Dara Calleary
Question:216. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a calf payment to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [3038/16]
View answerBeef Data Programme
Questions (216)
Written answers
Outstanding payments in respect of a Beef Data Programme application of the person named will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named. This amounts to €210.11 in respect of 12 animals.
Forestry Management
Questions (217)
Jim Daly
Question:217. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a compensation scheme for the replanting of forestry damaged by the recent storm events; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3050/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Dairy Equipment Scheme Applications
Questions (218)
Michael Creed
Question:218. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork for grant-aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3064/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named has submitted an application for grant-aid in respect of an in-parlour meal feeding system under the Dairy Equipment Scheme of TAMS II.
All applications received under the scheme are being processed on an ongoing basis. However, priority in terms of issuing approvals is being given to cases where milking equipment is urgently required and when these have been dealt with we will move to process all other cases as soon as possible.
Basic Payment Scheme Applications
Questions (219)
Pat Breen
Question:219. 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. [3072/16]
View answerWritten answers
The first person named has submitted the required documentation to my Department to enable payments under the Basic Payment Scheme to be issued to the Representatives of the deceased person and it is expected that these payments will issue shortly.
Herd Numbers
Questions (220)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:220. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person can transfer part of a herd number to the herd number of a son or daughter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3080/16]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has no record of an application for a transfer of herd number from the individuals referred to. Applications for the transfer of herd numbers are assessed on an individual basis and so I cannot comment on a specific case in the absence of an application. The person concerned should submit an application to the Department’s local veterinary office in Enniscorthy.
Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme
Questions (221)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:221. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payment to persons (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3081/16]
View answerWritten answers
There is no delay in payment in this case.
The persons named submitted an application for approval for investments under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme on 10 December 2015. The closing date for this tranche is 25 March 2016. All applications received under the tranche will be examined, validated and then ranked and assessed.
Approvals will commence when this process is complete which will be after the 25 March. As no work has been approved the matter of payment does not arise as yet.
Agriculture Scheme Payments
Questions (222)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:222. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payment to persons (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3082/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted a 2015 Transfer of Allocation Right and Reference Value application to my Department seeking the transfer of allocation rights and values from the first person named to a Company by change of legal entity. All details relating to land parcel details for 2013 and 2015 and Single Payment entitlement values from 2014 have to be reconciled in order to process this application. Processing of the application is underway with a view to making payment under the Basic Payment Scheme as soon as possible.
The person named also submitted an application under the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. In accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the Young Farmers Scheme, in the case of a Company the Young Farmer must hold a minimum 20% Shareholding in the Company. My Department has verified through the Companies Registration Office that the Young Farmer involved with the Company named does not hold the required minimum Shareholding. A letter has issued to the persons named informing them of the decision in relation to this application and offering the opportunity to appeal this decision.
Basic Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (223)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:223. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payment to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3083/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted an application for the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme which was received in the Department on 29 May 2015.
The original and subsequent maps submitted on behalf of the person named are insufficient to allow completion of the processing of the application to a stage where payment can issue. An Official from my Department has been in contact on a number of occasions in recent days with the Agricultural Consultant of the person named in an effort to resolve the outstanding issues.
Basic Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (224)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:224. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payment to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3084/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted applications under the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. Payments under the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme commenced in mid-December and as publicised at that time will continue into January/February. The applications received from the person named have been finalised and payment is expected to issue shortly.
Agriculture Scheme Payments
Questions (225)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:225. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payment to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford under the national reserve scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3085/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ priority category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. The qualifying criteria for consideration as a ‘young farmer’ for both the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme is that the applicant must be setting up an agricultural holding for the first time in his/her name or have set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the BPS application. According to records held by my Department the person named commenced farming in 2005 which is outside the eligibility period for the measures applied for.
The person named also submitted an application under the Force Majeure measure of the Basic Payment Scheme in relation to his commencement date in farming in 2005. This application was unsuccessful and the person named has been notified in writing. He has also been offered the opportunity to appeal this decision.
Basic Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (226)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:226. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payment to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3086/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named established 64.25 Entitlement Allocation Rights under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. The total value of these entitlements is €22,498.94 including Greening. The person named formed a registered farm partnership with two other people, 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 on my Department to identify and ensure that entitlements held are licensed for use in the partnership. Consequently, should the partnership be dissolved the entitlements return to the relevant owners. My Department has established a robust procedure to ensure the efficient implementation and 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.
GLAS Payments
Questions (227)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:227. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payment to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3088/16]
View answerWritten answers
There is no delay in payment in this case.
The person-named submitted an application under the second tranche of the GLAS scheme on 7 December 2015. Over 14,000 applications have been received under the second tranche of GLAS tranche and all these, 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. Payments for the 2016 year will only fall due for processing in the last quarter of 2016, on foot of implementation of GLAS farm plans by those approved into the scheme.
Basic Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (228)
Patrick O'Donovan
Question:228. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in payment to persons (details supplied) in County Wexford under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3089/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named established 97.62 Entitlement Allocation Rights under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. The total value of these entitlements is €21,939.09 including Greening. The person named formed a registered farm partnership with two other people, 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 be dissolved the entitlements return to the relevant owners. My Department has established a robust procedure to ensure the efficient implementation and 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.
Land Transfers
Questions (229)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:229. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on a private contract clause application lodged by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3105/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted a 2015 Private Contract Clause application to my Department seeking the transfer of land and entitlements by sale as transferee. This application was rejected as the transferors in the case had not declared a minimum of 1 hectare on their 2015 Basic Payment Scheme as required to maintain active farmer status. The transferors were advised that they could appeal this decision and this appeal has been lodged with my Department. Once this appeal has been considered the transferors will be advised of the outcome.
Basic Payment Scheme Appeals
Questions (230)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:230. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered an appeal for a late application lodged by persons (details supplied) in County Sligo under the basic payment scheme; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3106/16]
View answerWritten answers
In order for a transferor to transfer entitlements by way of private contract clause from one herd number to another in 2015, the transferor must have declared a minimum of 1 hectare of eligible land on his/her 2015 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application form. The person named did not submit a BPS application form by the deadline of 23 June 2015.
However, a late application has been received in my Department and is currently being reviewed. As soon as this review is completed, the person named will be informed of the outcome.
Forestry Grants
Questions (231)
Michael Creed
Question:231. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will make a final decision on an entitlement to a re-establishment grant for forestry owners who suffered storm damage some years ago; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3123/16]
View answerWritten answers
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.
Trust Funds
Questions (232)
Brendan Griffin
Question:232. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding a trust fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3127/16]
View answerWritten answers
Funds held in Trust by the Public Trustee can be accessed by contacting the Public Trustee at Government Buildings, Farnham Street, Cavan who will discuss the options available.