Written Answers Nos. 512-535
512. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in a payment to a person (details supplied) under the organics programme 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29440/16]
View answerThe person named was a participant in both the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) and the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) in 2015. Under AEOS, the 'Establishment and Maintenance of Habitats' action was being claimed. However, this cannot be paid on the same parcel as OFS, as it constitutes double funding.
The person named has since re-digitised the parcel and has created two separate parcels. My Department will now carry out a full recalculation of all OFS payments in respect of 2015 and any payments due will be processed in full. This will be completed in December.
513. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider implementing a scheme to promote the growth of hedgerows on farms considering the positive environmental benefits associated with their growth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29462/16]
View answerSome 38,000 farmers have been approved into the first two Tranches of GLAS, 26,500 in GLAS 1 and 11,500 in GLAS 2.
Under the provisions of the GLAS Scheme there are a number of actions in relation to hedgerows including coppicing of hedgerows and laying of hedgerows.
On the basis of the commitments provided in the plans submitted with each of the GLAS tranche 1 applications, the targets for the full Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 period were met or exceeded in a number of areas, including the planting of new hedgerows. Given that the target for this action has been met in full, this action was suspended.
514. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the growth and maintenance of hedgerows on farms will be considered for inclusion under the GLAS scheme in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29463/16]
View answerSome 38,000 farmers have been approved into the first two Tranches of GLAS, 26,500 in GLAS 1 and 11,500 in GLAS 2. Under the provisions of the GLAS Scheme there are a number of actions open to applicants in relation to hedgerows including coppicing of hedgerows and laying of hedgerows.
On the basis of the commitments provided in the plans submitted with the GLAS tranche 1 applications, the targets for the full Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 period were met or exceeded in a number of areas, including the planting of new hedgerows. Given that the target for this action has been met in full, this action was suspended. In relation to this action, on foot of the applications received under Tranche 1 alone, some 1,300 km of new hedgerows will be planted, requiring the provision of 8 million plants, representing a significant investment.
515. Deputy David Cullinane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the impact of Brexit on the food industry in Waterford city, county and the south east; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29504/16]
View answerThe UK’s decision to leave the EU undoubtedly presents enormous challenges for the food industry in Waterford City, County and the southeast, as it does for the entire Irish agri-food sector. The UK is by far Ireland's largest trading partner. Last year we exported almost €5.1 billion worth of agricultural products, much of which was produced and processed in the southeast.
My Department, together with its agencies and stakeholders, has been carefully considering the potential impacts of a UK exit, looking at the areas in which the greatest risks may arise and on which we will need to focus when negotiations begin.
The main areas in which impacts are foreseen are in relation to currency fluctuations, tariffs and trade, the EU budget, regulations and standards, and customs controls and certification. The UK exit vote also raises complex issues for the fisheries sector.
It is important to remember that our trading relationship with the UK is not altered in any way until the negotiations that will dictate the terms and conditions of the UK’s departure are completed.
In the meantime, my Department has engaged in detailed contingency planning, and has published a summary of the key actions we are taking by way of immediate response to the UK’s decision. It is also continuing to deepen its analysis of the likely impacts, and to feed into the central Contingency Framework being co-ordinated by the Department of the Taoiseach.
I have taken a number of steps to ensure that a sensible and coherent approach is adopted, including:
- Establishing a dedicated unit in my Department to work on all of the issues I have mentioned;
- Convening a Consultative Committee of stakeholders that will ensure a full exchange of information as the negotiations proceed. This Committee held its first meeting in July and will meet again on 20 October;
- Establishing a contact group under the auspices of the Food Wise 2025 High Level Implementation Committee in order to ensure that the response of the relevant agencies is fully co-ordinated.
Of course the most immediate impact for our agri-food exporters arises from changes to Euro-Sterling exchange rates. While this was not unexpected in light of the uncertainty caused by the referendum result, a sustained period of currency volatility would be of concern. I have asked Bord Bia and Enterprise Ireland to provide practical guidance to SMEs. Bord Bia recently announced a number of measures, covering areas such as managing volatility impacts, providing consumer and market insight, deepening customer engagement and extending market reach, with the aim of helping companies maintain their competitiveness. Similar support is also being provided by Enterprise Ireland.
Contacts between the Irish and UK governments, and with our counterparts in Northern Ireland, are also ongoing at both political and official levels. I will also continue to work closely with Ireland’s EU partners with the aim of ensuring a well-managed withdrawal and a strong EU-UK relationship post-exit.
516. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) will have farm payments processed; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29512/16]
View answerAn application under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 14 April 2016.
Under the 2016 ANC Scheme, eligible applicants are required to meet 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 the ANC scheme has not issued in this case as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the scheme’s minimum or annual total stocking density requirements. Documentation in this regard has been received from the person named. This documentation is currently being reviewed and an outcome will issue to the person named in due course.
Advance payments under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme will commence, to cleared cases, from 17 October 2016.
517. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an application for funding (details supplied) has been successful; if so, when moneys will be made available; if not, the reasons for a refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29522/16]
View answerMy Department has been working with the Irish Harness Racing Association (IHRA) to provide some support for the industry. The IHRA are beneficiaries, for the first time, of an Equine Infrastructure grant scheme operated by my Department. Under the Scheme, the IHRA has been approved for grants totalling €21,704.
My Department has commenced the process of tendering for an independent evaluator to complete an economic evaluation of the potential of the Harness Racing sector in Ireland. This evaluation is being progressed as a priority and it is hoped that an evaluator will have been appointed by early December.
IHRA may have the potential to develop the sport in Ireland and bring it more into line with the profile it enjoys elsewhere. On publication of the Economic Valuation report, I will examine future funding possibilities for this sector.
518. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the location or bays in County Donegal where appropriate assessments have been carried out in respect of special areas of conservation and the habitats directives; the location by bay, inlet or shore area in such cases as they have been completed as part of the screening process and lodged with his Department; the commencement and expiry dates and species type of shellfish aquaculture licences currently in force in County Donegal; the location by bay, inlet or shore area and species type of shellfish aquaculture licence applications currently under consideration by his Department in County Donegal; if each application under consideration by public bodies as co-ordinated by the aquaculture and foreshore division of his Department is open for consultation to the public, awaiting determination by him, granted but within the appeal period, or granted where the appeal period has expired; the current status of shellfish licence applications in the vicinity of Cruit and Kincasslagh, County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29530/16]
View answerThe very detailed information requested by the Deputy is not readily available in full. Provision of the information sought will require an extensive examination of my Department’s records. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy within two weeks.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
519. Deputy Pat The Cope Gallagher asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an environmental impact assessment is not required for shellfish farming aquaculture licence approval within a special area of conservation, SAC, when it is required for approval of a fin fish farming licence within an SAC; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29531/16]
View answerUnder the provisions of Statutory Instrument No. 236/1998 Aquaculture (Licence Application) Regulations 1998, as amended, Environmental Impact Statements are mandatory in respect of finfish cultivation in the marine environment. Certain exceptions apply for trial or research purposes.
In the case of shellfish cultivation an Environmental Impact Statement is required if the Minister considers that the proposed aquaculture is likely to have significant effects on the environment. To facilitate this, a Screening Group of Officials from the Department, the Marine Institute and BIM is convened for the purpose of screening shellfish aquaculture licence applications.
Ministerial decisions in respect of aquaculture licence applications are made following consideration of all the relevant information, including, but not limited to, the recommendations of the Screening Group.
520. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a payment of €30,000 was withheld from a person's (details supplied) single farm payment for 2014; if he will investigate this matter and rectify it by allocating this money; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29541/16]
View answerA report detailing findings of an inspection carried out by the ERAD Animal Health Section of my Department in 2012 was referred to Cross Compliance Unit for attention. This report identified breaches relating to the Cross Compliance requirements under Statutory Management Requirement 11 which governs food and feed hygiene requirements.
The breaches identified related to reactor animals not being removed from the holding and consequential testing being out of date. The breaches were deemed to be intentional and resulted in an overall penalty of 60% being applied against the 2012 Direct Schemes payments.
The person named availed of both the internal department review and appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office process, which resulted in the department's findings being upheld. The person named was also advised that it was open to them to raise the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman.
As payments due under the 2012 Direct Payments schemes had issued prior to finalisation of the penalties, the monies totalling €28,894.61, were subsequently recovered from payments due to the person named in 2013, as required under the governing EU regulations.
The person named was subsequently selected for an Ovine Identification and Registration inspection in 2014. While this aspect of the inspection was clear, the Inspecting Officers identified breaches in respect of Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC), namely the severe poaching of land in a parcel being used to feed cattle. This resulted in a 5% penalty being applied to the 2014 Direct Payments schemes. The person named was notified of this decision on 13 June 2014 and of their right to seek a review of the decision. To date no such request has been received. This penalty was deducted from the 2014 direct payments of the person named.
Officials in my Department are arranging to issue a statement to the person named detailing payments due and amounts recovered under the various schemes for the period 2012 to present, which I hope will clarify the matter further.
521. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received for dairy equipment under the TAMS; the number which have been processed to date and in respect of which payments have been issued; the number waiting for a payment to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29543/16]
View answerThe number of applications that have been received for the Dairy Equipment Scheme in TAMS II across the four tranches is 2,218. 1,529 approvals have issued to date and the checking of applications is ongoing. 94 Payment Claims have been received, some of which have been received very recently. These payment claims are being processed, however a large number of them have minor issues, which need to be resolved before payment can be made. Department officials are in direct contact with individual farmers to progress claims towards early payment. Eight claims have been approved for payment or paid. The number of cases paid will increase over the coming weeks as farmers submit their applications to the online system, any issues arising are resolved and claims are processed for payment.
522. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the health and safety framework of each commercial and non-commercial State agency; when the health and safety policy of each was last reviewed; when the safety statement of each was last reviewed; if each body has a health and safety committee and when this was last elected; if each has a health and safety representative and when this person was last elected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29556/16]
View answerThere are twelve State bodies under the aegis of my Department.
The questions raised by the Deputy in relation to Health and Safety frameworks/ policies/committees/representatives for these State Bodies are operational matters for each individual Body.
523. Deputy Joan Burton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the gifts or hospitality given to employees to attend overseas sports or musical events during 2015 in regard to all commercial and non-commercial agencies; the locations of such visits; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29557/16]
View answerThere are twelve State Bodies under the aegis of my Department.
The provision of gifts or hospitality to employees of any of these State Bodies in connection with attendance at overseas events is an operational matter for each Body.
524. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to concerns from the fishing community that the size and scale of the activities to which an aquaculture licence application (details supplied) relates will render the proposed site and its waters inaccessible to local fishermen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29635/16]
View answerApplications for aquaculture licences are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable EU legislation.
The licence applications referred to by the Deputy are in respect of sites located in an area which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive. All applications in such sites are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the relevant legislation. The Appropriate Assessment of this area has been completed and is available on my Department's website, www.agriculture.gov.ie.
The overall assessment process for aquaculture licence applications includes a period of statutory and public consultation. This is currently under way in the case of these applications.
As the licence applications referred to by the Deputy remain under active consideration by my Department as part of a statutory process it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
525. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of areas of natural constraint scheme payments for a person (details supplied). [29639/16]
View answerAn application under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme was received by my Department from the person named on 24 April 2016.
Under the 2016 ANC Scheme, eligible applicants are required to meet 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 the ANC scheme has not issued in this case as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not satisfied the scheme’s annual average stocking density requirement. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named to advise of the outstanding issues and further documentation in relation to same is now to be forwarded to my Department. On receipt of this documentation, the application in question will be further reviewed.
526. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied). [29640/16]
View answerAn application under Tranche 2 of GLAS was received in my Department on the 5 December 2015 and the person named was approved into the GLAS 2 with effect from 1 January 2016. The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. These payments will be subject to the required pre-payment validation checks and are scheduled to issue shortly.
527. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a scrappage scheme for horses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29656/16]
View answerThere are no plans to introduce a disposal scheme for horses.
The oversupply situation that pertained in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis no longer exists with slaughtering increasing by 33% in the period January to September 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 and the export of horses to other European countries increasing by nearly 100% for the same period. In view of the foregoing, there is no justification for the introduction of a horse cull in Ireland.
528. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in respect of a certificate of compliance for the movement of cattle from a single holding to or from another holding for feeding purposes was not generated until 3 June 2015, although the person can provide a certificate of posting for 28 May 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29672/16]
View answerThere is no record retained for the date of receipt of this application. In view of this, it is difficult to ascertain the date the letter was received. However, it is normal practice for certificates of compliance to be issued on the day of receipt of an application. In this case, it may be that there was a delay in delivery of the letter due to the fact that Monday 1 June 2015 was a Bank Holiday. Only registered post guarantees delivery within a particular timeframe and the letter in question was not registered.
529. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his officials at meat processing plants are aware of cattle being paid for under the meat processor-run insurance scheme; the percentage of injured or rejected cattle that are actually paid for under this insurance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29712/16]
View answerThe Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has no role in any such insurance schemes. Any insurance schemes run in meat plants as referred to by the Deputy are solely a matter between suppliers and processors. My Department does not collect data on the percentage of injured or rejected cattle which may be paid for under these schemes.
530. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount of departmental expenditure allocated in 2016 to provide financial supports for farmers faced with the removal of persistently infected animals under the BVD eradication programme; the total amount of funds expended to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29715/16]
View answer531. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers who have applied in each payment category in 2016 for the removal of persistently infected animals under the BVD eradication programme; the total number of such farmers who have been issued payments to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29716/16]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 530 and 531 together.
The financial support arrangements for the BVD eradication 2016 programme are as follows:
Beef Herds
- A payment of €140 for each beef breed PI born in a suckler herd that is removed under the requirements of the scheme within 5 weeks of the first test.
- A reduced payment of €90 will apply in respect of such calves removed within 7 weeks of the first test.
Dairy Herds
- A payment of €120 for each dairy breed PI heifer calf born in a dairy herd that is removed under the requirements of the scheme within 5 weeks of the first test.
- A reduced payment of €70 will apply in respect of such calves removed within 7 weeks of the first test.
Payment of these financial supports is contingent on the disposal of all PI animals born in the herd in the year within the timeframes set down above. Application forms are issued to farmers when they have been identified as having a PI animal. Only one application is necessary regardless of the number of PI animals identified in the herd. The closing date for receipt of application forms in respect of calves born in 2016 is 3 March 2017. Payment will be made after that date. Application forms continue to be issued where PI calves are born.
The amount allocated for BVD support payments in 2016 is €400,000. Expenditure to date in 2016 is €692,845.
532. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the concerns from the fishing community that the size and scale of the activities for which an application relates will render the proposed site and its waters inaccessible to local fishermen in regard to an application for an aquaculture licence (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29804/16]
View answerApplications for aquaculture licences are considered by my Department in accordance with the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act and applicable EU legislation.
The licence applications referred to by the Deputy are in respect of sites located in an area which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive. All applications in such sites are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the relevant legislation. The Appropriate Assessment of this area has been completed and is available on my Department's website, www.agriculture.gov.ie.
The overall assessment process for aquaculture licence applications includes a period of statutory and public consultation. This is currently under way in the case of these applications.
As the licence applications referred to by the Deputy remain under active consideration by my Department as part of a statutory process it would not be appropriate to comment further at this time.
533. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the arrangements in place to ensure a supply of EU-approved cattle tags for farmers after November 2016, in view of the withdrawal of the previous tender process, taking into account the fact that Ireland has no technical specification for bovine tags that has EU approval as required by EU regulation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29823/16]
View answerMy Department has recently published an approval process for the supply of bovine identification tags to cover the period commencing on 1 November 2016, and has invited potential tag suppliers to submit tags for approval. This process provides for the approval of tags by different suppliers provided they comply with standards relating to the quality of the tag, including technical specifications and security standards set out in EU regulation as well as the details of ancillary services. This approval process implements the standards for bovine ear tags provided for in the relevant EU Regulations.
534. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider making the installation of CCTV in abattoirs here a mandatory requirement in order to protect against potential abuse of animals. [29854/16]
View answerAll slaughter plants whose meat is destined for human consumption must meet the requirements set out in detailed EU regulations relating to food safety and animal health and welfare. Large scale slaughter plants operate under the supervision of my Department, while smaller scale abattoirs are supervised by the Local Authority Veterinary Service.
Primary responsibility for compliance with these regulatory requirements rests in the first instance with food business operators. In addition, each slaughter establishment has a qualified animal welfare officer who oversees the welfare of the animals at the time of slaughter.
Installation of CCTV is not a mandatory regulatory requirement. However the slaughter process and the handling of animals going to slaughter takes place under strictly supervised conditions. My Department has a permanent veterinary presence in each of the slaughter plants under its supervision and Department staff carry out regular checks as part of official regulatory controls.
535. Deputy Shane Cassells asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the measures he intends to put in place for the elderly and also for persons who are unable, due to infirmity or storage issues, to have wheelie bins for waste management in their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29314/16]
View answerIt is widely recognised that there are difficulties associated with the collection of household waste in bags, including:
- littering caused by ripped bags;
- health and safety issues for collectors, where sharp objects are placed in bags;
- litter caused by fly-tipping on streets/areas, where bag collections take place;
- little or no segregation of recyclable or food waste; and
- inability to gather data on waste collected for statistical and environmental reporting purposes.
As a result of such issues, I am aware of at least one local authority which has already (through by-laws) removed the option for householders to present household waste in bags for collection.
With the above in mind, a decision was taken in April 2015 to phase-out the use of bags for household waste collection, where ‘wheelie bins’ could be accommodated.
The Department, in consultation with local authorities, has set criteria to be applied nationally with a view to phasing out bags, with the exception of areas where it is not practical to use ‘wheelie bins’. Local authorities have been requested to designate areas as not being suitable for wheelie bin collections (i.e. designate areas which should remain on bag collections) and are working through this process.
In brief, the criteria for undertaking the exercise to designate ‘bag collection areas’ are as follows:
- No space within the boundary of the property (front, rear or side) to store 3 bins.
- Physical features which make it difficult to move a bin to the front edge of the property or nearest boundary for presentation, e.g. steep gradient and or steps (the advice of a Roads Engineer should be sought) or that would present an unreasonable difficulty.
- The area (e.g. street) is too narrow for a refuse collection vehicle to access properties and the nearest Designated Collection Point or suitable presentation point is greater than 100m from the property (again, the advice of a Roads Engineer should be sought on this issue).
- Where the Local Authority is notified of exceptional circumstances by a householder/resident and the Local Authority certifies same.
Many local authorities have now completed the process of designating areas where bag collections may continue, if applicable, and can be contacted for further information.
