Written Answers Nos. 982-1001
982. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) can qualify under the young farmers' scheme or the national reserve scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9428/16]
View answerThe person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. According to records held by my Department the person named commenced farming in 2009, which is outside the eligibility period for the measures applied for and as such this application was not successful. For the purposes of eligibility under the National Reserve and Young Farmers’ Scheme the date of commencement of agricultural activity is deemed to be the date on which the herd number was allocated. The person named was notified of this decision and was offered the opportunity to submit an appeal. The Agricultural Advisor acting on behalf of the person named subsequently contacted my Department directly requesting that the person named be reconsidered for the National Reserve, under the category of ‘Old Young Farmer’ which applies to farmers who commenced their agricultural activity in 2008 or 2009. This request was accepted and the application from the person named was reconsidered under the National Reserve ‘Old Young Farmer’ category. This application was successful and payment issued on 2nd April 2016.
With regard to the application under the Young Farmers’ Scheme, the EU Regulations governing the operation of this scheme clearly state that eligible applicants must have commenced their agricultural activity since 1 January 2010. This Regulation applies to all Member States and my Department has no discretion with regard to its implementation.
983. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9429/16]
View answerThe applicant in question has applied for a tank and housing under the Animal Welfare, Nutrient and Storage Scheme of TAMS II. The application has passed the administrative checks and it is anticipated that approval will issue shortly.
984. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if agricultural production will increase throughout each sector in the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9436/16]
View answerFood Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agri-food sector published in July last year identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations. If these recommendations are implemented, the expert committee which drew up the Food Wise 2025 Strategy believes that the following growth projections are achievable by 2025: increasing the value of agri-food exports by 85% to €19 billion; increasing value added in the sector by 70% to in excess of €13 billion; and increasing the value of primary production by 65% to almost €10 billion. With regard to employment, Food Wise foresees the creation of 23,000 additional jobs in the agri-food sector all along the supply chain from primary production to high value added product development. Realising these growth projections will be challenging, but I am confident that they can be achieved.
The Government is strongly committed to the implementation of the Food Wise strategy. I will chair the fifth meeting of the High Level Implementation Committee, including senior officials from relevant Departments and State agencies, in mid-June.
985. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is further scope for development and employment in the artisan food sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9437/16]
View answerThe artisan and speciality food sector in Ireland was valued at c €632 million in 2014 including €462 million in this jurisdiction, with over 350 producers employing more than 3,000 people. Evidence suggests that the sector can have a significant impact on local economies as businesses are typically owner managed and may be closely linked to local farms.
The emergence of Ireland’s artisan food sector, supported by growing consumer demand for niche products and a strong entrepreneurial spirit, has generated many new small food companies. Most are owner managed, frequently have a farming basis, and produce diverse products, demonstrating high potential for innovation. These ‘artisan’ businesses are defined as micro-enterprises with a turnover of up to €2 million, employing fewer than 10 people and producing food in limited quantities (weekly average under 1,000 kg or litres ) using skilled craftspeople, a traditional method, and characteristic ingredient(s) produced within 100 km ( FSAI Guidance Note 29).
The Food Wise 2025 strategy recognises the value of this sector and its potential for development and employment. A number of artisan businesses have to date participated in successful programmes such as Food Academy (developed by Bord Bia, Local Enterprise Offices and Musgraves/Supervalu) and Food Works ( developed by Bord Bia, Teagasc and Enterprise Ireland) which have generated new business. Several artisan businesses are full members of the Bord Bia Origin Green sustainability initiative and many have participated in Bloom, Marketplace and other fora which link producers up with buyers and support them in demonstrating their own capability and the quality of their food and drink products.
Within the artisan sector, the farmhouse cheese sector includes over 50 cheese-makers producing more than 150 types of cheese valued at over €12 million per annum at farm gate level. My Department is supporting a three year programme managed by Bord Bia under the EU Promotion Scheme to promote and increase awareness of farmhouse cheese. It is projected that with the overall increase in milk production following the abolition of milk quotas, farmhouse and specialty cheese output could increase to just over 4,500 tonnes per annum worth around €33m without requiring significant additional capital expenditure. Growth prospects for the sector are positive overall, driven by increased consumer interest in the provenance of food, environmental concerns, health and a desire to support the local economy.
986. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the numbers employed in the agrifood industry continue to remain constant or if they have increased over the past number of years; his views on its future prospects; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9438/16]
View answer1000. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if numbers employed in the agrifood industry remain constant or if they have increased over the past number of years; if he is satisfied with the future prospects of the sector in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9576/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 986 and 1000 together.
The CSO’s four Quarterly National Household Surveys in 2015 showed that employment in the agri-food sector overall, including all its component parts, averaged approaching 170,000 throughout the year. Based on the latest quarter’s data, the sector represents circa 8.1% of national employment.
Food Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agri-food sector published in July last year identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. Food Wise includes more than 400 specific recommendations, spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness; as well as specific sectoral recommendations.
If these recommendations are implemented, the expert committee which drew up the Food Wise 2025 Strategy believes that the following growth projections are achievable by 2025: increasing the value of agri-food exports by 85% to €19 billion; increasing value added in the sector by 70% to in excess of €13 billion; and increasing the value of primary production by 65% to almost €10 billion. With regard to employment, Food Wise foresees the creation of 23,000 additional jobs in the agri-food sector all along the supply chain from primary production to high value added product development. Realising these growth projections will be challenging, but I am confident that they can be achieved.
The Government is strongly committed to the implementation of the Food Wise strategy. I will chair the fourth meeting of the High Level Implementation Committee, including senior officials from relevant Departments and State agencies, in mid-June.
987. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to ensure that outstanding payments due to a registered farm partnership (details supplied) that have been subject to a review will be paid out immediately in order to enable the applicants comply with the mid-May date for 2016 applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9403/16]
View answerThe persons named established 49.65 Entitlement Allocation Rights with a total value of €13,545.45 and 65.67 Entitlement Allocation Rights with a total value of €28,400.81 including the Greening payment under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme. The persons named formed a registered farm partnership, 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 dissolve the entitlements return to the relevant owners.
Payment of €31,824.32 has issued to the registered farm partnership. My Department accepted a late Transfer application to transfer the entitlements into the partnership. Processing of this application has recently been finalised, and balancing payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the Farm Partnership concerned in the coming days.
988. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who applied for a place on a green certificate course prior to 25 December 2015 but who cannot avail of a place until after 16 May 2016 due to a lack of places, can apply under the 2016 young farmers' scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9452/16]
View answerIn line with the introduction of the new Basic Payment Scheme in 2015, Ireland introduced the National Reserve and Young Farmers’ Schemes which are designed to encourage and facilitate the entrance of young farmers and new entrants to farming. To ensure that the benefits of the ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant’ categories are targeted at those who have a genuine interest in farming as a career, Ireland included agricultural education at FETAC level 6 standard or its equivalent as a requirement to qualify for the schemes. In order to maximise the number of young farmers for eligibility under the 2015 National Reserve and Young Farmers’ schemes, it was decided that any person who meets the other qualifying requirements and commenced a relevant agricultural course anytime up to and including September 2016 would be accepted under the National Reserve and Young Farmers’ Scheme in 2015.
In September 2015 the EU Commission notified Ireland that the proposal to allow applicants to commence their agricultural education on a date after the date of submitting an application for the National Reserve and/or Young Farmers schemes is contrary to the EU Regulations governing the schemes. Following this clarification my Department immediately took action and made arrangements to have FETAC Level 6 beginners courses made available to all applicants to the 2015 National Reserve and Young Farmers’ Schemes at the earliest possible date to comply with the notification received from the EU Commission.
In light of this notification from the EU Commission, and in order to comply with EU Regulations pertaining to the implementation of the scheme, all applicants to the 2016 Young Farmers’ Scheme are required to have commenced their FETAC Level 6 course prior to submitting their application for the scheme in 2016. There is no flexibility within the notification from the EU Commission to allow applicants to commence their FETAC Level 6 course on a date after the submission of the application under the Young Farmers’ Scheme.
989. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review an application for the transport of animals by a person (details supplied). [9480/16]
View answerI wish to confirm that the applicant’s request for a review of his initial application is currently under consideration. The applicant will be informed of the outcome in due course.
990. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to permit hard copy applications as well as online applications under the single payment scheme; if the move to a full online system is unfair on older persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9462/16]
View answerMy Department introduced the on-line application facility under the Single Payment Scheme in 2007. Farmers have the option of lodging their application themselves or through an authorised agent. Online application involves a range of advantages for farmers, which help to ensure the continued efficient and effective delivery of these vital payments. An additional advantage for on-line applicants this year will be the implementation of preliminary checks. Under this provision on-line applicants will be informed, within a specified time frame, of a number of common land errors (over-claims, dual claims and overlaps) and be given the opportunity to avoid area penalties as would have been applied in previous years.
Since the introduction of on-line applications in 2007 my Department has worked closely with both farmers and authorised agents to make the on-line system more user friendly. New features have been introduced including the on-line updating of maps.
The position with regard to the receipt of BPS applications is subject to Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 809/2014 which sets out specific requirements with regard to geo-spatial (online) aid applications for the Basic Payment Scheme. The regulation sets out that Member States shall provide for geo-spatial (online) applications, and that 75% of beneficiaries in 2017 and all beneficiaries in 2018 must apply online. My Department has already reached the 2017 target in 2016.
In order to ensure that these regulatory requirements are met, my Department has been moving certain categories of farmers to online application in 2015 and 2016. This process will continue as we move towards the 2018 regulatory target.
My Department recognises the challenges faced by certain applicants, including those who are not familiar with the use of the technology that is required, in using the on-line system to lodge BPS applications. Accordingly, my Department has put in place a comprehensive system of support for online applicants via a dedicated helpdesk and one to one assistance for applicants lodging on-line applications at a number of regional locations in the spring of this year and at its offices in Portlaoise over recent weeks.
My Department is committed to providing more targeted supports to applicants as the process continues to ensure access to the Basic Payment Scheme is not impeded.
991. 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 Scottish derogation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9492/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for allocation of entitlements under the ‘Scottish Derogation’ measure of the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme.
Under EU Regulations governing the Basic Payment scheme, processing of applications involves administrative and on farm checks and verification of land details submitted. The checks are now complete and the application has now been finalised. Department records show that the land declared by the person named under Scottish Derogation Scheme was also claimed by another farmer in the scheme year 2013 and therefore the application under Scottish Derogation is deemed to be ineligible.
A letter was issued to the person named on 13th May 2016 informing him of this decision and notifying him of his right to appeal this decision.
992. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has completed all the checks on an application by a person (details supplied) under the basic payment scheme; and if a payment will issue in the near future. [9520/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for allocation of entitlements under the ‘Scottish Derogation’ measure of the Basic Payment Scheme. Processing of applications involves administrative and on farm checks and verification of land details submitted under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application. These checks are required under EU Regulation.
The checks are now complete and the application has been finalised. Payment issued to the person named on 11th April 2016.
993. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 416 of 13 January 2016 when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9472/16]
View answerThe first instalment of 85% of the 2015 payment issued on 21st January 2016 and the remaining balance of 15% issued on 1st February 2016.
994. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme and claims that the computer system is not capable of processing payments within the three-week period stated in the scheme's programme; that this is causing many persons to carry large overdrafts and subjecting them to considerable distress while awaiting the undue delay in grant payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9521/16]
View answerPart approvals under TAMS II have issued to applicants who needed to put in place urgent milking facilities and those who needed urgent Low Emission Slurry Spreading equipment. Administrative checks on applications have been completed and it is expected that any outstanding approvals or part-approvals will issue over the next few weeks. Work is ongoing on the completion of a computer system to process the subsequent TAMS II payment claims.
995. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to process an application from persons (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 without delay. [9522/16]
View answerPart approval for an urgently required robotic milking machine issued to the applicants in question on the 19 December 2015. Full approval for all remaining items will issue shortly.
996. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the basic payment scheme for young farmers; if he will issue the payments due within a specific time period in order to facilitate these persons in organising their financial projections without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9778/16]
View answerThe Young Farmers Scheme is designed to encourage and facilitate the entrance of young, well educated persons into our farming community. This scheme provides a payment to eligible young farmers for a maximum period of five years from the year the young farmer sets up a holding in their own name. The Young Farmers Scheme payment is made on a maximum of 50 entitlements and is calculated as 25% of the national average payment per eligible hectare which gives a payment of approximately €68 per entitlement held by the young farmer. My Department received almost 9,000 applications under the Young Farmers’ Scheme in 2015. To date some 8,800 of these applications have been fully processed.
In the case of outstanding applications, issues pertaining to registration of herd numbers, entitlement registration and agricultural educational qualifications need to be verified for applicants. My Department is engaged in ongoing correspondence with applicants requesting additional documentation where this is required to facilitate final processing of their applications. A number of applicants have yet to respond and these cases cannot be fully processed until replies are received. Once the relevant documents have been received the outstanding applications will be finalised, with a view to payment issuing as soon as possible thereafter.
997. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide additional support for sheep farmers who are struggling to make a living; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9537/16]
View answerI am aware of the challenges facing all farm sectors currently including the sheep sector. The Programme for Government reflects our commitment to helping this sector develop. The sheep sector is the third largest farming sector in Ireland with over 34,000 producers and exports worth €230 million in 2015. It makes a vital contribution to our rural economy.
In relation to a further direct payment per ewe, the Programme for Government has made a clear commitment to providing €25 million for a new sheep support scheme under the RDP. My Department is currently examining the matter. Consultation with farm bodies will commence shortly, with the intention of submitting an amendment to the RDP as soon as possible, so that a new scheme can be provided for in Budget 2017.
Any such scheme must contribute to the long term development of the sector, and will be subject to parameters laid down in the Rural Development Regulation and to EU Commission approval.
998. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue approval for an application by a person (details supplied) under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9540/16]
View answerAn application for Tranche 1 of the GLAS Scheme for the person named was received on the dedicated GLAS online system on the 21 May 2015. The application was ranked as a Tier 3 application, scoring 11.20 which was below the minimum required pass mark of 16.30 and it was therefore unsuccessful for admission to the scheme. It should be noted that the Tier 3 pass mark of 16.30 was set before the GLAS 1 application closing date so advisors and applicants were aware of the pass mark before submitting their applications.
A third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3) will open later this year. The person named and any applicant who was previously unsuccessful has the opportunity to re-examine their proposed farm-plan, in consultation with their advisor, with a view to improving the plan to increase their chance of selection under GLAS 3 and to submit a new application for GLAS 3 when the scheme is opened.
999. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he is satisfied regarding the adequacy of regulations to ensure the highest possible standards in regard to traceability; the extent of new regulations in this regard with particular reference to country of origin in respect of important meat and meat products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9575/16]
View answerI attach great importance to the food and drink industries exports and their contribution to our economic recovery. Agri food exports account for 7% of GDP and continue to grow year on year.
My colleague, the Minister for Health, has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation and new EU food information regulations which were adopted by the Council of Health Ministers in December 2011. However, my Department plays an important role in the enforcement of this legislation under service contract to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland. Currently my Department is assisting our colleagues in the Department of Health on the drafting of a new Statutory Instrument to bring the labelling of loose pigmeat and poultry into line with the origin labelling rules for packaged meat brought in on April the first 2015. This will require businesses who sell meat loose in their premises to clearly identify the country of rearing and slaughter of the animal from which the meat is derived. Once the SI has been finalised my Department will arrange for it to be put on the Technical Regulation Information System for notification to all EU Member States and following on from the obligatory three month stand still period I would be confident that the Minister for Health will be in a position to sign the SI, bringing it into force.
Primary responsibility under EU law for the safety and traceability of food placed on the market lies with food business operators. The role of National Competent Agencies is to verify compliance with this requirement. This is done via a combination of inspecting establishments and auditing the food safety management systems which operators have in place. These controls are applied at different stages in the food supply chain. Regulation (EC) No. 178 of 2002 sets out the general principles and requirements of EU food law and stipulates that food business operators must, at all stages of production, processing and distribution within their business, ensure food law requirements are satisfied. In regard to traceability, the regulations require that food business operators have systems to identify any person who supplies the business with a food, and a system to identify other businesses to which their product has been supplied. This is referred to as the ‘one step forward, one step backward’ traceability system. There are additional requirements for certain fishery and aquaculture products under the Control Regulation (Regulation 1224/2009 and Implementing Regulation 404/2011) from first sale to subsequent stages of production, processing and distribution up to retail.
My Department has a permanent veterinary presence at all its approved slaughter plants. Controls at plants only engaged in secondary processing are carried out at a frequency based on an annual risk assessment. An annual audit of imported products is carried out in each Department-approved plant, including checks on physical identity, labelling and documentary checks for product originating in EU Member States and third countries. Labelling and documentary checks are routinely conducted by the Department.
The import of products of animal origin from third countries is governed by a comprehensive and robust legislative framework laid down at EU level, controlled by Member States in the first instance, and audited by the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Food Safety (formally the FVO), to ensure compliance with all of the relevant food safety standards. The legislation imposes health and supervisory requirements designed to ensure that imported products meet standards equivalent to those required for production and trade between Member States. Border Inspection Posts are operated by my Department. Import control procedures on products of animal and fish origin are highly prescriptive and strictly audited by the Directorate to ensure compliance. Inspection finding reports are published on the Directorate General for Health and Food Safety’s website.
1001. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine how he determines the date of set-up under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 young farmers' capital investment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9637/16]
View answerFor the purposes of the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme in TAMS II, Regulation 1305/2013 Article 2 (1)(n) defines “young farmer” as follows: “Means a person who is not more than 40 years of age at the moment of submitting the application, possesses adequate occupational skills and competence and is setting up for the first time in an agricultural holding as head of that holding”.
In order to ensure that as many young farmers as possible could benefit from the enhanced grant rate of 60% my Department successfully made the case to the Commission to accept applications from young farmers who commenced farming during the five years preceding the date of application. Under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme, to meet the eligibility criteria, farmers must meet the requirements of set-up for the first time within five years of the date of receipt of an application under this scheme. The date of set-up is defined as the date an applicant first applied for a herd number or other Department identifier.
