Pat Breen
Question:149. 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. [8081/16]
View answerAgriculture Scheme Applications
Questions (149)
Written answers
The person named submitted an application to join the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) 2015 – 2020 on 27 May 2015. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Beef Data and Genomics Programme all applicants are required to complete surveys, either online, or by paper version supplied by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF), in respect of all cows, calves and stock bulls on his/her holding and return these to the ICBF within the prescribed timeframes. All of the required data has not been received as yet and so payment cannot be made. An officer from my Department has been in contact with the person named and explained the situation.
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 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 and payment will be made in this case as soon as possible.
Question No. 150 withdrawn.
Basic Payment Scheme Applications
Questions (151)
Pat Breen
Question:151. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8136/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. The person named also entered into a Registered Farm Partnership for the 2015 Scheme Year. The 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application was submitted using the herd number shown rather than the Registered Farm Partnership number as required. My Department is working to align the applications submitted separately under the herd number and the Partnership number in order to have the applications processed for payment as soon as possible.
Public Procurement Contracts
Questions (152, 153, 154)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:152. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the call for tenders for the supply of cattle tags will be delayed until a new Government is appointed to afford an opportunity for the Oireachtas committee on agriculture to discuss the merits of both a single supplier approach and a multiple supplier approach and to make a recommendation to him on this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8116/16]
View answerÉamon Ó Cuív
Question:153. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 253 of 6 April 2016, the stakeholders consulted by his Department as part of the consultation with stakeholders in relation to bovine tags; if, in relation to each stakeholder, he or she was in favour of a single supplier or multiple suppliers and the reason given in each case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8117/16]
View answerÉamon Ó Cuív
Question:154. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the name of the plastics expert used to evaluate bovine tags supplied as part of the market sounding exercise that was published in December 2015 carried out by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8118/16]
View answerWritten answers
I propose to take Questions Nos. 152 to 154, inclusive, together.
Public procurement competitions for the supply of bovine tags are arranged on a periodic basis which facilitates developments in technology, level of service and competition. The current contract for the supply of cattle tags, based on a sole approved supplier, will expire on 31 October 2016.
Following consultation with stakeholders, my Department has made a policy decision to seek a single supplier for provision of the service for the supply of bovine tags. The policy of seeking a single supplier has been endorsed by the main farming organisations (IFA and ICMSA) on the basis that a single supplier, selected on the basis of a competitive tender and benefitting from economies of scale, is likely to make bovine tags available to herd keepers at a competitive price. In contrast, the ICSA expressed a preference for multiple suppliers on the basis of the competition provided between tag suppliers. The Department view is that a single supplier is the optimum mechanism for ensuring that ear tags are made available to Irish farmers at a competitive price while at the same time meeting the identification requirements of the bovine sector in Ireland for superior quality bovine tags. As the Deputy is aware, my Department places a strong reliance on tag suitability, security and tamper evidence to support a secure bovine identification and traceability system that plays a key role in underpinning beef and dairy exports in a competitive marketplace.
My Department will shortly be publishing a Request for Tenders (RFT) for the provision of a new contract for a three year term that will commence on 1 November 2016. The RFT will seek a single supplier for the provision of a service to supply a suite of bovine tags including conventional tags, tissue tags (that provide for tissue sampling for BVD and DNA detection), electronic tags and electronic bolus. My Department is obliged to be mindful of the requirements of public procurement law and to publish the RFT within a timeframe that will enable it to award a new contract in time to allow the successful tenderer to make arrangements to enable it to supply the required suite of tags to herd keepers with effect from 1 November 2016. This timeframe could not accommodate the request to delay the competition until a new Oireachtas Committee on Agriculture has had an opportunity to consider the merits of a single supplier and a multiple supplier approach.
In December 2015, my Department published a Market Sounding Exercise in line with public procurement legislation in advance of the publication of the RFT. This notification provided the market with advance notice on the suite of bovine tags required by my Department and afforded interested parties with the opportunity of having feedback on tissue tags in advance of publication of the RFT. No plastics expert was used to evaluate the plastics characteristics of tissue tags in the Market Soundings Exercise. Feedback was provided to all companies who participated in the Market Sounding Exercise. Feedback on the tags covered two very specific areas only, namely tissue sampling/testing efficacy and aspects of tag security which included an assessment carried out by a Veterinary Inspector in my Department’s Investigation Division with considerable experience of dealing with bovine ear tags. The assessment was done on a without prejudice basis to any future public procurement competition. It is open to any company to obtain independent expert advice on the findings communicated by my Department.
Agri-Environment Options Scheme Appeals
Questions (155)
Pat Breen
Question:155. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason reductions in payments were made to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8129/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named commenced their AEOS contract on 1 September 2010. Payment has issued for the 2010-2014 scheme years. The application of the person named was selected for an on-farm inspection which took place on 17 July 2015. During this inspection non-compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the Tree Planting action which resulted in a penalty being incurred. The person named had planted beech trees which are not considered native trees and are not listed as trees that can be planted in the Scheme Specifications.
The person named appealed this decision to the Regional Inspector, who upheld the decision. I understand that the person named has now lodged an appeal with the Agriculture Appeals Office.
Departmental Properties
Questions (156)
John Brassil
Question:156. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the plans of Bord Iascaigh Mhara for the disused ice plant in Dingle, County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8106/16]
View answerWritten answers
Bord Iascaigh Mhara is presently in discussions with my Department about the future of the former Ice Plant building in Dingle Fishery Harbour Centre. My Department has made a Planning Application to Kerry County Council for the purposes of altering and refurbishing the existing building for use as a workshop, store, office, staff canteen and welfare facilities for Departmental Staff working in the Harbour. It is proposed the building will be used to carry out preparatory maintenance works and as a storage facility for plant and equipment. The project is part of my Department's Capital Programme to maintain, develop and improve facilities at the Harbour Centre.
Basic Payment Scheme Applications
Questions (157)
Joe Carey
Question:157. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) under the young farmers national reserve scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8179/16]
View answerWritten answers
The person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. The person named also entered into a Registered Farm Partnership for the 2015 Scheme Year. The 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application was submitted using the herd number shown rather than the Registered Farm Partnership number as required. My Department is working to align the applications submitted separately under the herd number and the Partnership number in order to have the applications processed for payment as soon as possible.
Rural Development Programme
Questions (158)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:158. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 294 of 6 April 2016, when the information in relation to the rural development programme, as promised, will be provided; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8198/16]
View answerWritten answers
The Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 expenditure incurred in 2014, 2015 and from January to March 2016 is displayed in the following table:
|
Measure |
2014 (€) |
2015 (€) |
Jan-March 2016 (€) |
|
M01 Knowledge Transfer and Information Actions |
48,880.64 |
9,666.91 |
|
|
M04 Investments in Physical Assets |
4,616,073.52 |
14,774,477.55 |
3,011,730.49 |
|
M10 Agri-environment-climate |
170,820,857.25 |
132,795,081.86 |
18,457,506.80 |
|
M11 Organic farming |
0 |
1,844,023.67 |
482,536.12 |
|
M12 Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments |
25,729,388.19 |
11,550,542.04 |
224,030.18 |
|
M13 Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints |
195,655,247.11 |
206,525,118.50 |
8,421,179.93 |
|
M16 Co-operation |
0 |
79,716.81 |
1,000 |
|
M19 Support for LEADER local development (CLLD – community-led local development) |
0 |
765,683.51 |
|
|
M20 Technical assistance |
0 |
65,182.24 |
|
|
TOTAL EXPENDITURE |
€396,870,446.71 |
€368,409,493.09 |
€30,597,983.52 |
Basic Payment Scheme Applications
Questions (159)
Éamon Ó Cuív
Question:159. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of an overpayment assessed against a person (details supplied); the amount clawed back to date by withholding payments; if there is an appeal on hand against this penalty; if so when he will make a decision in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8200/16]
View answerWritten answers
An application under the Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 27 May 2015. Following processing, a commonage evidence issue was disclosed in respect of eight commonage parcels declared. The declaration was in respect of 2 shares of these parcels but only evidence of entitlement to 1 share was provided.
My Department has reviewed the case and decided to process the application without penalty on the eligible hectares declared. The application will be re-calculated on this basis and any payments due will issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named as soon as possible.
Animal Welfare Expenditure
Questions (160)
Clare Daly
Question:160. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of several recent high profile instances in which horses have been badly neglected, injured or killed in Dublin, his plans to increase the funding available to animal welfare organisations such that a regular and comprehensive welfare inspection regime can be undertaken by those organisations in respect of all horses. [8235/16]
View answerWritten answers
Incidents of horse cruelty are totally unacceptable and the Animal Health & Welfare Act 2013 provides for very significant penalties relating to animal cruelty. Under the Act, on summary conviction, a person can receive a fine of up to €5,000. For major cases taken on indictment, the maximum penalty is €250,000 and/or imprisonment up to 5 years.
In addition, substantial funding is provided by my Department to animal welfare organisations to assist their work in protecting the welfare of all animals, including horses. In December last, an amount of €2,541 ,000 was provided to 140 such organisations to assist their work in protecting animal welfare and in educating the public on best animal welfare practice and to enable them provide facilities for at-risk animals. €290,000 was provided to the DSPCA to assist its work in urban areas of Dublin city and county and a service agreement has been agreed between my Department and the DSPCA under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 empowering DSPCA Inspectors to intervene in situations of horse neglect and cruelty in urban areas and to initiate prosecutions against persons found to be committing an offence of animal cruelty under the Act.
Basic Payment Scheme Applications
Questions (161)
Michael D'Arcy
Question:161. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a late application will be accepted for a 2015 private contract clause application from a person (details supplied) who is seeking the transfer of land and entitlements by lease, in order to satisfy the criteria set out in the 2015 private contract clause; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8241/16]
View answerWritten answers
The request to accept a late Basic Payment Scheme application in the circumstances outlined is currently being examined. In this regard, an official from my Department will contact the person named in the coming days to discuss the particulars of this case and to see if the matter can be progressed.
Question No. 162 withdrawn.
Greyhound Industry
Questions (163)
Clare Daly
Question:163. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all dogs must be microchipped, under the Microchipping of Dogs Regulations 2015; and his plans to offer an exemption to the greyhound racing industry in this regard. [8257/16]
View answerWritten answers
Dog microchipping became compulsory for all dogs on 31 March 2016. Microchipping will help to protect the welfare of dogs by promoting responsible dog ownership and also a valuable way of reuniting owners with lost or stolen pets. I have no plans to exempt greyhounds from this requirement.