Written Answers Nos. 164-178
164. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) under the national reserve scheme and the young farmers scheme for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8258/16]
View answerThe person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the National Reserve and also the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. These applications have been fully processed and payment will issue shortly.
165. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) under the basic payment scheme and area aid scheme for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8262/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application on 12 May 2015. During processing of this application an over-claim was identified in relation to the commonage lands declared and as the difference between the number of eligible hectares determined and the number of hectares declared was greater than 20% no payment could be made under the Basic Payment Scheme. The person named was notified of the over-claim and to date has not submitted an appeal.
The person named also applied for the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) scheme. The over-claim identified in relation to the commonage lands declared also impacted this application. As the difference between the number of eligible hectares determined and the number of hectares declared was greater than 3%, payment under the ANC scheme was calculated on the basis of the area determined, reduced by twice the difference found. Payment under the ANC scheme in respect of 26.43 hectares issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 17 December 2015.
166. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal application for a national reserve payment by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8292/16]
View answerThe person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve to my Department. This application was not successful as the applicant exceeded the off-farm income limit required for acceptance under the scheme. The applicant was notified in writing of this decision and was offered the opportunity to submit an appeal.
My Department has now received an appeal from the person named in relation to their National Reserve application. This appeal will be considered by my Department based on the information set out by the applicant and a decision with regard to the outcome of the appeal will be notified in writing to the applicant as soon as possible.
167. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of grants available for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8298/16]
View answerAn application has not yet been received from the individual named who is registered with the Department in a Joint Venture. It is open to the person named to submit an online application under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme of TAMS II for loose houses, slatted areas and a range of other investments related to animal housing.
Grant aid is paid on approved, completed and eligible expenditure at a rate of 40% up to a maximum investment ceiling of €80,000 per holding. Full details of the scheme are available on my Department’s website.
168. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8320/16]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 1 April 2015.
Under the 2015 ANC Scheme, eligible applicants are required to have met a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of seven consecutive months and to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year. Payment under the ANC scheme has not issued in this case as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the Agricultural Adviser of the person named and advised him of the outstanding issues. I understand that further documentation in relation to this issue is now to be forwarded to my Department. The application will be reviewed further on receipt of this documentation.
169. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the national reserve and young farmers scheme will be open for 2016 applications as the scheme was due to be opened in March 2016; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8321/16]
View answerThe 2015 National Reserve fund was based on a 3% cut to the Basic Payment Scheme financial ceiling and provided some €24 million in funding which was the maximum financing rate available under the relevant EU Regulations. When finalised there will be some 6,000 successful applicants under the 2015 National Reserve. As all of the National Reserve Funding will likely have been utilised, there will be no funding available to cover the operation of a 2016 National Reserve.
My Department has recently been in consultation with the Direct Payments Advisory Committee, which includes members of the main farming bodies and advisory services, in relation to the 2016 National Reserve. A final decision on this matter will be made shortly.
The 2016 Young Farmers Scheme opened for applications online on 22nd April. The closing date for submission of applications is 16th May 2016.
170. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8347/16]
View answerUnder 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 be completed before any payment can issue. The application of the person named was also selected for an on-farm inspection which took place on 2 September 2015. During this inspection non-compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the Natura/Non Natura Commonages and Species Rich Grassland actions. The application has now been processed on the basis of the inspection findings. 85% of the payment due in respect of the 2015 Scheme year issued on 20 April 2016 and it is expected that the remaining 15% will issue shortly.
171. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) awaiting a farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8359/16]
View answerThe application by the person named under the native woodland element of the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme is still under consideration in my Department. On 8 April 2016 my Department wrote to the registered forester representing the applicant requesting that the application be revised to exclude certain unsuitable areas. Once this revised application is received the matter will be considered further.
172. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) who is awaiting a payment under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8360/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS contract on 1 September 2011. Payment has issued in respect of the 2011-2015 Scheme year. 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. Following the completion of these checks the 2015 scheme year payment issued on 6 April 2016.
173. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the facility in place, as administered by his Department, to alter the designation on a quid pro quo basis, of hen harrier type land, when the original designation is determined simply by a line on a map and does not take account of current and well established farming methods, allied to the fact whereby more obviously suitable land not currently designated adjoins, as this designation applies to participation in the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8366/16]
View answerThe designation of Hen Harrier habitat under the Birds Directive is a matter for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht in the first instance. Farmed areas identified to my Department by that Department as Hen Harrier habitat to be protected are given priority access to the GLAS scheme.
While it is not within my remit to alter areas identified by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, I have ensured that at farm level a percentage of the area may be exempted from the GLAS farming specifications and used for fodder production.
174. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the procedure to be followed in order to allow a person (details supplied) to practise as a vet here, as they are fully qualified, having obtained their qualification in Baghdad; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8421/16]
View answerIn accordance with the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, the Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) is the competent authority for the recognition of qualifications of veterinary practitioners from the EU or third countries.
The Veterinary Practice Act provides for the mutual recognition of qualifications in veterinary medicine within the EU and for mutual recognition agreements between the VCI and relevant bodies in non-EU States. The VCI has mutual recognition agreements in place for Australasia and the American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) for accredited colleges in North America. For those whose qualifications are not recognised under EU legislation or mutual recognition agreements the Council provides a registration examination. The person concerned should contact the Veterinary Council to discuss their position.
175. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine for an update on his role, and that of his officials, in representing the concerns of beef farmers here, regarding the ongoing Mercosur negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8424/16]
View answerI along with my officials, have been very active in recent months in highlighting the potentially very damaging impact of a Mercosur deal on the European agriculture sector, and on the beef sector in particular. At political level, I have continuously raised the issue with my Member State colleagues and with Commissioners Malmström and Hogan, both within the Council of Agriculture Ministers and in written form. I also continue to monitor the situation closely in co-operation with my Government colleagues, particularly the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, and the Taoiseach. These efforts have been reinforced at official level through similar contacts with Member States and the Commission, particularly through the Special Committee on Agriculture and the Trade Policy Committee. Ireland has already expressed its very strong concerns in relation to the latest developments in these negotiations. These concerns have been reinforced by the large number of Member States who have spoken on this issue at recent Council and Commission meetings. They have also been expressed in joint papers presented by large groupings of Member States at these meetings, and in written correspondence from Member State Ministers (including Ireland) to the Commissioners for Trade and for Agriculture.
In the course of such contacts Ireland has pointed out that an exchange of offers is premature, and that any movement in these negotiations must be undertaken with great caution, and following a period of careful reflection and analysis. This analysis must take into account the cumulative impact of concessions granted under other FTAs and the current forecasts for EU beef consumption. We are also trying to ensure that tariff rate quotas are not dealt with at this early stage of the negotiations, and that when they are ultimately addressed, it will be in a manner that mitigates to the maximum possible extent the potential impact on the beef sector.
176. Deputy Mick Barry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine in view of the controversy surrounding the recent Belly Wien circus, which has been banned in a number of other jurisdictions, and recently toured here, if he will introduce legislation to effect a ban on the use of animals in circuses, and in any other performance capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8466/16]
View answerThe conditions under which circus animals are kept and managed come under the scope of the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, which contains rules relating to the welfare of all animals and requires a person having an animal under his or her control to safeguard and not endanger the health and welfare of the animal. The circus referred to was inspected by Veterinary Inspectors of my Department and no breach of animal welfare was observed.
177. Deputy Marc MacSharry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason some farmers are suffering extreme delays in receiving their basic payment scheme and green low-carbon agri-environment payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8506/16]
View answerThe position in relation to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening in 2015 is as follows. My Department has received some 126,000 applications under the 2015 BPS from applicants who currently hold entitlements. 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 that fully comply with the requirements of the EU legislation are paid.
It should be noted that Ireland is among the earliest to pay the BPS/Greening in the European Union and commenced payments on 16th October 2015. To date, 125,631 farmers have received payments totalling €1.144 billion. This covers over 99% of applicants.
There are very small numbers of applications that have yet to be processed for payment. As outstanding cases 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.
To date some 21,000 GLAS Tranche 1 (GLAS 1) farmers have received a first instalment of their 2015 part year payment in respect of payable actions for the period 1 October to 31 December, representing up to 85% of the total amount due for the 2015 part year. There are a number of applications remaining which have not passed all of the Department’s pre-payment validation checks for the 2015 part-year payment. The Department is continuing to investigate these issues, including the correction of any IT or data issues, with a view to all these remaining cases meeting the payment validation checks so that they will be paid the full amount of their 2015 part-year payment when the 2015 GLAS balancing payment issues.
178. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a 2015 national reserve appeal will be considered in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8511/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the ‘Old Young Farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve. This application was not successful as the applicant was deemed to have commenced farming prior to 2008. On this basis the person named does not meet the eligibility criteria under the National Reserve ‘Old Young Farmer’ category. The person named was notified in writing of this decision and was offered the opportunity to submit an appeal.
My Department has now received an appeal from the person named in relation to his National Reserve application. This appeal will be considered by my Department based on the information set out by the applicant and a decision with regard to the outcome of the appeal will be notified in writing to the applicant as soon as possible.
