Written Answers Nos. 665-679
665. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out 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. [20594/16]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS II Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme. An application was received during the tranche that ended on 24 June 2016. It is expected that processing of these applications will commence shortly.
666. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out 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. [20595/16]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS II Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme. The application is currently being processed. Once it has been determined that all the terms and conditions of the Scheme have been complied with a letter of approval to carry out the works will issue.
667. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) under the rural environment protection scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20596/16]
View answerThe Deputy was previously informed that the Department was conducting a full review of the penalties imposed in this case. The review was carried out by the Regional Inspector on 28 April 2016 and the person named was informed in writing of the outcome of that review on the same date.
The review has resulted in the original penalties imposed being altered. However, no further payments are due to the person named as a result of this decision. The person named has also been advised that it is open to them to appeal this decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months of the date of the letter, if they remain dissatisfied with the outcome of the review.
669. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set down the number of cattle in total that have tested positive for clenbuterol, also known as angel dust, in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2016 to date; how they came to the attention of inspectors; the details of the latest detection; the measures being taken by his Department to reassure farmers and consumers (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20627/16]
View answer671. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set down the number of detections of clenbuterol, angel dust, nationwide in 2016 to date; the counties they have been detected in; how the data compares with the rest of Europe; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20646/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 669 and 671 together.
My Department oversees the operation of Ireland’s National Residue Control Programme (NRCP). The NRCP is an extensive surveillance programme aimed at detecting banned substances, such as growth-promoting hormones, residues of authorised veterinary medicines, approved animal feed additives and environmental contaminants in food of animal origin. Under the plan, which is approved each year by the European Commission, tests are conducted of approximately 19,000 samples per annum. Samples are taken both on-farm and at factory/slaughterhouse.
Summary annual reports of the NRCP are available at http://www.agriculture.gov.ie/animalhealthwelfare/veterinarymedicinesresidues/.
As part of routine testing at farm level under the NRCP, a bovine sample taken from a farm in Co. Monaghan, tested positive for clenbuterol. Subsequently twenty-seven further animals on the holding, a portion of the overall herd, were found to have positive results and were destroyed. As an investigation is on-going, I am constrained from any further comment at this point. The Food Safety Authority of Ireland is fully aware of this investigation and has concluded that there is no risk to public health arising thereof.
This is the only confirmed positive case of clenbuterol in Ireland since 2011. The general incidence of clenbuterol findings across Europe is very low with approximately 0.2% - 0.3% of targeted samples testing positive.
As a supplementary measure to the NRCP, my Department will undertake an enhanced testing programme for clenbuterol to provide further reassurance on this matter.
670. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his plans to assemble a cross-Border forum with all farming stakeholders to discuss the possible consequences for farmers North and South of the Border following the Brexit referendum result; the measures being taken by his Department on this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20645/16]
View answerThe result of the UK referendum has the potential to give rise to significant challenges for the Irish agrifood sector, particularly in a north-south context, and these are very much to the fore of the analysis that my Department has been conducting in the lead-up to, and in the period since, the referendum. Areas that will be affected include the veterinary, trading and animal health arrangements between North and South. There will also be very significant implications for the fishing fleet in both jurisdictions.
I met my Northern counterpart, Michelle McIlveen, MLA, Minister for Agriculture, the Environment and Rural Affairs, at the North South Plenary Ministerial meeting which took place in Dublin Castle last week. I agreed with her that our officials should meet at the earliest opportunity to work through some of the potential issues involved, and I am committed to ensuring that our Departments work well together in the coming months in the best interests of farmers and the wider industry.
It is important also to emphasise that the trading relationship remains unchanged, and that the precise impact of a UK exit will not be apparent until the post-exit relationship has been agreed. In the meantime I look forward to ongoing dialogue in the context of the Government’s co-operation with its counterparts in Northern Ireland and in the UK more generally.
672. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the number of persons who applied and were successful in applying under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2; the number of applications finalised; the number paid to date in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20657/16]
View answerA suite of six new measures were announced under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II). These measures were launched under the new Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020 and are co-funded under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).
The scheme was opened as early as possible to allow applications to be submitted as soon as the supporting computer system to facilitate applications was available. The number of application received under the scheme was over 2,900 applications in the first tranche, over 2,200 in the second tranche and 2,000 in the third tranche.
As urgent approvals were requested in some cases, 1,100 part approvals in respect of dairy and low emission slurry spreading equipment issued. Full approvals have issued in over 2,400 cases to date and approvals continue to issue on an ongoing basis. In respect of payments it is expected that the payment claim facility will be available in the coming weeks.
673. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the concerns of sheep farmers in respect of electronic identification, EID, tagging under the proposed new scheme; if EID tagging is a European Union requirement in order to receive approval for the scheme; if stakeholders have had sight of the application submitted to the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20660/16]
View answerThe new Programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017.
Discussions have commenced with the European Commission and a formal submission will be made shortly. Any such scheme must comply with the Rural Development Regulation. This scheme will be additional to the existing supports available to sheep farmers under the BPS, GLAS, ANC and TAMS, and will make a vital contribution to ensuring the continuing viability of the sheep sector in Ireland.
My officials are currently working on the details of the scheme, taking into account consultations with the farm organisations and the discussions with the European Commission. The Scheme is being developed as an animal welfare scheme under Article 33 of the Rural Development Regulation and all actions or undertakings will have to show a clear connection to improving animal welfare conditions for those flocks within the scheme.
EU rules relating to the identification of sheep are laid down in Commission Regulation 21 of 2004, which requires the electronic identification of all sheep by 9 months of age at the latest (but before leaving the holding of birth) with a conventional tag and an EID tag/bolus. Article 4(3) of the Regulation provides for a derogation whereby Member States may chose to allow the identification of lambs slaughtered before the age of 12 months by way of a single conventional tag. This ‘slaughter derogation’ was availed of by my Department and has been incorporated into the current National Sheep Identification System (NSIS) which has now been in place for over 4 years.
674. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the number of positions on the boards of bodies and agencies under the aegis of his Department; the number of vacant positions; when each vacancy occurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20677/16]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is outlined in the following table.
Arrangements are at an advanced stage for appointments to the Boards of Horse Racing Ireland and Coillte. In the case of the Aquaculture Licenses Appeals Board a technical adjustment is required to the Statutory Instrument listing the nominating bodies for appointments to the Board. This process is also under way.
|
State Body |
Number of positions on the board |
Number of Vacant Positions |
Date each vacancy occurred |
|
Aquaculture Licences Appeals Board |
7 |
1 |
01/03/2016 |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
6 |
0 |
N/A |
|
Marine Institute |
9 |
0 |
N/A |
|
Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority |
3 |
0 |
N/A |
|
Bord na gCon |
7 |
0 |
N/A
|
|
Horse Racing Ireland |
14 |
2 |
05/02/2016 (for both)
|
|
Irish National Stud |
7 |
0 |
N/A
|
|
Bord Bia |
15 |
0 |
N/A
|
|
Coillte |
9 |
2 |
01/01/2015 01/08/2014
|
|
National Milk Agency |
14 |
0 |
N/A
|
|
Teagasc |
11 |
0 |
N/A
|
|
Veterinary Council of Ireland |
19 |
0 |
N/A |
675. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set out the status of an application for the national reserve and young farmer scheme by a person (details supplied); when a decision will be made and when a decision on the national reserve will be made for all applicants at the same time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20722/16]
View answerThe person named submitted applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and the Young Farmers ’ Scheme. The application for the Young Farmers’ Scheme was successful and payment issued on 25 February 2016.
The National Reserve application was not successful as the applicant did not declare any eligible land or low value entitlements on which an allocation could be made from the National Reserve. The applicant was notified of this decision and was offered the opportunity to submit an appeal. My Department received an appeal from the person named in relation to his National Reserve application. This appeal was not successful and the person named has been notified of this decision in writing and offered an opportunity to further appeal to the Independent Appeals Committee.
National Reserve appeals are dealt with on a case by case basis and each applicant is notified in writing of the outcome as soon as a decision has been made.
676. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will issue payment to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20797/16]
View answerThe person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS II Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme. The application is currently being processed. Once it has been determined that all the terms and conditions of the Scheme have been complied with a letter of approval to carry out the works will issue.
677. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the basic farm payment rules and regulations can be condensed and simplified for the application form from 2017 onwards. [20809/16]
View answerUnder the Basic Payment Scheme applicants must apply each year to participate in the scheme. In order to assist farmers in this process, my Department issues a Helpsheet/Terms and Conditions booklet each year. This booklet issues directly to all applicants and is available on the department’s website. The booklet provides an overview of the EU regulations which govern the Basic Payment Scheme and key information on scheme requirements, penalties and inspections.
Given the central importance of the Basic Payment Scheme, it is essential that applicants are made aware of the rules and regulations governing the scheme. Every effort is made to keep the Helpsheet as concise and straightforward as possible while also covering the essential regulatory requirements for the Scheme.
678. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to outline his plans to assist sheep farmers, in particular, those who farm in hill land areas subject to designation; if he is aware of the specific challenges faced by these farmers; if an application for support was lodged with the European Union by 30 June 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20814/16]
View answerMy Department currently provides a range of supports to sheep farmers including BPS, GLAS, ANC and TAMS, which make a vital contribution to ensuring the continuing viability of the sheep sector in Ireland. The design of these schemes takes into account the challenges faced by all sheep farmers including those who farm in hill land areas subject to designation.
The new programme for Government commits to the introduction of a scheme for sheep farmers under the Rural Development Programme with a budget of €25 million to be provided in Budget 2017. This commitment recognises the contribution the sheepmeat sector makes to the Irish Agri Food economy.
With regard to the sheep scheme provided for in the programme for Government, my Department has engaged in extensive consultation with farm organisations already. In addition they met two weeks ago with officials of the European Commission to discuss the proposed new scheme in the context of the specific requirements of the Rural Development Programme.
My officials are currently working on the details of the scheme in light of both the consultation with the farming organisations as well as the discussions with the European Commission. The design of the scheme is currently being considered in the context of an animal welfare measure under Article 33 of the Rural Development Regulation and as such all actions or undertakings will have to show a clear connection to improving animal welfare conditions for those flocks within the scheme. A submission will soon be made to the European Commission in this regard.
Any scheme must meet the exacting requirements of the Rural Development Regulations in terms of only compensating farmers for any actions undertaken on the basis of costs incurred or income foregone. Furthermore, in any scheme where farmers must undertake actions, those actions must go beyond the normal standards of husbandry practice before they can be considered as an eligible cost incurred by a farmer.
I am acutely aware of the difficulties involved in sheep farming on all hill type land and I can assure the deputy that much consideration of this particular production system has been taken into account, including meetings with representatives from the farming organisations who include hill farmers among their membership.
679. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to set down in tabular form the numbers of farmers awaiting approval and payment under tranches 1 and 2 of the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20815/16]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy are currently being compiled and will issue under separate cover.
