Written Answers Nos. 182-99
182. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh maidir le hiarratas ar theidlíochtaí faoi “Maolú na hAlban” (Scottish Derogation) i ndáil le feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí leis seo); cén fáth go bhfuil moill ar an gcinneadh seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [2853/16]
View answerSheol an duine a ainmnítear iarratas ar leithdháileadh teidlíochtaí faoi ‘Maolú na hAlban’ an 8 Bealtaine 2015. Tá an t-iarratas seo á phróiseáil faoin gcatagóir ‘Maolú na hAlban’ (‘Scottish Derogation’) den Chúlchiste Náisiúnta.
Tá próiseáil iarratas ar an gCúlchiste Náisiúnta ar siúl faoi láthair. Tá seiceálacha riaracháin agus ar an bhfeirm agus sonraí talún a seoladh ar aghaidh faoin iarratas ar Scéim Buníocaíochta 2015 a fhíordheimhniú i gceist leis an bpróiseáil. Ceanglaítear go ndéantar na seiceálacha seo faoi Rialacháin an AE agus níor tugadh iad chun críche go fóill. Seolfaidh mo Roinn comhfhreagras go díreach go dtí an duine a ainmnítear a luaithe is féidir chun iad a chur ar an eolas ar thoradh a n-iarratais ag féachaint d’íocaíocht a dhéanamh go gairid ina dhiaidh sin.
183. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has not received payment under the agri-environment options scheme, the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme for 2015; when the person will receive these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2854/16]
View answerAn application under the Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes was received from the person named on 30 March 2015. Processing of the application has been finalised in respect of both schemes. Payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named. The person named commenced their AEOS 3 contract on 1 May 2013 and has been paid for the 2013 and 2014 scheme years.
184. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment to a person (details supplied) in County Cork will issue under the single payment scheme 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2856/16]
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 be completed before any payments issue. These checks have been completed and payments due under the Basic Payment and the Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes issued on 5 January 2016 and 7 January 2016 respectively to the nominated bank account of the person named.
185. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Cork under the single payment scheme 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2860/16]
View answerThe first person named submitted 2015 Transfer of Entitlements Allocation Right and Reference Value applications to my Department. These applications have been processed and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme issued to the person named on 19 January 2015. The second persons named submitted applications to my Department regarding the establishment of a Registered Farm Partnership. These applications have been processed and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme issued on 26 January 2016.
186. Deputy Michael McCarthy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, including when the person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2861/16]
View answerAn application to the second tranche of GLAS for the person named was received by my Department on 4 December 2015. The application is one of over 14,000 applications submitted as part of this second tranche of GLAS.
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. All applicants will be notified in writing of the outcome of their applications and successful applicants will have a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016. I expect payment in respect of the 2016 scheme year to issue in the last quarter of 2016.
187. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to intervene in two cases (details supplied) in County Kerry where applicants have been deprived of grant aid under the farm improvement scheme because a company which continues to trade in agriculture services failed to provide tax clearance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2865/16]
View answerThe persons concerned were applicants under the Farm Improvement Scheme and received grant-aid under the Scheme in respect of certain investments in 2008. However, one invoice was excluded for grant aid purposes in each case as the contractor concerned was unable to provide tax clearance as required under the conditions of the scheme.
To date, the required tax clearance has not been received by my Department and I am not therefore in a position to progress the matter further. The applicants have been advised of the circumstances of each case and the Department’s requirements to enable the remaining grant to be paid.
188. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the young farmers scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2867/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. Eligible applicants to the Young Farmers Scheme in 2015 qualify for an additional payment per activated entitlement held in 2015. While the person named meets the eligibility conditions for the Young Farmers Scheme, they do not hold any entitlements on which the additional payment can be made. A letter has issued to the person named informing him of the decision in relation to his application.
189. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the young farmers scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2877/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. Eligible applicants to the Young Farmers Scheme in 2015 qualify for an additional payment per activated entitlement held in 2015. While the person named meets the eligibility conditions for the Young Farmers Scheme, they do not hold any entitlements on which the additional payment can be made. A letter has issued to the person named informing him of the decision in relation to his application.
190. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of payment to a person (details supplied) under the grassland scheme, the disadvantaged areas scheme and the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2878/16]
View answerAn application under the Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received from the person named on 23 February 2015. Processing of the application is currently in progress in respect of both schemes. 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. An Official from my Department will be in direct contact with the person named to advise them of the status of their application.
The former Grassland Sheep Scheme was based on Article 68 of EU Regulation 73/2009 which governs direct payments in the form of the Single Payment Scheme. As of 1 January 2015 that Regulation is superseded by EU Regulation 1307/2013 which does not provide a legal basis for the continuation of a Grassland Sheep Scheme. However, any payments received under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme have now been incorporated into the new Basic Payment Scheme.
191. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of agricultural payments to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2883/16]
View answerThe person named did not submit an application for the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. Therefore, no payments are due at this juncture. However, the Deputy contacted the Department recently to outline the circumstances encountered by the person named in 2015. The Deputy was advised on 8 January 2016 to arrange the submission of a 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application with the relevant medical documentation confirming the circumstances outlined. On receipt of this documentation, the Department will examine the case to establish whether the application can be accepted at this stage on grounds of force majeure or exceptional circumstances.
192. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a query regarding forestry (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2892/16]
View answerWhile the Deputy doesn’t refer specifically to “Storm Darwin”, I am assuming that the question is in respect of that weather event. In this regard I am aware of the difficulties that have been created for many forest owners as a result of the storms of late 2013 early 2014. The frequency and ferocity of these storm events, compounded by waterlogged soils on many forest sites, led to extensive damage on both private and State owned forest lands. While estimates indicate that less than 1% of the national forest area (approximately 8,000 hectares) has been blown down, the damage has been extensive at a local level, especially in the south and parts of the midlands where substantial quantities of timber have been blown down.
Financial support for a replanting grant for privately owned forests affected by the winter storms of 2013/2014 only is currently being considered by the Department. A final decision on this matter can be expected shortly.
193. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) has not received payment under the single payment scheme, given that the person understands from a Teagasc adviser that it has been sanctioned but there is some issue with payments to a limited company. [2901/16]
View answerAn application under the Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 30 March 2015. Processing of the application has now been finalised and payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named in the coming days.
194. 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. [2908/16]
View answerAn application from the person named under the 2014 Single Payment Scheme was received in the Department on 13 May 2014. The person named was subject to a Land Parcel Identification System inspection in 2013. The eligible area was reduced on foot of this inspection and the ensuing penalty was applied to his 2014 Single Payment. The person named subsequently submitted an appeal which has recently been upheld. The balancing payment outstanding will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
195. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Land Commission retains any sporting rights on lands, and if not who has these rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2910/16]
View answer196. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any sporting rights are vested in his Department for national heritage areas on bogs in County Westmeath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2911/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 195 and 196 together.
Sporting rights which were vested in the former Irish Land Commission are now managed by the National Parks and Wildlife Service which is part of the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
197. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine who has the sporting rights for an individual bog (details supplied) in County Westmeath. [2913/16]
View answerIt is not possible to confirm the position for the Deputy in respect of the sporting rights for the lands detailed within the short timeframe available. My Department will write directly to the Deputy within the next two weeks.
198. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how many meetings of the Killybegs employment implementation group his Department attended since the group's formation in 2011; by year, in tabular form; the items discussed at the meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2917/16]
View answer199. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for details of the 89 jobs created by the Killybegs employment implementation group; by company, as per the claim by Bord Iascaigh Mhara; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2918/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 198 and 199 together.
On 3 June 2011, I announced a pilot jobs initiative for Killybegs, following the launch of an economic report for the European Commission, which assessed the status, development and potential diversification of Killybegs as a fisheries dependent community. The aim of this initiative was to create 250 cross sectoral jobs in the Killybegs area by 2014. Seafood processing was just one of the areas identified as having the potential to create additional employment.
To drive forward the initiative, I established a High Level Group on Job Creation in the Killybegs Region and requested that the Group identify the potential actions required to deliver job creation in the following five key areas, that is; promoting seafood value added activity; enhancing ancillary services; developing offshore supports; promoting tourism and marine leisure; and promoting the green economy and renewable energy.
The High Level Group comprised representatives of the Killybegs Fishermen's Organisation (who chaired the Group), Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Donegal County Council, Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Enterprise Ireland, local industry and from my Department. BIM provided secretariat services to assist the chair. The High Level Group finished its work in 2011 and had its last meeting in November 2012. Its Report is available on my Department’s website at: http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/publications/2011/KBHLGReport.pdf.
Since 2012, a local implementation group reporting to Donegal County Council has taken on responsibility for driving forward the initiative. Donegal County Council may assist the Deputies with any requests for information on the Local Implementation Group and its activities. My Department does not attend meetings of that Group. In relation to jobs created, I am informed by Bord Iascaigh Mhara that during the period 2010 to 2014, seafood processing companies in the Killybegs region invested €16.5 million with state supports of €3.56 million. During that time, the companies created 89 net new jobs and estimated additional revenue of €84.4 million. These companies are forecast to generate an additional 23 jobs by the end of 2017.
