Written Answers Nos. 230 - 241
230. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will appoint a director to the agriculture appeals office; when the vacancy occurred; the number of appeals awaiting consideration pending the appointment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6866/16]
View answerThe vacancy at Director level in the Agriculture Appeals Office occurred on 22 February 2016. Arrangements are in place to fill the Director post through an interdepartmental PAS competition in line with the provisions of the Agriculture Appeals Act. It is envisaged that a Director will be appointed shortly.
At today’s date the Appeals Office has 223 appeals on hand and these are being processed as quickly as possible.
231. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of vacant State properties and land, including car parks not in use, owned by his Department or by bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department by square footage, by location and by local authority in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6907/16]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has no vacant State properties or land.
Property/land owned by the State Bodies under the aegis of this Department is a matter for the State Bodies themselves.
232. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the Scottish derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7056/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for allocation of entitlements under the ‘Scottish Derogation’ measure of the Basic Payment Scheme on 29 May 2015.
Under EU Regulations governing the Basic Payment scheme, processing of applications involves administrative and on farm checks and verification of land details submitted. When all checks have been completed and processing of this application has been finalised, my Department will correspond directly with the person named to advise him of the outcome of his application.
233. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) as a new entrant under the single payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7057/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for allocation of entitlements under the ‘Scottish Derogation’ measure of the Basic Payment Scheme on 22nd May 2015. Under EU Regulations governing the Basic Payment scheme, processing of applications involves administrative and on farm checks and verification of land details submitted. These checks have now been completed, the application has been finalised and payment issued to the person named on 11 April 2016.
234. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he gives equal priority to special area of conservation, special protection area and natural heritage area lands when selecting applicants to join the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme and, if not, what is the order of priority and why. [7133/16]
View answerSpecial Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas designated by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht under the Habitats and Birds Directives Habitats and Birds Directives form part of the European Union network of NATURA 2000 sites and are given equal tier 1 priority when selecting applicants under the Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme.
Natural Heritage Areas are not part of the NATURA 2000 network and therefore have not been prioritised in the GLAS selection process.
235. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applicants who have natural heritage area lands but no special protection area or special areas of conservation and who have been accepted into the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, and the number of those who are waiting on the next tranche, by county. [7153/16]
View answerThe designation of land is a matter for the Minister of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the first instance. Based on the information provided by that Department, a total of 411 farmers have been identified with parcels in agricultural use carrying solely a Natural Heritage Area designation.
Of the farmers identified, 182 have been approved into GLAS. Farmers not already in the scheme may submit an application under Tranche 3 which is due to be launched in Autumn this year. GLAS is a voluntary agri-environment scheme. It is a matter of choice for individual farmers to decide if the scheme suits them. Therefore it cannot be taken for granted that all those who have not yet joined are waiting to join GLAS.
The information on a county basis is set out in the following table.
|
County |
GLAS 1 |
GLAS 2 |
Not in GLAS |
|
Carlow |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Cavan |
0 |
2 |
3 |
|
Clare |
4 |
1 |
14 |
|
Cork |
1 |
0 |
2 |
|
Donegal |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
Dublin |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Galway |
57 |
24 |
88 |
|
Kerry |
0 |
1 |
2 |
|
Kildare |
1 |
0 |
0 |
|
Kilkenny |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Laois |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Leitrim |
16 |
6 |
22 |
|
Limerick |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Longford |
6 |
1 |
8 |
|
Louth |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Mayo |
3 |
2 |
7 |
|
Meath |
4 |
0 |
1 |
|
Monaghan |
0 |
0 |
1 |
|
Offaly |
2 |
2 |
14 |
|
Roscommon |
22 |
5 |
35 |
|
Sligo |
1 |
1 |
5 |
|
Tipperary |
4 |
1 |
12 |
|
Waterford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Westmeath |
9 |
4 |
8 |
|
Wexford |
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
Wicklow |
0 |
0 |
0 |
236. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue an outstanding payment to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare under the single payment scheme; if the person will receive payment in the short to medium term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7186/16]
View answerNo application has been received to date under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme for the person named. An Official from my Department will contact the person named to discuss this case.
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which he has made all outstanding farm support payments in 2015; if any payments prior to that are still outstanding and his plans to discharge all such payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7187/16]
View answerThe position in relation to the main farm support payments in 2015 is as follows.
BPS/ANC
My Department has received some 126,0 00 applications under the 2015 Basic Payments Scheme (BPS) from applicants who currently hold entitlements. In addition, over 102,350 applications have been received under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from applicants with eligible designated lands. Under EU Regulations, all these applications are subject to robust administrative checks prior to payment. The work of my Department in this critical area must meet demanding EU and national audit requirements. Only valid applications under the BPS and ANC that fully comply with the requirements of the EU legislation are paid.
Ireland is among the earliest to pay the BPS/Greening in the Euro pean Union and, to date, 125,377 farmers have received payments totalling €1.140 billion. In relation to the ANC Scheme, I can confirm that payments commenced, on schedule, on 23 September 2015 and that to date, 95,774 farmers have received payments totalling €203 million. The majority of those not paid under the ANC scheme are ineligible for payment as they have failed to fulfil the stocking requirements under the scheme. My Department is in ongoing communication with a number of applicants who have yet to provide the required evidence to fulfil the stocking requirements. These applicants will be paid as soon as this process is successfully completed.
There are very small numbers of applications under both schemes that have to be processed for payment. As outstanding cases under the BPS and ANC are processed and are cleared of any outstanding error, they will be sent for payment. My Department is prioritising the processing of all such outstanding cases with regular payment runs continuing over the coming weeks for all fully processed cases.
When entitlements under the 2015 BPS scheme have been definitively allocated over the coming weeks a final balancing payment will issue.
Beef Data and Genomics Programme
In relation to the Beef Data and Genomics Programme, 29,865 applications were received in 2015 of which 4,435 have withdrawn. Payments amounting to some €37m have issued to more 20,000 participants applicants. The remaining herds will be paid as data and genomic requirements are fully met and cases clear.
Forestry
As regards forestry payments my Department processes both first and second grant applications for its two main schemes – the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme and the Forest Road Scheme – together with applications under a number of smaller support schemes including Woodland Improvement, NeighbourWood Scheme and Reconstitution (Chalara Fraxinea) Schemes. Payments of valid applications are generally made within the time-limits set in the Farmers Charter.
An online application facility was introduced in 2013 enabling forest owners to apply for their premium payments under the Afforestation Scheme in advance of the annual premium run. For annual paper based applications the annual bulk premium run was paid on 16 April 2015 amounting to €23.73 million. The majority of the online applications, amounting to €35.5 million, were paid between January and March 2015. The total value of forestry premiums paid by the end of 2015 amounted to €73.609 million. Any outstanding grants and premium due for payment in 2015 will be paid as the applications are received and the requirements of the scheme are fully complied with.
Organic Farming Scheme
In relation to the Organic Farming Scheme introduced under the 2007-2013 RDP, €7.5m has been paid. Of 2,279 applicants, 2,072 have received an 85% payment and 328 have received full payment. In relation to the Organic Farming Scheme in the new RDP, €2.7m has been paid. Of some 870 applicants, 842 have received an 85% payment.
GLAS
Some 22,500 applicants under GLAS tranche 1 with contract start dates of 1 October 2015 are due a three month part year payment for the period 1 October 2015 – 31 December 2015. To date 21,000 applicants have received a first instalment of this 2015 part year payment representing up to 85% of the total due for 2015, with a total value of €13.5m. The remaining payments and the balancing payments in respect of 2015 are due to be made in May 2016 when all regulatory checks have been completed.
AEOS
Over €79 million was paid out on AEOS in 2015. To date, in excess of 90% of participants have been paid for 2015. Over 550 participants that have received penalties as a result of 2015 on-the-spot inspections are expected to be paid before the end of this month. As all AEOS 1 participants will be receiving their final payments under the scheme, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. Officials are working through these files, with less than 1,000 remaining to be finalised. Outstanding payments will be made in all cases as soon as possible with over €7 million paid in 2016 to date. A small number of cases for previous years remain to be finalised for a variety of reasons. My Department is in correspondence with these participants and files will be finalised on a case by case basis as issues are resolved.
REPS
In excess of €31.076 million was paid in 2015. 34 participants remain to be paid for 2015 for a variety of reasons. My Department is in correspondence with these participants and files will be finalised on a case by case basis as issues are resolved. A very small number are also outstanding for previous years for similar issues.
TAMS
Payments totalling €24.6m were made across the TAMS 1 Schemes in 2015. There are approximately 200 outstanding claims for payment in the local offices where additional information is being sought, the majority of these refer to claims made in 2015.
238. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he recognises that the same weather cycle that caused flood damage and loss of fodder to farmers was also responsible for creating the excessive sea mist from which the salt-drift arose and in turn destroyed the winter barley crops along the south coast; if he will investigate this and pay compensation to the farmers affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7201/16]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) is the agency with overall responsibility for flood risk management, including the Catchment Flood Risk Assessment and Management (CFRAM) Programme. However, as part of the overall response to the recent flooding, my Department put in place a number of targeted supports for those farmers worst affected.
Following flooding in early December, the Department immediately responded through the operation of its Emergency Welfare Helpline with farmers affected provided with concentrate feed. This resulted in the provision of over 400 tons of feedstuff to almost 160 farmers in flooded areas, including over the Christmas period.
This emergency support was immediately followed by the introduction of a Fodder Aid Scheme in January. This scheme covered the replacement cost of fodder lost or damaged in the floods and so far, more than 300 farmers have benefited under this initiative.
Lastly, an Emergency Flood Damage Relief Measure was introduced to provide targeted support to that small number of farms that bore the brunt of the flooding. Farmers who lost livestock in the recent floods, or who had to move livestock off-farm for welfare reasons, or who incurred significant damage to agricultural buildings and associated fittings, were eligible to apply for support under this measure.
It was not possible, however, to address all circumstances of flood damage experienced on farms through this initiative. In this respect, damage to crops was not eligible for support.
239. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7229/16]
View answerMy Department provides financial support measures for farmers under the Bovine Viral Diarrhoea programme (BVD). Payment is contingent on disposal of all PI animals born in the herd within timeframes set down in the Terms and Conditions.
An application for compensation under the scheme has been submitted to my Department by the herdowner concerned. The closing date for receipt of applications for financial supports was 4 March 2016. These applications will be processed shortly and payment of any supports due will be made in due course.
240. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Defence further to Parliamentary Question No. 611 of 6 April 2016, wherein he stated there is no arms trade from Ireland to Israel, to clarify his position regarding the Irish purchase of Israeli goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6898/16]
View answerI refer to the answer to Parliamentary Question Number 611 of 6 April 2016 given by my colleague the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
I would refer the Deputy to Parliamentary Question Number 75 which I answered on 24 November 2015 in which I outlined to the House the position with regard to the procurement of defensive equipment for the Defence Forces by the Department of Defence from Israel.
I have also explained the purpose of such equipment acquisitions which is to afford the greatest possible force protection and operational effectiveness to Irish Defence Forces personnel particularly on overseas service.
The matter of barring Israeli companies from entering tender competitions for the provision of military goods would be akin to Ireland unilaterally placing an embargo on such goods from Israel and this raises, inter alia, serious implications for Irish foreign policy which are outside my remit as Minister for Defence. As the Deputy is aware, trade policy and market access are largely EU competencies and any restriction or ban on imports from any particular country would have to be concerted at EU level.
The manner in which the Department of Defence procures both goods and services remains consistent with international best practice and is in line with EU and UN decisions on trade embargoes. I do not, therefore, envisage any change to our current procurement practices.
241. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Defence his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the replacement of aircraft; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6320/16]
View answerThe equipment priorities for the Air Corps will be considered in the context of the lifetime of the recently published White Paper. The White Paper recognises that there are several new and or enhanced platforms to be procured for the Air Corps.
This will include the replacement of the Cessna fleet with three larger aircraft suitably equipped for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance tasks. The preparatory work for the tender competition has begun within the Defence organisation and it is expected that the competition will be initiated later this year.
