Written Answers Nos. 721-740
721. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) who has appealed the decision on his national reserve for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23530/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme on 27 May 2015. The application was processed with payments issuing to the nominated bank account of the person named in December 2015 and February 2016.
To complete the full processing of this application, the person named was requested to submit commonage evidence for a particular land parcel. The person named submitted a lease agreement to substantiate their claim. However, on examination of the documentation submitted, some issues were identified.
An official from my Department contacted the person named on 13 July 2016 requesting a valid lease agreement to clarify the outstanding matters. Should these matters be resolved, the application will be further processed. Consideration for an allocation from the National Reserve will form part of this process.
722. 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 green low-carbon agri-environment scheme. [23532/16]
View answerAn application under Tranche 1 of GLAS was received in my Department on 16 May 2015 and the person named was approved into the GLAS 1 with effect from 1 October 2015.
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 be completed before any payment can issue.
Unfortunately the application of the person named has not successfully completed all required checks. GLAS officials will be in contact with the person named, will review and further process the application on an individual basis and once the outstanding issue is resolved the application will be sent for payment.
723. 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 TAMS II scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23533/16]
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.
724. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal for a farm payment by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23690/16]
View answerThe person named submitted an application for Tranche 1 of the GLAS Scheme. Following the Department’s pre-approval validation checks the application was unsuccessful and therefore was not selected for admission to the scheme. The original assessment of this application is currently being reviewed. Once this review has been completed, the person named will be notified of the outcome.
725. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount spent on research and development in food-related activities on an annual basis from 2010 to 2016 in tabular form. [23789/16]
View answerExpenditure by my Department on collaborative, institutional-led research projects funded under the competitively operated Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) and focusing only on post farm gate food related research activities over the period was as follows:
|
Programme |
2010 |
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
|
FIRM (€m) |
13.45 |
14.95 |
11.73 |
10.02 |
8.79 |
6.05 |
Annual expenditure for 2016 is clearly not available at this time.
This expenditure covers FIRM funded research projects only. My Department also funds many aspects of the development of the food sector directly, or via funding provided to Teagasc, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) and Enterprise Ireland. The Department also funds related primary agricultural and marine research both directly through its competitively operated Stimulus programme and via funding provided to Teagasc and the Marine Institute. In addition, other national funders such as Enterprise Ireland and Science Foundation Ireland would also have incurred public expenditure on R&D in food related activities during this period.
These figures relate mainly to expenditure on previously awarded project grants and, therefore, do not reflect the full extent of commitments made to food research under FIRM in the years covered because a significant portion of this remains to be paid out over future years on foot of satisfactory progress being achieved on projects, typically over a four-year timeframe.
726. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm if Coillte Teoranta owns or rents woodland at Curraheen Hill, Curraghdobbin Hill, Newtown and associated townlands of Macreary, Rathclarish, Poulmaleen, Ballinurra, Lisadobber and Ahenny in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23795/16]
View answerCoillte is the national state forestry company, which was established in 1989, pursuant to the Forestry Act 1988, at which time the bulk of the State’s forest properties were vested in the company.
Coillte has advised that the company owns the following woodlands at or in the vicinity of the townlands of Curraheen, Newtown, Macreary, Rathclarish, Poulmaleen, Ballinurra, Lisadobber and Ahenny in County Tipperary, from east to west:
- Ahenny property on Carrigadoon Hill
- Curraghdobbin property on Curraghdobbin Hill, and
- Glenbower property bordering the N76 National Secondary Road, and that all three of these properties are in Slievenamon Forest.
I understand that there are also a number of non-Coillte owned woodlands in this area.
727. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a board meeting of Horse Racing Ireland took place to approve the submission of a business case for the reappointment of a person (details supplied); and whether the board approved the submission of the business case before it was submitted. [23890/16]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
Proceedings at the Board of HRI are a matter for that body. However, the appointment of the Chief Executive Officer is a matter for the Board, subject to the consent of the relevant Ministers, and therefore there is no question of a CEO being appointed without the consent of the board.
728. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of an open competition process to commence for the appointment of a new chief executive officer to an organisation (details supplied); if this has received sanction and approval from the organisation's board and his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23933/16]
View answer729. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of a business case submitted to his Department by an organisation (details supplied) for the reappointment of its chief executive officer; if he will provide details of same; the details of previous examples for such an extension being granted by his Department for organisations under its remit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23934/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 728 and 729 together.
Horse Racing Ireland is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
The case made for the reappointment of the CEO in this case related to the short and medium term challenges facing the thoroughbred sector and the delivery of HRI’s strategic plan, the specialist skillset and performance of the individual in question and his membership on a number of prestigious international racing bodies. An open competition has not been advertised for this post. CEO contracts have previously been extended in the case of Teagasc and Bord Bia.
The appointment of the Chief Executive Officer must be made by the Board, subject to the consent of the Ministers for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. There is no question whatsoever of a CEO being appointed without the consent of the board.
730. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the implementation of a revised SI 125 of 2016, which he has committed to introducing in a manner which will ensure that no penalty points will be applied to an owner's licence unless the matter has been decided upon in the courts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24028/16]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware that Statutory Instrument No. 125 of 2016 - European Union (Common Fisheries Policy) (Point System) Regulations 2016 - implements the required EU points 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.
On taking office, I quickly requested and received advice from the Attorney General on meeting the commitment in the Programme for Partnership Government pertaining to the assignment of points following the completion of the prosecution process, while ensuring that Ireland is fully in compliance with its obligations under EU law.
As I have advised the House previously, moving on the introduction of a system for the sequential application for EU points in conjunction with the prosecution process is subject to addressing some important legal and administrative issues in order to ensure compliance with EU law. I intend to report back to the Oireachtas as soon as a way forward has been finalised in the context of dealing with the relevant legal and administrative matters.
731. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent European Agriculture and Fisheries Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24110/16]
View answerThe most recent Council of Agriculture Ministers was held on 18 July, in Brussels.
The main outcome was the presentation by the Commission of a further package of measures to deal with the ongoing market difficulties, particularly in the dairy sector. The key component of this is a new fund of €500 million, which is in turn comprised of two elements. The first is a €150 million voluntary EU-wide measure that will compensate farmers for reducing their milk output in the final quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
The second is a €350 million fund that will be allocated to Member States in the form of national envelopes, which Member States can use in accordance with their domestic circumstances, but with specific conditions attached. Details on the latter are still to be finalised, and my Department is engaging closely with the Commission and with other Member States with a view to agreeing these details as soon as possible. Ireland’s allocation from the fund will be €11.09 million, and this can be topped up by 100% with national funding. Member States will be required to notify the Commission by 1 November 2016 of the measures to be adopted.
Other measures in the July package include the extension of SMP intervention and private storage from September 2016 to February 2017 (and a commitment to avoid market destabilisation when releasing product), and the payment of advance payments of 70% for the basic payment scheme and 85% for RDP schemes from October 2016. The Commissioner also undertook to consider a sector-specific income stabilisation tool as part of the forthcoming mid-term review of the 2014-2020 MFF.
This represents a considerable success from an Irish viewpoint. Firstly, the threat of the available funding being entirely conditional on supply control has not materialised. Secondly, there is considerable flexibility for Member States in using the 70% of the package that has been earmarked for national envelopes. While there is still some work to do here, I am determined that the maximum possible flexibility will be achieved, in line with the arguments that I have been making strongly in recent months.
In addition, the Commission has agreed to calls that I have consistently made recently for a high level of advance payments under Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 schemes in 2016, which will provide a welcome cashflow boost for farmers. I am also very pleased that it has chosen to extend the operation of SMP intervention and private storage from the end of September 2016 to the end of February 2017. This is again in line with Ireland’s views on the best approach, as we see intervention as the most effective and cost-efficient response to the current difficulties. It is also important to note that the Commissioner undertook to avoid any market disturbance when the time comes to release stocks from storage.
Other items discussed included proposals from the Commission to simplify the implementation of greening, an update on the current state of play in relation to international trade issues, and an outline of the work programme of the Slovak Presidency, which took over the reins of Council at the beginning of this month.
732. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the proposals to increase the number of places on courses in the Teagasc agricultural colleges; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24111/16]
View answerThe provision of places in the Teagasc Agricultural Colleges is an operational matter for Teagasc.
In excess of 3,500 learners participate annually in Teagasc education through full-time, part-time and distance education programmes. Typically, over two-thirds of learners attend the 7 agricultural colleges in the Teagasc network with the balance attending part-time programmes at 12 Regional Education Centres and local advisory offices. Apart from this, in excess of 5,000 adult farmers and industry personnel participate in short term training programmes annually.
The 7 agricultural colleges deliver a wide range of courses in agriculture, horticulture, equine and forestry, and also collaborate with a number of third level institutions in the delivery of Higher Level courses. In recent years, enrolments have more than doubled, which, of course, is a very positive development for the agricultural sector.
Teagasc has also substantially increased the number of places on the adult Green Cert programme to enable applicants comply with the education requirements of the Young Farmers Scheme and the National Reserve. Total enrolments for the period 2014 to 2016 will be in the order of 4,500.
733. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total programme funding allocated to the payments under the areas of natural constraints, ANC, scheme in each year over the 2014-2020 period in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24118/16]
View answerTotal allocated funding in respect of Payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme under the 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme is €1,370m, or annually €195m.
The 2016 Revised Estimates have committed an additional €7m in funding under ANC 2016. The Programme for a Partnership Government sets out the commitment to increase the budget for the 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.
735. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide in tabular form the baseline targets set down for the agrifood sector and in each sector, where available, by the Food Harvest 2020 strategy according to new jobs to be created, primary output, exports levels and value added; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24120/16]
View answer736. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide in tabular form the last figures at hand with respect to progress on attaining baseline targets set down for the agrifood sector and in each sector, where available, by the Food Harvest 2020 strategy, according to new jobs to be created, primary output, exports levels and value added; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24121/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 735 and 736 together.
The main targets set out in the Food Harvest report published in 2010 were, by 2020, to increase the value of primary output by 33% and agrifood exports by 42% (both from a 2007-09 average baseline); and to increase value added production by 40% (from a 2008 baseline). In addition to these value increases, the dairy industry targeted a 50% increase in milk production by 2020, to be progressed following the abolition of milk quotas in April last year.
Progress on those targets were monitored and reviewed on an ongoing basis. The fourth annual report “Milestones for Success 2014”, published in September 2014, showed that the sector had achieved very significant progress on these targets and illustrated the manner in which the Food Harvest 2020 vision of ‘smart, green, growth’ is being attained. The latest data available show growth of 34% and 32% for primary production and exports, respectively, versus the baseline period.
Food Wise 2025, the new ten year strategy for the agrifood sector published in July last year, is the successor to the Food Harvest 2020 strategy. Food Wise 2025 Strategy believes that the following growth projections are achievable by 2025: increasing the value of agrifood 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 agrifood sector all along the supply chain from primary production to high value added product development.
Last week I launched the first annual progress report of Food Wise 2025: Steps to Success 2016. Food Wise: Steps to Success showed that, of the 330 detailed actions which were due to commence in 2015 or 2016, 28% have been achieved or substantial action has been undertaken and a further 67% have commenced and are progressing well.
I believe that this is a good start and I will press on to get as many actions as possible completed within the next year.
737. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to provide in tabular form the number of applications received, in total, under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 on a county basis; the total number of approved applications; the number of applicants that have received payments to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24122/16]
View answerThe details requested by the Deputy are set out in the following table. No payments have been made to date however it is expected that the computer system to enable applicants to submit payment claims online will be available in the coming weeks.
|
County |
Number of applications received to 24 June 2016, end of the 3rd tranche |
Number of approvals issued to date |
|
Carlow |
76 |
44 |
|
Cavan |
308 |
66 |
|
Clare |
237 |
127 |
|
Cork |
1151 |
528 |
|
Donegal |
321 |
89 |
|
Dublin |
20 |
9 |
|
Galway |
520 |
93 |
|
Kerry |
555 |
147 |
|
Kildare |
99 |
39 |
|
Kilkenny |
401 |
147 |
|
Laois |
172 |
79 |
|
Leitrim |
117 |
41 |
|
Limerick |
360 |
196 |
|
Longford |
91 |
43 |
|
Louth |
66 |
21 |
|
Mayo |
229 |
58 |
|
Meath |
212 |
62 |
|
Monaghan |
283 |
79 |
|
Offaly |
153 |
60 |
|
Roscommon |
260 |
86 |
|
Sligo |
107 |
42 |
|
Tipperary |
616 |
347 |
|
Waterford |
241 |
100 |
|
Westmeath |
166 |
70 |
|
Wexford |
297 |
175 |
|
Wicklow |
99 |
51 |
|
TOTALS |
7157 |
2829 |
738. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who have submitted data notifications under the beef data and genomics programme 2015; the number who have submitted the required genomic testing under the same programme to date; the number of farmers who have received payments to date for 2015; the amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24123/16]
View answerA total of 24,620 herds have submitted some or all of the data and 23, 839 herds have submitted some or all of the genomic samples required under the BDGP. Payments amounting to almost €40m have issued to 22,068 participants who had submitted sufficient genotyping samples and data to be eligible to receive a payment.
My Department has recently written to all applicants who have outstanding data and/or genotyping samples to be returned reminding them to submit these by 29th July. Supplementary payments due on foot of the receipt of additional information will subsequently be made to the relevant applicants.
739. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who applied to join the beef data and genomics programme in each year since the programme commenced; the number of these who have informed his Department that they wish to leave the programme; the number of farmers of the remainder who have failed to furnish any genomic testing results to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24124/16]
View answerThe BDGP was launched in 2015 and 29,862 applications were received. Some 4,851 herds have since withdrawn from the BDGP. A further 1,172 herds have not submitted any genomic samples in respect of the 2015 scheme year. These applicants have been contacted reminding them of the requirement to submit genotyping samples.
740. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to consider reopening the beef data and genomics scheme to new applications, given that participation rates are well below the original participation target set; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24125/16]
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 large 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) alongside 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 the 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. It is a significant contributor to Ireland’s reputation as a producer of sustainable beef.
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.
