Written Answers Nos. 198-204
198. Deputy Jackie Cahill 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. [13922/16]
View answerThe applicant in question has applied for a tank, silage pit and housing under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrie nt Storage Scheme in Tranche 2 of TAMS II. The administrative checks have been completed. All of the applications received in a given tranche have to be examined before the ranking and selection process takes place. Approvals will commence when this process is completed.
199. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications; the number of these he has approved; the number of participants who have received payments; the number of payments that have not yet issued and when he will issue the outstanding payments under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 in 2016 by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13923/16]
View answerDetails of the applications in 2016 received across the various TAMS schemes are in the following table. The remaining information will be forwarded to the Deputy when available.
|
|
AWNSS |
DES |
LESS |
Organic |
PPIS |
YFCIS |
|
Carlow |
13 |
25 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
5 |
|
Cavan |
71 |
32 |
23 |
23 |
11 |
17 |
|
Clare |
74 |
38 |
11 |
10 |
0 |
19 |
|
Cork |
231 |
353 |
84 |
17 |
9 |
57 |
|
Donegal |
73 |
18 |
15 |
6 |
1 |
24 |
|
Dublin |
2 |
6 |
0 |
4 |
0 |
0 |
|
Galway |
102 |
60 |
55 |
19 |
0 |
57 |
|
Kerry |
135 |
167 |
22 |
11 |
2 |
40 |
|
Kildare |
12 |
24 |
2 |
9 |
1 |
8 |
|
Kilkenny |
86 |
93 |
22 |
3 |
3 |
27 |
|
Laois |
32 |
39 |
10 |
17 |
0 |
10 |
|
Leitrim |
19 |
2 |
5 |
26 |
0 |
13 |
|
Limerick |
72 |
97 |
12 |
18 |
8 |
20 |
|
Longford |
20 |
7 |
11 |
7 |
1 |
8 |
|
Louth |
5 |
23 |
8 |
1 |
2 |
6 |
|
Mayo |
45 |
21 |
8 |
6 |
0 |
44 |
|
Meath |
45 |
52 |
9 |
3 |
1 |
14 |
|
Monaghan |
70 |
55 |
14 |
9 |
43 |
11 |
|
Offaly |
17 |
31 |
9 |
17 |
0 |
12 |
|
Roscommon |
65 |
5 |
16 |
39 |
0 |
20 |
|
Sligo |
26 |
4 |
12 |
8 |
0 |
20 |
|
Tipperary |
119 |
209 |
41 |
22 |
1 |
36 |
|
Waterford |
48 |
70 |
16 |
5 |
5 |
21 |
|
Westmeath |
35 |
30 |
16 |
12 |
1 |
11 |
|
Wexford |
52 |
97 |
14 |
2 |
3 |
25 |
|
Wicklow |
18 |
21 |
3 |
8 |
0 |
10 |
|
TOTAL |
1487 |
1579 |
438 |
303 |
92 |
535 |
200. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number applications submitted; the number of these which were ineligible; and the number which he has not yet paid under the areas of natural constraint scheme in 2015, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13924/16]
View answerA total of 103,763 applications were received under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, of which 96,002 applications have been paid to date. Of those applications outstanding, many are currently not meeting the eligibility requirements and therefore will not become eligible for payment.
|
County |
Applied |
Paid |
Numbers outstanding and/or ineligible |
|
Carlow |
763 |
701 |
62 |
|
Cavan |
4897 |
4644 |
253 |
|
Clare |
6171 |
5846 |
325 |
|
Cork |
7227 |
6709 |
518 |
|
Donegal |
8782 |
7904 |
878 |
|
Dublin |
152 |
126 |
26 |
|
Galway |
12447 |
11418 |
1029 |
|
Kerry |
7807 |
7263 |
544 |
|
Kildare |
531 |
479 |
52 |
|
Kilkenny |
1789 |
1632 |
157 |
|
Laois |
1736 |
1598 |
138 |
|
Leitrim |
3534 |
3295 |
239 |
|
Limerick |
2977 |
2768 |
209 |
|
Longford |
2405 |
2257 |
148 |
|
Louth |
806 |
712 |
94 |
|
Mayo |
11840 |
10956 |
884 |
|
Meath |
1361 |
1259 |
102 |
|
Monaghan |
4141 |
3899 |
242 |
|
Offaly |
2441 |
2263 |
178 |
|
Roscommon |
5798 |
5404 |
394 |
|
Sligo |
4079 |
3800 |
279 |
|
Tipperary |
4569 |
4244 |
325 |
|
Waterford |
1451 |
1327 |
124 |
|
Westmeath |
2702 |
2522 |
180 |
|
Wexford |
1512 |
1323 |
189 |
|
Wicklow |
1845 |
1653 |
192 |
201. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to deal with the sharp decline in live cattle exports in 2016; the new markets that will be opened in 2016 for Irish farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13925/16]
View answerLive exports serve a vital purpose as a means of satisfying market demand for live animals and providing alternative market outlets for Irish cattle farmers. I have always attached major importance to the live cattle export trade, and my Department, along with Bord Bia, has been extremely proactive in both encouraging and facilitating shipments abroad and the cross-border live trade to Northern Ireland.
Last year saw high levels of exports of cattle to both Britain and Northern Ireland, largely driven by favourable currency rates which made cattle from this country more competitive in those markets. However, as a result of a closer Euro V Sterling exchange rate, exports to the UK this year are lower by approximately 50%. Exports to Italy are up by almost 20% and exports to Spain have grown by 11%.
Beyond this market, animal health restrictions and geopolitical instability have impeded previously large-scale exports to Belgium and North Africa respectively. The markets currently open to live cattle from Ireland include Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Serbia and Algeria, in addition to the other twenty-seven Member States of the European Union. The exploitation of market outlets, once opened is a commercial matter for the live export sector, and is affected by the usual variables, including the relative cost of beef on the domestic and international markets, currency exchange rates, transport costs and other factors. I will continue to ensure that irish meat and livestock producers have the option of exporting to as many global markets as possible. In this regard my Department has agreed health certificates for the export of live cattle to Egypt, Serbia and Algeria in 2016 and is currently investigating the possibilities of bilateral health certificates for the export of cattle to Kazakhstan, Montenegro, and Turkey as well as breeding cattle to Morocco. In this regard my Department recently hosted a veterinary inspection by the Turkish authorities and is awaiting a report from that exercise.
202. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will amend S.I. No. 125 of 2016, given that the Attorney General has been requested to review it and to ensure that no penalty points are applied to owners' licences until after they have been found guilty in the courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13926/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that S.I. No. 125 of 2016 - European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations 2016 adopts the requirements of Article 92 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1224/2009 of 20 November 2009 and Title VIl of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No. 404/2011 of 8 April 2011. In accordance with the regulations, this S.I. establishes a point system, which applies to the Licence Holder of a sea-fishing boat when a serious infringement of the Common Fisheries Policy is detected within the Exclusive Fishery Limits of the State or for an Irish vessel, wherever it may be.
I have been considering all of the concerns raised by Deputies and by the fishing industry in relation to the implementation of the EU points system for serious infringements of the Common Fisheries Policy. Indeed, this issue was discussed at a meeting I had with representatives of the fishing industry this morning.
Upon taking office I requested that the Attorney General consider whether there is a way that the assignment of EU points for licence holders can await the completion of the prosecution process, while at the same time ensuring that Ireland is fully in compliance with its obligations under EU law.
Further to the Programme for Government commitment pertaining to the assignment of penalty points, I quickly sought advice from the Attorney General as prescribed in the document. Having now received this advice, I am satisfied to move on the introduction of a system for the sequential application of EU points in conjunction with the prosecution process, thus fulfilling the ambition outlined in the Partnership Programme.
I should advise the Deputy that this move is subject to addressing some important legal and administrative issues in order to ensure compliance with EU law. I have listened to the concerns of industry and intend to report back to An Oireachtas as soon as I have finalised a way forward in the context of dealing with legal and administrative matters that are arising. However I am confident that these matters can be dealt with in a collaborative and constructive manner with all stakeholders.
203. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that Ireland's grass-based agriculture, boglands and forestry are taken into account as carbon sequesters in the upcoming discussions at European level for European Union 2030 emission targets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13927/16]
View answerIreland has adopted a whole of Government approach to developing climate policy. We have been engaged in intensive discussions with the European Commission for some time now highlighting the importance of ensuring a coherent approach to the twin challenges of food security and climate change.
As part of our ongoing engagement at EU level, my colleague Minister Naughten and I met recently with Commissioner Miguel Arias Cañete, European Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy to discuss proposals on the EU’s Effort Sharing Decision and on Land Use, Land-Use Change and Forestry (LULUCF).
The meeting provided me with the opportunity to restate the commitment of the Irish agriculture sector to improving efficiency and driving down emissions, and to re-emphasise the importance of reflecting the 2014 European Council Conclusions in the proposed effort sharing decision – particularly, in terms of their recognition of the low mitigation potential of the sector and their reference to the inclusion of afforestation and LULUCF as part of future climate and energy policy.
Afforestation, the creation of new forest, is included as a specific mitigation measure in paragraph 2.14 of the Council Conclusions. This is important for Ireland as afforestation is the main cost-effective land-based climate mitigation tool available to us. Climate change mitigation by forests, forest fuels and wood products is one of the principal drivers of the policy to expand forest cover out to mid century. Annual estimates of the current level of uptake of carbon dioxide by forests are provided by my Department to the Environmental Protection Agency. Projected levels of uptake in forests and storage in solid wood products out to 2020 have been provided to the European Commission under Decision 529/2013 on land use, land-use change and forestry.
We will continue to work closely with the Commission prior to the launch of proposals for an effort sharing decision, which are expected later this summer.
It should also be noted that Ireland is one of a small number of EU countries to have elected to report on cropland and grazing land management activities under the Kyoto Protocol (KP). This would allow Ireland to take advantage of any sequestration benefits that may be allowed in the future from these activities.
204. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) of a decision on a farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13956/16]
View answerAn application for Tranche 2 of the GLAS Scheme was received in this case on the dedicated GLAS online system on the 29 November 2015.
The pre-approval validation checks on the application of the person named, found that the Low Input Permanent Pasture (part parcel) and Traditional Hay Meadow (part parcel) actions were not in accordance with scheme specifications and were therefore not approved as part of the application.
The application was ranked as a Tier 3 application, scoring 7.50 which was below the minimum required pass mark of 16.50 and it was therefore unsuccessful for admission to the scheme. A letter issued to the person named on the 10 March 2016 notifying them of this decision and giving an option of appeal to GLAS Section. To date, my Department has no record of receiving an appeal in this case.
