Written Answers Nos. 470-489
470. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when will he issue decisions on applications under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18082/16]
View answerTo date 1,723 applicants have received full approval for investments in the TAMS II Schemes.
Earlier this year a further 1,100 part approvals issued for urgently required Dairy Equipment and Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment. Approvals continue to issue on an ongoing basis.
471. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18087/16]
View answerThe application by the person named under the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme was refused as it did not comply with the condition of the Scheme regarding the capacity of the land to produce a commercial crop of timber. The person named was notified of the decision on 17 June 2016 and of his right of appeal against it if dissatisfied.
472. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farm inspections from the Nenagh office of his Department in each of the years 2011 to 2015, inclusive, in tabular form; the number of penalties applied; the percentage of penalties versus inspections; the value of the total penalties applied each year; the national figure for penalties applied as a percentage versus inspections in each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18103/16]
View answerThe extensive range of data requested by the Deputy is not readily available. However, officials in my Department will compile the data requested and forward it directly to the Deputy at the earliest opportunity.
473. Deputy James Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to remove the 14% import tariff that applies to fertiliser imports to the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18119/16]
View answerFarmers across the EU continue to be severely affected by the ongoing difficulties on agricultural markets. The recent packages of support measures from the Commission are welcome, but we should continue to deploy any and all available options that might help to mitigate the effects of these difficulties. Such options should include measures that will help to reduce production costs for farmers.
According to Eurostat, fertiliser is the third most important expenditure item on EU farms, accounting for €19.2bn in 2014. Fertiliser prices have increased significantly in recent years, in part due to the protection provided by the imposition of duties on non-EU imports, while opportunities to manage price risk through hedging mechanisms are limited.
The International Food and Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) published a report in February of this year (commissioned by the Irish Farmers’ Association) on the effects of import duty elimination on competition in the EU fertiliser market. The report concluded that the protection afforded to EU manufacturers by the application of anti-dumping duties and customs tariffs is costing farmers up to €1 billion per annum.
I believe that appropriate action in this area could be of significant benefit to farmers at this very difficult time. In addition to the ten-point package that Ireland proposed in the lead-up to the March Council of Agriculture Ministers, we asked the Commission to consider a temporary suspension of import tariffs on fertilisers.
Other Member States made similar calls, and at the March Council Commissioner Hogan indicated his readiness to raise the matter with Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, Pierre Moscovici, and Internal Market Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska. At the April Council in Luxembourg, Commissioner Hogan said that he was following up with his colleagues in an effort to secure their agreement to possible changes.
I am continuing to pursue the matter with the Commission and in consultation with my Member State counterparts, and I hope that progress can be made in the short-term. I would hope that Commissioner Moscovici in particular would be in a position to look favourably on this proposal.
474. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for redress following the loss of a crop due to storm damage. [18151/16]
View answerThe person named has submitted applications to my Department under the Fodder Aid Scheme and the Emergency Flood Damage Relief Measure. These schemes were introduced by my Department as part of the response to the flooding in December 2015 and January 2016. The Terms and Conditions of the Fodder Aid scheme list the eligible feedstuffs considered for aid under the scheme as silage, hay, straw and concentrates. Therefore, losses to other sources of feed on a holding such as crops in the ground do not qualify for support under this scheme.
The terms and conditions of the Emergency Flood Damage Relief Measure set out that support is available to farmers under 3 categories;
a) loss of livestock,
b) damage to fixed agricultural structures and fittings, and
c) the necessity to move livestock to alternate housing (excluding the cost of feed).
Given that the applications of the person named related to the loss of a maize crop, the applications were not eligible for compensation under the terms of either scheme. The person named has been advised of the decisions in each case, and advised of the appeal options available.
475. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue the outstanding payments under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme to farmers who have completed approved works; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18173/16]
View answerThe IT functionality to allow TAMS II payment claims to be submitted on line is being finalised within my Department and it is anticipated that it will be available next month. Payments will follow for approved claims.
476. Deputy Frank O'Rourke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will increase the limit on the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme grant for piggeries and poultry farms from the current ceiling of €80,000 to an increased ceiling of €300,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18174/16]
View answerThere are no plans currently to increase the ceiling in the Pig and Poultry Investment Scheme of TAMS II from €80,000. Any increase in this ceiling would require an amendment to the Rural Development Plan and approval from the European Commission.
477. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 821 of 31 May 2016, if payment has issued to a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18219/16]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS contract on 1 September 2010. Payment issued for the 2010-2014 Scheme years. 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 as soon as possible.
478. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is an option to avail of further funding when a 20-year forestry premium payment finishes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18321/16]
View answerThere are no options available to forest owners to receive additional premium payments after the last annual premium has been paid. However depending on the species planted there are other schemes which the forest owner can avail off which help cover the costs of various forest management activities. These are as follows;
- Funding for the construction of forest roads is available at a rate of €40/m based on a density of 20m per hectare.
- The Woodland Improvement Scheme: Thinning and Tending Scheme provides support at a rate of €750/ha for broadleaf forests to remove malformed trees and create space for better performing trees to grow.
Details of all Department schemes relating to forestry can be found at http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/forestservice/grantsandpremiumschemes2015-2016/ .
479. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for any additional afforestation schemes to work alongside the afforestation scheme, the native woodland conservation scheme and the environmental enhancement of forests scheme, which would be directed specifically at tackling flooding; if he has spoken to the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18336/16]
View answerThe Office of Public Works (OPW) leads and coordinates Ireland’s whole of government approach to flood risk prevention and management. The Interdepartmental Flood Policy Co-ordination group was established to support the OPW in this role. This group is currently preparing a final report for Government that will contain recommendations for appropriate actions to mitigate the risks posed by flooding. The critical and varied role that forestry performs in combating flood risk in vulnerable areas will be reflected in the report. My Department operates a Forestry Programme that provides funding for the creation and management of a wide range of forest and woodland types. These schemes as listed by the Deputy, aim to realise a variety of environmental, economic and social benefits and services forest development brings. Included in these benefits is flood alleviation when these measures are used strategically as part of a wider response within a catchment to the threat of flooding. There are no plans to introduce any further schemes to help address the issue of flooding.
The existing schemes can help reduce the risk of flooding in the following ways:
- As part of the Afforestation Scheme, native woodland establishment provides grant aid to cover the full cost of establishment and pays the highest annual premium of all planting categories to create new native woodland on greenfield sites. This measure can be utilised to fund the development of new native woodland on natural floodplains increasing retention capacity in these areas.
These forests also help in retaining floodwaters for a longer period upstream, such areas result in the alleviation of flooding further downstream (mainly in urban areas) and the reduction of damaging high flow rates during spate events.
- Native Woodland Conservation Scheme provides grant aid (along with a 7 year premium, for private woodland owners) to undertake the appropriate restoration of existing woodlands, and also, the conversion of conifer forest to native woodland. One possible application of this scheme is the conversion of existing conifer forests into native woodland at strategic points within catchments, accompanied by drain-blocking and other site restoration measures to reinstate natural site hydrology and retention capacities.
- Woodland Improvement: - Environmental Enhancement: This scheme, which is due for launch in August 2016, provides financial support to forest holders to enhance the environmental qualities of existing forests, including the reinstatement or enhancement of water setbacks and other open areas and, appropriate blocking of existing forest drains. These actions can contribute to flood alleviation by slowing down the flow of heavy rainfall into lower lying areas.
The schemes above were approved by Government in December 2014.
480. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has concerns that schemes coming under the Common Agricultural Policy might incentivise recipients to remove trees from their land in order to qualify for said schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18337/16]
View answerThe Forestry Act 1946 prohibits the felling of trees without a licence. The illegal removal of trees may result in substantial fines and prosecution. Furthermore, depending on the age of the plantation and whether or not it was grant aided, all premium payments and grants paid will be recovered in full by the Department for the area in which the trees were felled. The financial consequences of removing trees illegally are very much dependent on the area cleared. However, regardless of the area felled, I do not believe that qualification criteria for CAP schemes incentivises farmers to remove trees.
481. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme on-farm investment support scheme (details supplied) regarding approval and payments for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18343/16]
View answerApproval letters are issuing on a continuing basis to eligible applicants who have applied in the first tranches of the TAMS II investment schemes, to date 1,723 full approvals have issued. A further 1,100 part approvals issued earlier this year for urgently required Dairy Equipment and Low Emission Slurry Spreading Equipment.
The IT functionality to allow TAMS II payment claims to be submitted on line is being finalised within my Department and it is anticipated that it will be available next month. Payments will follow for approved claims.
482. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the inquiry under the chairmanship of a person (details supplied) into the alleged misuse of prohibited substances in the greyhound industry; when the report will be finalised and published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18345/16]
View answerThe Morris Report was commissioned by Bord na gCon and its publication is a matter for that organisation. I understand that Bord na gCon expects to publish the report in the coming weeks.
483. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the reopening of the beef data and genomics programme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18372/16]
View answerThe Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) is a part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and provides Irish suckler farmers with some €300 million of funding over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics which have been made in recent years and will continue to drive further developments and improvements in this area.
The BDGP has been agreed with the European Commission as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Plan (2014-2020) together with a number of other schemes. I am conscious of the positive effect that the programme will have on the Irish suckler herd. It will help to improve productivity, profitability and carbon efficiency in the Irish suckler herd.
I firmly believe that this scheme will deliver long term and cumulative positive effects for both suckler farmers participating in the scheme and farmers who buy the progeny of suckler cows for further finishing.
In relation to any possible reopening of the scheme this will have to be considered in the context of an assessment of budgetary priorities, the operation of the Rural Development Programme and the potential impact both upon the scheme itself and other schemes.
484. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the new €25 million sheep scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18373/16]
View answerThe programme for Government committed to introducing a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017. In this regard, a submission will shortly be made to the European Commission. It is my intention that this scheme’s design will maximise the number of participants and deliver tangible benefits to the sheep sector in terms of its impact to on-farm practices. Any such scheme must also meet certain exacting criteria laid down by the European Commission in order to avail of EU funding approval. This scheme, in addition to the existing supports available to sheep farmers under the BPS, GLAS, ANC and TAMS, will make a vital contribution to ensuring the continued viability of the Irish sheep sector.
As regards the scheme design and operation, my Department has been i n consultation with sectoral stakeholders and is currently working on developing the details of the scheme for engagement with the European Commission. Any scheme must be acceptable to both the European Commission in the context of the requirements of the Rural Development Programme and also take account of the different production systems in the Irish sheep flock.
485. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the €25 increase under the disadvantaged areas scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18374/16]
View answerA Programme for a Partnership Government sets out the commitment to increase the budget for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme by €25m in Budget 2018. In parallel, the Rural Development Regulation requires all Member States to designate eligible areas under the ANC Scheme by reference to new biophysical criteria by 2018. The technical work underlying this process is currently underway, and the additional €25m will be integrated into the resultant scheme design process in 2018.
486. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of farmers' requirements for low-cost credit (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18375/16]
View answerI am fully aware of the pressures on farmers right now and I have committed to working with all the stakeholders, both at national and EU level, to address these issues and ensure that we continue to have a sustainable and resilient sector. One of my priorities is to support the provision of lower-cost, more flexible finance for the sector.
Access to finance was discussed at the Dairy Forum on 21 June, with an exchange of views with the main banks now a part of the agenda at each meeting. Before the meeting I formally launched the Dairy Forum’s ’Financial Management Initiative’, a programme of cash flow and financial management training and advice for dairy farmers. I believe that equipping farmers with better financial planning skills is essential and I am encouraging all farmers to engage with this initiative.
Access to finance was also discussed at the meeting of the Food Wise 2025 High Level Implementation Committee earlier this month and we heard from representatives of the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and the Irish Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF). Both are now active in the market and my Department, in cooperation with all the other State bodies, will continue to explore additional funding mechanisms for farmers, the agrifood sector and for SMEs generally.
I also recently met with the CEOs of the main banks and stressed the need for them to be flexible in the context of increased income volatility. The banks told me that they recognise and are responding to the challenges facing farmers in this regard.
In addition, my Department is about to publish a request for tender to procure an ex-ante assessment to assess any current failures in the access to finance market in Ireland. This is a first step towards the potential introduction of Financial Instruments under the Rural Development Programme.
With specific reference to the more flexible State aid provisions announced by the EU Commission, I am working with all the financial institutions, particularly SBCI, to identify potential solutions to working capital finance for farmers experiencing liquidity gaps. I should point out that these flexibilities do not involve the provision of EU funding.
487. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the removal of tariffs and duties on European Union fertiliser imports (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18379/16]
View answerFarmers across the EU continue to be severely affected by the ongoing difficulties on agricultural markets. The recent packages of support measures from the Commission are welcome, but we should continue to deploy any and all available options that might help to mitigate the effects of these difficulties. Such options should include measures that will help to reduce production costs for farmers.
According to Eurostat, fertiliser is the third most important expenditure item on EU farms, accounting for €19.2bn in 2014. Fertiliser prices have increased significantly in recent years, in part due to the protection provided by the imposition of duties on non-EU imports, while opportunities to manage price risk through hedging mechanisms are limited.
I believe that appropriate action in this area could be of significant benefit to farmers at this very difficult time. In addition to the ten-point package that Ireland proposed in the lead-up to the March Council of Agriculture Ministers, we asked the Commission to consider a temporary suspension of import tariffs on fertilisers.
Other Member States made similar calls, and at the March Council Commissioner Hogan indicated his readiness to raise the matter with Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs, Pierre Moscovici, and Internal Market Commissioner Elzbieta Bienkowska. At the April Council in Luxembourg, Commissioner Hogan said that he was following up with his colleagues in an effort to secure their agreement to possible changes.
I am continuing to pursue the matter with the Commission and in consultation with my Member State counterparts, and I hope that progress can be made in the short-term. I would hope that Commissioner Moscovici in particular would be in a position to look favourably on this proposal.
488. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the reopening of the revised green low-carbon agri-environment scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18381/16]
View answerThe overall target for GLAS is to attract 50,000 farmers into the scheme. I am pleased to confirm that some 38,000 farmers have been approved into the first two Tranches of GLAS, 26,500 in GLAS 1 and 11,500 in GLAS 2. This means that there is an opportunity to achieve the participation targets for the scheme through a third tranche of the Scheme. I intend to launch this third GLAS tranche (GLAS 3) later this year and all farmers not already in the scheme, including those who were unsuccessful in their applications for the first two tranches will have the opportunity to submit a new application to GLAS 3 when the scheme opens. I want to reiterate that when preparing applications, it is important that farmers, in consultation with their advisors, ensure that the highest standard environmental plans are presented to the Department, to increase their chance of selection into GLAS 3.
489. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will expedite a payment to a person (details supplied) who was awarded an agricultural payment some time ago. [18384/16]
View answerThe person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers’ Scheme to my Department. The applications have been finalised and payment under the National Reserve and Young Farmers’ Scheme is due to issue shortly.
