Written Answers Nos. 1062-1081
1062. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding an application under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10406/16]
View answerAn application for Tranche 2 of the GLAS Scheme for the person named was received on the dedicated GLAS online system on the 13 December 2015. The unprecedented level of applications to the Scheme has meant that for GLAS 2, priority is being given to what are called Tier 1 and Tier 2 candidates, i.e. those who either manage key environmental assets like endangered birds, protected habitats or high-quality water courses, or who have committed to undertake particularly valuable environmental actions like growing feed-crops for wild birds, adopting low-impact tillage techniques or using low-emission slurry spreading methods.
Farmers had been urged to present the highest standard environmental plans under GLAS 2, and to adopt actions that would promote them from Tier 3 to a higher tier, thereby significantly increasing the chance of selection. Over 80% of applicants in this second tranche of GLAS opted to do so, and with the funding available were approved.
As the application by the person named was ranked as a Tier 3 application it was not selected into the scheme.
A third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3) will open later this year and the person named and any applicant who was unsuccessful in the second tranche will have the opportunity now to re-examine their proposed farm-plan, in consultation with their advisor, and see how it might be improved to increase their chance of selection under GLAS 3 and to submit a new application for GLAS 3 when the scheme is opened.
1063. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 172 of 20 April 2016, when he will provide the information promised on appointments to State boards, agencies and bodies; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10408/16]
View answerI can confirm that the information sought by the Deputy issued on Friday 13th May, 2016.
1064. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to expedite payment of entitlements to a person (details supplied) under the basic payment scheme, given that the person has been waiting an exorbitant amount of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10426/16]
View answerThe person named established 37.04 Entitlement Allocation Rights under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme with a total value of these entitlements is €10,192.68 including the Greening payment. The person named formed a registered farm partnership with another party, 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.
Processing of this application has recently been finalised, and payment will issue to the nominated bank account of the Farm Partnership shortly.
The person named also submitted an application under the 2015 Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. The application is outstanding as additional documentation is required. My Department wrote to the person named requesting the submission of that additional documentation as part of the administrative checks carried out under the schemes. Once the relevant documents have been received the application will be finalised, with a view to payment issuing as soon as possible thereafter.
1065. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10447/16]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment (BPS) and Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 25 May 2015. Payment under the ANC scheme has issued directly to the nominated bank account of the partnership in April 2016. The persons named submitted a Transfer of Entitlements Allocation Right and Reference Value application to my Department seeking the transfer of allocation rights and values by Change of Registration Details of Herd Number. The persons named also submitted applications under the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. These applications were all fully processed and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme and the Young Farmers Scheme issued on 31st March 2016.
1066. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the area aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10450/16]
View answerMy Department has received an appeal from the person named. This appeal is currently being 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 him in the coming days.
1067. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue a decision on an application by a person (details supplied) under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10469/16]
View answerThe applicant in question has submitted an application under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme of TAMS II for animal housing and a concrete tank. The administrative checks have been completed and it is expected that the technical aspects of the application will be examined shortly with a view to approval issuing in a matter of weeks.
1068. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a diploma awarded to a person (details supplied) in the United Kingdom but which is not being recognised by his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10470/16]
View answerThe current minimum agricultural education requirement to qualify for access to Department of Agriculture schemes and Revenue tax exemptions is ‘ Level 6 ’ on the National Framework of Qualifications. Qualifications that meet the minimum standard are listed in Revenue Leaflet SD2B and include the level 6 Teagasc Green Cert.
Teagasc reviews non-Irish awards to assess equivalence to SD2B awards . The Department of Agriculture has no role in the matter. It involves an assessment of the ‘level’ of the award in terms of the comparable level on the National Framework of Qualifications and a review of the course content.
I am advised that Teagasc reviewed the National Diploma in Land based Technology from the Reaseheath College on behalf of the individual concerned. It was deemed comparable to a level 5 award on the National Framework of Qualifications. The course content was found to be orientated towards agricultural mechanisation/engineering and not agricultural production as required for SD2B equivalence.
As the Diploma is not of equivalent standard in terms of content and level of award, Teagasc advised the person in question that he is required to complete the Green Cert programme to meet the minimum education requirement.
1069. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the outstanding farm payments due to a person (details supplied) will be made immediately. [10495/16]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 29 May 2015. Full payments due to date under the Scheme have issued to the nominated bank account of the person named. The advance payment issued in October 2015 and a balancing payment issued in December. A further final balancing payment will issue to applicants who qualify for such payment, following the definitive allocation of entitlements over the coming weeks.
1070. Deputy Marcella Corcoran Kennedy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will grant approval for persons to commence work under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10511/16]
View answerAdministrative checks on applications received for Tranche 1 have been completed and it is expected that any outstanding approvals or part-approvals will issue over the next few weeks. I am aware that applicants are very anxious to proceed with their investments and this matter is receiving the appropriate attention within my Department.
1071. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a grant for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10538/16]
View answerThe person concerned was an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme and received grant-aid under the Scheme in respect of certain investments in 2008. However, one invoice was excluded for grant aid purposes as the contractor concerned was unable to provide tax clearance as required under the conditions of the scheme.
To date, the required tax clearance has not been received by my Department. The applicant has been advised of the circumstances of the case and the requirements that must be met to enable the remaining grant to be paid. I am not therefore in a position to progress the matter further.
1072. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) did not receive the full payment under the single farm payment scheme; if the outstanding amount will be paid or the options that are available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10540/16]
View answerThe person named submitted a Private Contract Clause application to my Department seeking the transfer of land and entitlements by lease to the Company name shown as transferee. This application is currently being finalised and payment under the Basic Payment Scheme on foot of the entitlements that are the subject of this application will issue shortly.
1073. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an appeal under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme 2 will be processed for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10571/16]
View answerAn application for Tranche 2 of the GLAS Scheme was received in this case on the dedicated GLAS online system on the 13 December 2015.
The unprecedented level of applications to the Scheme has meant that for GLAS 2, priority is being given to what are called Tier 1 and Tier 2 candidates, i.e. those who either manage key environmental assets like endangered birds, protected habitats or high-quality water courses, or who have committed to undertake particularly valuable environmental actions like growing feed-crops for wild birds, adopting low-impact tillage techniques or using low-emission slurry spreading methods.
The application for the persons named was ranked as a Tier 3 application and it was therefore not selected into the scheme. A letter issued to the persons named notifying them of this decision and giving the option of appeal to GLAS section. This decision was unsuccessfully appealed to GLAS Section and the persons named have been informed in writing of the outcome and of their right to appeal this further to the Agriculture Appeals Office (AAO), Kilminchy Court, Portlaoise. The AAO has advised that to date there is no record of an appeal having been made to that Office.
A third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3) will open later this year and the persons named and any applicant who was unsuccessful in the second tranche will have the opportunity now to re-examine their proposed farm-plan, in consultation with their advisor, and see how it might be improved to increase their chance of selection under GLAS 3 and to submit a new application for GLAS 3 when the scheme is opened.
An official from my Department will contact the persons named.
1074. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he is taking to address the ongoing challenges by farmers in the dairy sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10577/16]
View answer1075. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to assist dairy farmers through present financial difficulties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10580/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1074 and 1075 together.
I am fully aware of the pressures on dairy farmers right now. I’m committed to working with all players in the sector here to address these issues and ensure that we have a sustainable dairy sector going forward. I was one of the proposers of the Dairy Forum and I will be ensuring that it continues to meet to discuss relevant issues of concern to farmers and others. The Forum has come forward with some good initiatives for farmers already, including an initiative on improving cashflow planning at farm level, which will be rolled out shortly.
The price of milk and dairy commodities is determined by a range of factors, including supply and demand at international level. Food commodity markets including dairy markets have been characterised by significant levels of volatility for a number of years and this trend has continued throughout 2015 and into 2016. Factors contributing to global price volatility in 2015 included the Russian Ban and the softening of Chinese demand on one side, coupled with increased production among key global producers, including the EU on the supply side. The longer term demographic and demand perspectives remain positive, but there is no doubt that 2016 will be a challenging year.
Dealing with price volatility is a major challenge for the sector. The Single Farm Payment provides some measure of income stability, and EU market support measures will have a role to play. These measures are not enough on their own, however. The sector needs to look at measures to reduce costs on farms, and at the development of new tools, including fixed price contracts, futures markets and more flexible financing arrangements for farmers. I expect all of the stakeholders in the sector, including processors and banks, to play an active role in the development of such instruments.
Production decisions are made by producers, taking prevailing market conditions as well as their efficiency of production and price of inputs into account. The challenge posed by price volatility has been highlighted by my Department and others over a number of years, and indeed my Department has, including through its agencies, invested significant resources in providing farmers with advice and technology designed to improve on farm efficiency, reduce production costs, and make farm businesses more resilient in times of downward price pressure. The abolition of dairy quotas in April 2015 allows farmers the freedom to make these production decisions on a commercial basis.
That said, support must be offered to the sector in times of market difficulty . In this respect, I very much welcome the EU Presidency conclusions on a package of support measures to address challenges in the dairy and pigmeat sectors agreed in Brussels at Council in March. This follows on from an earlier package of measures agreed in September of last year and takes account of the ongoing difficulties in the sector, where the duration of market downturn has gone well beyond previous expectations.
The package includes a number of proposals by Ireland to the Commission in advance of Council, in particular the doubling of the intervention ceiling for skimmed milk powder and butter.
In terms of input costs at farm level, Ireland has called on the Commission to consider temporarily suspending EU import tariffs on fertilisers. I understand that the Commission is examining this request at present. At national level, I will continue to support the work of Teagasc, the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation and Animal Health Ireland to increase on farm efficiency and reduce input costs. The EU Presidency conclusions also refer to the possibility of advance payments under CAP, as was done in 2015. In addition my Department recently paid €26.4m in direct aid to dairy farmers, co-funded by the exchequer and the EU, to assist with liquidity and cash-flow issues on dairy farms.
I also welcome the proposal for the European Investment Bank (EIB) and member states to work together with the Commission on the feasibility of an EU export credit tool. My Department will continue to engage with the Irish banking system to ensure there is a full appreciation of the temporary impact of downward price volatility on farm enterprises which are financially sound in the medium term.
It remains clear that we need to deal urgently and effectively with this temporary problem. We must ensure that EU farmers are protected from the worst impacts of low commodity prices in an appropriate way, but remain well placed to avail of emerging opportunities when markets recover. Ireland is strongly positioned as a competitive producer of dairy, and while conditions are extremely difficult at present, Irish dairy farmers will be well placed to avail of the opportunity presented by market recovery in due course.
1076. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he proposes to introduce to assist dairy farmers following the decision by the European Union agriculture Council at the March 2016 meeting to give member states the option to provide farmers with state aid up to €15,000 per year for a period up to three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10581/16]
View answer1077. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures he proposes to introduce to assist pig producers following the decision by the European Union agriculture Council at the March 2016 meeting to give member states the option to provide farmers with state aid up to €15,000 per year for a period up to three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10582/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1076 and 1077 together.
In response to the ongoing market difficulties in the dairy, pigmeat, and fruit and vegetables sectors, the Council of Agriculture Ministers agreed a further package of measures in March 2016. Among these was the making available of more flexible state aid support.
It will now be possible for farmers (SMEs) to access temporary finance up to a maximum amount of €15,000 per farm per year in circumstances where they either:
(i) make a commitment to freeze or reduce production compared to a given reference period, or
(ii) use the funds to bridge a liquidity gap.
Aid as provisionally envisaged would be granted in the form of direct grants, loans or guarantees in the case of freezing/reducing production, and in the form of loans or guarantees in the case of liquidity assistance (remunerated in the form of an interest payment). The latter could also be provided in grant form if accompanied by a commitment to freeze or reduce production. Interaction and discussion with the Commission is ongoing in respect of finalising the details of such provisions.
The Department is continuing to monitor market developments very closely, and will continue to work with the Commission and with other Member States in developing appropriate responses.
Member States now have a suite of measures that have been made available since September 2015, and will respond in accordance with their domestic circumstances. To date Ireland has used the targeted aid package of €27.4m (€13.7m EU and €13.7m national funding) to support producers in the dairy and pigmeat sectors, and has pushed for appropriate changes in the operation of market support measures such as aids to private storage.
There are no plans to avail of the option to provide national funding to freeze or reduce milk supply compared to a given reference period. On the question of liquidity, the Department is at present commissioning an ex ante appraisal to examine the merits of including a provision for financial instruments in its Rural Development Programme, and is continuing to engage with banks and with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland on the provision of flexible finance to farmers.
1078. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of dairy farmers subject to a superlevy penalty at present; the total penalty incurred by the State and the amount paid to the European Union to date; when the remainder of the superlevy penalty has to be paid to the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10583/16]
View answer1079. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his proposals to defer payments due by farmers to his Department in respect of the superlevy penalty, in view of the serious income problems affecting many dairy farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10584/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1078 and 1079 together.
As the Deputy may be aware, the facility to phase the final superlevy payment over three years was introduced by the EU Commission last year at Ireland’s request. Farmers availing of the facility must pay at least one third of the bill in each of the first two years (2015 and 2016) with the balance to be paid in 2017.
The Department implemented the scheme nationally and 3,741 farmers (out of a total of 6,109 farmers who incurred the levy) deferred repayments of €35.6m in superlevy liability, (out of a total national levy liability of €71.2m).
The mechanism required the Exchequer to pay the superlevy liability to the EU in full in 2015, and to recover the levy from farmers over the three years from 2015 to 2017. A wide process of consultation in the design of the scheme was undertaken with farm organisations and co-ops and it was agreed that once the initial farmer instalment was paid in 2015, the optimum repayment model for the balancing payments would involve ten equal instalments from the months of May-September in 2016 and 2017.
These amounts will be deducted by co-ops from a farmer’s monthly milk cheques to coincide with the peak milk supply months of April to August. The co-ops will then forward the money each month to the Department. This approach was also agreed as part of the sanction given by the Minister for Public Expenditure Reform.
As part of the discussions in the run-up to the March Council of Agriculture Ministers, Ireland proposed a further deferral of the payment to 2017 and 2018, to ease the financial burden on liable farmers in 2016. However the European Commission advised that the legal basis for the Regulations under-pinning the scheme are no longer in existence and therefore further amendments were not possible. While Ireland suggested a possible alternative legal approach, it was clear that the proposal enjoyed very little support from other Member States and was therefore unlikely to succeed.
On that basis the focus turned to other measures in the package which can be of assistance to Irish dairy farmers to help them through current difficulties, including the doubling of intervention fixed price buying-in thresholds. I did however raise the matter with Commissioner Phil Hogan in our bilateral meeting last week and encouraged him to reflect again on whether a legal basis could be found to facilitate a further deferral in superlevy repayments for farmers.
1080. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has not received any disadvantaged area payments for over two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10613/16]
View answerAn application under Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS) was received from the person named on 15 May 2014 and an application under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received on 29 May 2015.
Under the above schemes, 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 both DAS and ANC scheme has not issued in this case as the holding concerned has not satisfied the scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements.
1081. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal for national reserve 2015 by a person (details supplied); when the person can expect a decision to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10615/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application under the ‘Old Young Farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve to my Department. Records held by my Department indicate that the person named commenced farming in 2007. On this basis the person named did not meet the eligibility criteria under the National Reserve ‘Old Young Farmer’ category and the application was not successful.
The applicant was notified 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 within the next ten days.
