Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:79. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is intended to close the district veterinary office in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3331/16]
View answerDepartmental Offices
Questions (79)
Written answers
In 2009, in line with government policy, my Department began a process of restructuring its local office network which reduced the number of local offices from 58 to 16 enhanced Regional Offices. A follow-on review of the business processes and procedures and, in particular, the administrative support requirements, in those 16 offices resulted in the introduction of a number of significant changes to the procedures in relation to the implementation of controls in the TB eradication programme. As a consequence of these changes and having regard to the significant efficiencies resulting from investment made by the Department in IT in recent years, the number of staff required to deliver the service in the local offices has been considerably reduced.
Where staff surpluses have arisen due to these efficiencies, my Department has engaged with a number of public sector organisations and identified redeployment opportunities. Following the Government decision to locate one of the three Financial Shared Services Centres in Galway, this Department was requested to redeploy any surplus administrative staff in Galway to that Centre, which is located in the same building in Renmore. Arrangements are in train to commence the redeployment of the majority of our administrative staff to the shared services centre on a phased basis while the remaining staff will be retained in the Galway regional office.
My Department will continue to maintain a Regional Office, in Galway, having regard to current needs. The changes in administrative staffing levels in this office will not negatively impact upon local access and services for local customers. Department veterinary inspectors, technical officers and a small number of administrative staff will remain in place and front-line services will be fully maintained and public access for all of the Departments stakeholders will continue to be available.
Basic Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (80)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:80. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) has not received payment under the basic payment scheme 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3337/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted a 2015 Transfer of Entitlement Allocation Right and Reference Value application to my Department seeking the transfer of allocation rights and values to a Company by way of Change of Legal Entity. He also submitted a 2015 Private Contract Clause application seeking the transfer of land and entitlements by lease to the Company. 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 these applications. Processing of these applications is underway with a view to making payment under the Basic Payment Scheme as soon as possible.
Teagasc Rationalisation Programme
Questions (81)
Colm Keaveney
Question:81. Deputy Colm Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why he allowed Teagasc to lease more land to Dawn Meats and Dawn Farm Foods at Mellows campus in Athenry, County Galway; the purpose of this lease; the amount of land leased; the annual income for Teagasc from these arrangements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3341/16]
View answerWritten answers
The development and operation of the Suckler Beef Demonstration farm in Athenry is an operational matter for Teagasc and its governing Authority, which is representative of the main stakeholder groups in the agri-food sector including the farm organisations.
The farm was developed to demonstrate a profitable suckler to beef system in terms of economic, environmental and animal welfare sustainability while setting new benchmarks for animal performance. It is similar to the Kilkenny Greenfield dairy demonstration farm, which annually attracts large numbers of farmers and discussion groups.
I am informed that Teagasc and the company in question operate the Suckler Beef Demonstration farm in Athenry under a shared farming agreement. Teagasc has not leased any land in Athenry to the company for the purposes of the demonstration farm. Teagasc’s main role is to provide expert advice and to analyse and disseminate financial and animal performance with the aim of demonstrating to farmers, the profit that can be obtained from a well run suckler beef farm.
Teagasc is satisfied that this is a public good initiative, and the farm will provide very valuable information to all beef farmers and will be a major focal point for discussion groups. It is anticipated that the information will be of significant help to those producers who are planning a long term future in profitable, low-cost beef production.
Agriculture Scheme Payments
Questions (82)
Dara Calleary
Question:82. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of farm payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [3347/16]
View answerWritten answers
An application under the 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Schemes was received from the person named on 26 May, 2015. In relation to the ANC scheme, the application has been processed and payment has issued to the person named.
In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme, 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 by gift. This application was processed and the person named received the first instalment of 70% of his Basic Payment Scheme payment on 20 October 2015 and the second instalment of 27% on 1 December 2015. The final 3% instalment will be issued in April 2016.
The person named also submitted applications under the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. These applications are currently being processed, which involves administrative checks and verification of land details submitted under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application. These checks are required under the EU Regulations pertaining to the scheme. Once these checks have been finalised the person named will be notified in writing of the outcome with a view to payment shortly thereafter.
Departmental Agencies Staff Recruitment
Questions (83)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:83. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the term of the present chief executive officer of Horse Racing Ireland will be completed; if he is eligible for reappointment for a third term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3351/16]
View answerWritten answers
The term of office of the present Chief Executive Officer of Horse Racing Ireland is due to expire in September 2016. The filling of this important post after that date is currently under consideration and is the subject of discussion with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.
Food Industry Development
Questions (84)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:84. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has made a submission to the European Union objecting to Cyprus’s application for protected designated of origin in respect of Halloumi cheese, given the damage this application could do to the cheese industry here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3355/16]
View answerWritten answers
The European Commission published Cyprus’ application for Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) status for Halloumi/Hellim cheese on 28 July 2015. On the same day the President of the Commission and the two leaders in Cyprus reached a common understanding that an internationally accredited body would be appointed as the control body in both parts of Cyprus. The Commission also adopted a proposal to amend “the Green Line Regulation“ (Regulation 866/2004) which controls movement across the border and aims to promote the Turkish-Cypriot economy.
I am supportive of EU Regulation 1151/2012 and a number of Irish products, supported by other Member States, benefit from the protections afforded by the regime. In relation to this particular application, the regulatory three month period for lodging a notice of opposition has already expired. Objections to the recognition of PDO’s must be grounded on possible infringements of the Regulation’s conditions, such as that the name has become generic, that is , the common name of a product in the Union.
I understand that the Commission has received a notice of opposition from the United Kingdom, where cheese described as Halloumi has been produced on a significant scale. The Commission will examine the objection and present its conclusions to the quality committee in due course, before taking a decision. Any such decision may be appealed to the European Court of Justice and upheld, or rejected. By way of example, objections to the approval of “Feta” as a PDO, were overruled by the Court on the basis that the term had not become generic.
Basic Payment Scheme Payments
Questions (85)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:85. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why the payment to a person (details supplied) under the basic payment scheme 2016 was €1,200 less than the payment to the person under the single payment scheme 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3356/16]
View answerWritten answers
The number of entitlements to be allocated to any one farmer under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015 is based on the number of eligible hectares declared in 2013 or 2015, whichever is lesser.
The person named declared 32.48 hectares of eligible land in 2013 and in 2015 declared 32.44 hectares, therefore he has been allocated 32.44 entitlements in respect of 2015.
The 2015 value of entitlements is based on a fixed percentage of the total value of entitlements owned by the farmer in 2014 plus the value of any payment received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme in that year. The person named had an entitlement value of €8,956.22 in 2014.
Under EU Regulations governing the Basic Payment Scheme all entitlements are subject to the process of internal convergence whereby the value of entitlements for some farmers will increase over the period 2015-2019 while for others with a unit value above the national average will see a gradual reduction of the portion of the entitlement in excess of the national average.
In 2015 the person named has established 32.44 entitlements with a unit value of €181.05. As this unit value for the person named is above the National Average, his entitlements will be subject to a gradual reduction from 2015 to 2019. For 2015, the total value of his Basic Payment Scheme entitlements and greening is €8,467.22.
Payment of €5,767.34 including Basic Payment and Greening issued to the person named on the 19 October 2015 and the second instalment payment of €2,148.49, issued on the 1 of December 2015. The remaining 3% balancing payment will issue in April 2016.
An official from my Department will contact the Deputy directly to clarify the position in this case.