He will be notified of this decision in the coming days and will have the opportunity to appeal same.
As regards GLAS, an application was approved under Tranche 1 of GLAS with a contract start date of 1 October 2015. GLAS applicants with a start date of 1 October 2015 are entitled to a 2015 part-year payment in respect of certain actions, and covering the three month period 1 October 2015-31 December 2015. However, during the prepayment validation checks on the application concerned, two queries were identified. The Department is examining these issues with a view to resolving them as soon as possible.
403. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of farmers who have lost livestock due to the recent floods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1330/16]
View answerThe recent severe flooding caused widespread flooding of farmland and has impacted on a significant number of farmers. My Department is urgently addressing these problems through a range of actions.
The Animal Welfare Helpline has been operating throughout the period of the floods, including on Christmas Day and New Years Day. Arising from farm visits by Teagasc and Department personnel, as well as requests to the animal welfare Helpline, emergency arrangements were put in place to provide feed under Department Emergency Feed Provision Arrangements for the worst affected farms. Almost 300 tons of concentrate feed has now been provided to over 100 farmers, avoiding welfare issues arising.
In addition to these emergency provisions funding has been provided by the Government for a new Fodder Aid scheme for farmers who have suffered fodder losses as a result of this flooding. Support under this scheme will apply to the loss of silage, hay, straw and concentrates where there is evidence of damage caused by flooding during the months of December 2015 and January 2016. It is anticipated that assistance will be provided to up to 300 farmers and will be subject to the de minimis provisions of EU state aid rules.
Application Forms for the scheme are available on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s website, the Department’s local office network and from Teagasc offices.
It should be noted that, to ensure swift payments under the scheme, the closing date for applications for this scheme is Friday 22 January 2016.
A further measure is under consideration to cover a very small number of farmers who have experienced extreme hardship, including through the loss of livestock. Any such measure must comply with European Commission State Aid rules.
404. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of payment to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1348/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS contract on 1 September 2011 and has been paid in full for the 2011-2014 scheme years.
The file was subject to an on-the-spot inspection in 2015. The documentation submitted by the person named as part of that inspection is now being examined and the person named will be informed of the outcome of the associated checks shortly.
405. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1358/16]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 29 May, 2015. Processing of this application has recently been finalised, and payment is due to issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
406. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraints scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1359/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for the Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes which was received in the Department on 27 May 2015. Advance payment under the Basic Payment Scheme issued on 28 October 2015 to the nominated bank account of the person named. The processing of this application has recently been completed and the balancing payment will issue shortly. The application under the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme has also been processed and payment issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 2 November 2015.
407. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application (details supplied) in County Mayo for funding under his Department's hardship grant scheme. [1363/16]
View answerMy Department has no record of receiving an application from the person named in relation to flooding relief.
The recent severe flooding caused widespread flooding of farmland and has impacted on a significant number of farmers. My Department is urgently addressing these problems through a range of actions.
The Animal Welfare Helpline has been operating throughout the period of the floods, including on Christmas Day and New Years Day. Arising from farm visits by Teagasc and Department personnel, as well as requests to the animal welfare Helpline, emergency arrangements were put in place to provide feed under Department Emergency Feed Provision Arrangements for the worst affected farms. Almost 300 tons of concentrate feed has now been provided to over 100 farmers, avoiding welfare issues arising.
In addition to these emergency provisions funding has been provided by the Government for a new Fodder Aid scheme for farmers who have suffered fodder losses as a result of this flooding. Support under this scheme will apply to the loss of silage, hay, straw and concentrates where there is evidence of damage caused by flooding during the months of December 2015 and January 2016. It is anticipated that assistance will be provided to up to 300 farmers and will be subject to the de minimis provisions of EU state aid rules.
Application Forms for the scheme are available on the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine’s website, the Department’s local office network and from Teagasc offices.
It should be noted that, to ensure swift payments under the scheme, the closing date for applications for this scheme is Friday 22 January 2016.
A further measure is under consideration to cover a very small number of farmers who have experienced extreme hardship, including through the loss of livestock. Any such measure must comply with European Commission State Aid rules.
408. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the discussions his Department has had with suppliers or service contractors to his Department or to agencies of his Department to ensure that employees of such suppliers and contractors are paid the living wage of €11.50 per hour; the cost of implementing this wage for these employees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1365/16]
View answerNeither I nor my Department has had any discussions with suppliers or service contractors as the living wage is a voluntary concept at this stage and has no legislative basis. It is not a statutory entitlement and therefore cannot be imposed on suppliers or contractors.
409. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a large number of young farmers who have entered farm partnerships have not received any basic payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1402/16]
View answerFour hundred and forty young farmers who have entered a farm partnership have submitted their Basic Payment Scheme application under a farm partnership number. To date four hundred and twenty of these have received a payment under the 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 implementation and integrity of this identification process.
Processing of the remaining applications will continue and once finalised payments will issue to the nominated bank account of the Farm Partnership concerned.
