Written Answers Nos. 222-236
222. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding tillage farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36663/16]
View answerAt the outset I wish to state that I am very much aware of the challenges this year for the Tillage Sector with low prices and challenging harvest weather.
I know you will be aware I recently chaired a meeting with the main stakeholders in the tillage sector. This meeting provided a platform for the stakeholders to express their views and concerns on the challenges they are facing but equally to discuss the opportunities that lie ahead for the industry.
At that meeting, I outlined that one of my priorities was to provide low-cost more flexible finance and in this regard I was happy to announce on Budget Day plans for a €150 million Agri Cash Flow Support Loan Scheme. Developed in conjunction with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), by leveraging EU and Exchequer funding totalling €25m from my Department to deliver a total loan fund of €150m, it will support highly flexible loans for up to six years, for amounts up to €150,000. The interest rate applying is 2.95% and the product will be available to livestock, tillage and horticulture farmers. Loans to tillage and horticulture farmers will be provided in line with agriculture State Aid de minimis requirements. This is a cash flow support facility to improve the working capital position of viable primary agriculture SMEs, including farmers. The loans are primarily to pay down expensive forms of credit such as merchant credit and other short-term financing facilities such as overdrafts. Last week I welcomed the SBCI “Open Call” for financial intermediaries to deliver the Scheme, which will be operational as early as possible in 2017.
The loan scheme is part of a “three pillar strategy” in response to income volatility that I announced in the recent Budget, along with additional tax measures and farm payments. Among the tax measures, I agreed with my colleague the Minister for Finance, for an adjustment to the current ‘Income Averaging’ system, which will allow for an opt-out in an exceptional year. This will be available immediately, for this year’s tax liability, and this will go some way towards addressing current cash flow concerns.
As an additional support to cash flow on farms including Tillage farms, I also confirmed that advance payment would be made this year in respect of Basic Payment and Greening Payment scheme.
Advance payment commenced on the 17th October last, the earliest possible date by which payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. Up to last week €786 million has been paid out to 119,904 farmers.
I was also pleased to note that the processing of the Areas of Natural Constraints payment scheme is on schedule and payments have already commenced during the third week in September. It is expected that approx 96,500 will fulfil the scheme eligibility requirements.
I stressed at the meeting also and want to re-state my view that in this changing landscape we need to take a fresh look at our tillage industry, to ensure that it is best positioned to withstand possible future threats and to avail of the new opportunities which may present themselves.
223. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the single farm payment is on track to be paid out in full on 1 December 2016 to all farmers, particularly those in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36671/16]
View answerAdvance payments under the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) commenced in Ireland on 17 October 2016 in respect of applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors. This is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations.
The Basic Payment Scheme is fully funded by the European Union and the relevant Competent Authorities in each Member State are obliged to ensure that the requirements of the governing EU Regulations are observed and that only valid applications that fully comply with the requirements are paid.
There are currently 4,708 BPS applications for Cavan on the BPS system, of which 4,587 representing 97% of all applications have been paid an advance. There are 3,963 BPS applications for Monaghan, of which 3,896 representing 98% of all applications have been paid an advance.
Processing of the remaining cases is on going with payment runs on a regular basis to ensure cases are picked up for payment once they have cleared the administrative check process. Balancing payments are due to commence issuing with effect from 1st December 2016 to applications that have no outstanding errors.
The processing of applications under the Basic Payment Scheme is a complex administrative task and one that remains a top priority for my Department.
224. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if priority access is being provided to approximately 2,000 farmers who did not get into GLAS 2 as the previous Minister gave a commitment that those persons would receive priority; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36702/16]
View answerThe level of interest in the second tranche of GLAS (GLAS 2) resulted in those applications with the highest environmental priorities and actions in Tier 1 and Tier 2 being selected into the Scheme.
In respect of the third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3) selection into the Scheme will depend on the level of applications received within the funding available for the Scheme. The same criteria for priority access to the Scheme as applied in previous tranches will be applied for GLAS 3 whereby Tier 1 will receive priority access to the Scheme, followed by Tier 2 and followed in turn by Tier 3. This is as set out in the Scheme Terms and Conditions.
Farmers are therefore encouraged to present the highest standard of environmental plan under GLAS 3 and, where possible, to adopt actions that would promote them from Tier 3 to increase their chance of selection into the Scheme.
225. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of discussions at the recent Council of Agriculture Ministers on the need to improve dairy prices due to the ongoing income pressures on dairy farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36707/16]
View answerI am acutely conscious of the pressure farmers are under at present, and I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to exploring all of the appropriate options for providing assistance to the farm sector through current difficulties.
I have already outlined the measures taken to assist dairy farmers on a number of occasions, including measures taken in Budget 2017, and the launch of a €150 million liquidity fund for farmers with the assistance of €11.1 million in EU funding.
I am pleased that after a prolonged period of downward price movement in dairy markets, there are some tentative signs of recovery. There is no room for complacency however, and I will continue to carefully monitor market developments and engage with the EU Commission, with other member states and with industry stakeholders to ensure that measures are in place to help farmers through periods of volatility.
The final report of the Agricultural Markets Task Force was discussed at the recent Council of Ministers meeting. The Task Force was established by the Council to inform the development of measures to enhance the stability of the agrifood sector as a whole. A set of draft council conclusions on the “strengthening farmers’ position in the food supply chain and tackling unfair trading practices” were prepared, with the view to agreeing final council conclusions at the next Council of Ministers meeting in December.
I can assure the Deputy that I will continue to work closely with the dairy sector, with EU colleagues and International counterparts to ensure the development and maintenance of a sustainable dairy sector in Ireland.
226. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the implications of a recent Supreme Court decision for the fishing industry (details supplied); the action he will take in response to the judgment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36723/16]
View answerI note that the Deputy refers to the recent Supreme Court judgment related to fishing by Northern Ireland vessels within the 0-6 nautical mile zone of the territorial waters of the State. The judgment arose from an appeal taken by a number of Irish mussel seed fishermen against the findings of the High Court.
On 27 October the Supreme Court issued judgment in which it determined that fishing by Northern Ireland vessels within the 0 to 6 nautical mile zone of the territorial waters of the State is not permitted by law.
The London Fisheries Convention 1964 allowed that each Coastal State could assert exclusive fishing rights within 6 nautical miles from its baselines (Article 2). It also provided for contracting parties to allow those fishermen from another coastal state who had habitually fished within that belt to continue to do so by reason of Voisinage arrangements (Article 9). On this basis, pre-existing reciprocal arrangements were re-affirmed at the time by means of an exchange of letters in the 1960s between the UK/Northern Ireland and Ireland which allowed for vessels from Northern Ireland to fish within Ireland’s 6 nautical mile zone and vice versa. The Common Fisheries Policy (Article 5 of Regulation 1380/2013) provides for the continuation of such neighbourhood arrangements.
In light of the Supreme Court judgment, fishing by Northern Ireland vessels in Irish territorial waters is not currently provided for in domestic law. The application of the judgment is to all fishing by Northern Irish fishing vessels in the 0-6nm zone relying on the Voisinage Arrangements; fishing activities which have a legal basis (reliant on access arrangements to Ireland’s 6-12nm zone in the EU Regulation 1380/2013) are not affected.
It is important to note that the Supreme Court upheld the High Court finding that the Voisinage arrangements are not invalid but that, as it stands, there is insufficient provision in domestic law for them. The Government has been notified of the development and the Attorney General’s Office is examining the Supreme Court judgment, as part of the Government’s active consideration of the situation. It is my intention to bring a proposal to Government to prepare a legislative amendment to address the issue raised by the judgment.
227. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the impact which a ruling (details supplied) will have on fishing communities which have traditionally benefitted from North-South co-operation in the area of fishing; if legislation will be introduced to reverse the court's decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36724/16]
View answerI note that the Deputy refers to the recent Supreme Court judgment related to fishing by Northern Ireland vessels within the 0-6 nautical mile zone of the territorial waters of the State. The judgment arose from an appeal taken by a number of Irish mussel seed fishermen against the findings of the High Court.
On 27 October the Supreme Court issued judgment in which it determined that fishing by Northern Ireland vessels within the 0 to 6 nautical mile zone of the territorial waters of the State is not permitted by law.
The London Fisheries Convention 1964 allowed that each Coastal State could assert exclusive fishing rights within 6 nautical miles from its baselines (Article 2). It also provided for contracting parties to allow those fishermen from another coastal state who had habitually fished within that belt to continue to do so by reason of Voisinage arrangements (Article 9). On this basis, pre-existing reciprocal arrangements were re-affirmed at the time by means of an exchange of letters in the 1960s between the UK/Northern Ireland and Ireland which allowed for vessels from Northern Ireland to fish within Ireland’s 6 nautical mile zone and vice versa. The Common Fisheries Policy (Article 5 of Regulation 1380/2013) provides for the continuation of such neighbourhood arrangements.
In light of the Supreme Court judgment, fishing by Northern Ireland vessels in Irish territorial waters is not currently provided for in domestic law. The application of the judgment is to all fishing by Northern Irish fishing vessels in the 0-6nm zone relying on the Voisinage Arrangements; fishing activities which have a legal basis (reliant on access arrangements to Ireland’s 6-12nm zone in the EU Regulation 1380/2013) are not affected.
It is important to note that the Supreme Court upheld the High Court finding that the Voisinage arrangements are not invalid but that, as it stands, there is insufficient provision in domestic law for them. The Government has been notified of the development and the Attorney General’s Office is examining the Supreme Court judgment, as part of the Government’s active consideration of the situation. It is my intention to bring a proposal to Government to prepare a legislative amendment to address the issue raised by the judgment.
228. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the new appointees nominated by him to the Horse Racing Ireland board were so nominated on the basis of specific competencies; the detail of those competencies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36735/16]
View answerHorse Racing Ireland (HRI) 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.
On 30 September 2014 the Government announced changes to the system for appointments to State Boards including that all appointments should be advertised on www.stateboards.ie (operated by the Public Appointments Service (PAS)), setting out specific and detailed criteria for the relevant role. The process of drafting the role specification for a Board position involves consultation between the Chairman of the State Board, the relevant Ministers and PAS, with the Minister having the final sign-off. The details of these arrangements are to be found in the “Guidelines on Appointments to State Boards” on www.stateboards.ie.
I can confirm to the Deputy that the recent appointments to the HRI Board were made in accordance with the Guidelines and that they were advertised on www.stateboards.ie.
The two most recent Ministerial appointees have expertise in corporate communications and in accountancy and risk management.
229. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Horse Racing Ireland at any time since its inception in 2001 paid to any member of HRI staff compensation or any monetary settlement in respect of any workplace dispute resolution without official recourse to the Workplace Relations Commission or its predecessors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36736/16]
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.
The matter raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Horse Racing Ireland. However, if the Deputy has information she would like to bring to my attention she can forward it directly to my office.
230. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 651 of 15 November 2016, if persons applying under the sheep fencing scheme TAMS II who had their applications rejected due to not having sheep at the time of submitting the application will have their applications reviewed with a view to approval if they have sheep on the holding prior to the approval of a payment claim; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36745/16]
View answerApplicants who have requested a review of their cases in relation to their proposed sheep fencing investments under TAMS II will have their applications re-examined. If they currently have sheep it is open to them to submit copies of mart dockets or a partial copy of their sheep register. If they do not have sheep it is open to them to state in their letter of review that they intend to farm sheep in the future. Applicants will be advised that stocking levels will be checked by the Local Office before a payment claim for this investment is approved. Applicants will be required to have a minimum of 40 sheep (any type) before a payment claim is submitted. As in all of the TAMS measures, applicants will be required to use the investment for the purposes for which it was intended for a minimum of five years from the date of issue of the final payment.
231. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if planting new hedgerow and low-input permanent pasture will be available under GLAS 3; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36760/16]
View answerFor the third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3), which I launched recently, I have revisited the various actions and due to the very high uptake of Low Input Permanent Pasture (LIPP), this action has been limited to 5 hectares as it was in Tranche 2.
In relation to the planting of new hedgerows, this action is again suspended for Tranche 3, as the target for the entire RDP has already been exceeded.
232. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the financial allocations under the 2014-2020 rural development programme by measure and sub-measure in tabular form; the respective budget allocations for each year in this RDP; the annual amount of expenditure expended to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36761/16]
View answerThe financial allocations under the 2014 - 2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP) for each measure and sub measure level are shown in Table 1.
Table 1: Financial Allocation by Measure & Submeasure for Ireland's 2014-2020 RDP
|
Measure and Submeasure |
Total Allocation 2014-2020 |
|
Measure 1 - Knowledge transfer and information actions |
126,100,000 |
|
Submeasure 1.1 (Knowledge transfer groups and M10 Training) |
126,100,000 |
|
Measure 2 - Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services |
8,000,000 |
|
Submeasure 2.3 (CPD for Agri Advisors) |
2,000,000 |
|
Submeasures 2.1 & 2.3 (Targeted Advisory Service on Animal Health and Welfare) |
6,000,000 |
|
Measure 4 - Investments in physical assets |
425,000,000 |
|
Submeasure 4.1 (TAMS II) |
395,000,000 |
|
AEOS Transitional |
30,000,000 |
|
Measure 7 - Basic services and village renewal in rural areas |
6,000,000 |
|
Submeasure 7.6 (GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings) |
6,000,000 |
|
Measure 10 - Agri-environment-climate |
1,588,150,630 |
|
Submeasure 10.1 (GLAS, BDGP, The Burren Programme & Transitional AEOS/REPS) |
1,588,150,630 |
|
Measure 11 - Organic farming |
56,000,000 |
|
Submeasures 11.1 & 11.2 (The Organic Farming Scheme) |
56,000,000 |
|
Measure 12 Natura 2000 & WFD (Transitional) |
73,250,000 |
|
|
73,250,000 |
|
Measure 13 - Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints |
1,370,000,000 |
|
Submeasure 13.2 & 13.3 (ANC including Islands) |
1,370,000,000 |
|
Measure 16 - Co-operation |
7,000,000 |
|
Submeasure 16.1 (Collaborative Farming) |
4,000,000 |
|
Submeasure 16.3 (EIPs) |
3,000,000 |
|
Measure 19 - Support for LEADER local development |
250,000,000 |
|
Submeasures 19.1, 19.2,19.3 & 19.4 (LEADER) |
250,000,000 |
|
Measure 20 Total - Technical Assistance |
6,000,000 |
|
|
6,000,000 |
|
ERS (Transitional) |
9,207,547 |
|
Total |
3,924,708,177 |
Table 2 shows the budget allocations for RDP funded schemes for 2014, 2015 (original and as revised by the supplementary estimate) and 2016; the allocations for 2018, 2019 and 2020 have not been determined yet as annual scheme allocations will be determined within the context of the estimates process for those years and the allocations for 2017 will not be available until the Revised Estimates Volume is published next month.
Table 2
|
Vote sub head |
Title of Scheme |
2014 allocation €000 |
Original allocation for 2015 €000 |
Post Supplementary Estimate Allocation for 2015 €000 |
2016 allocation €000 |
|
D.4 |
Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme |
195,000 |
195,000 |
207,000 |
202,000 |
|
A.12 |
Beef Data and Genomics Programme |
|
52,000
|
35,000 |
52,000 |
|
C.3.2 |
Agri-Environment Option Scheme (AEOS) |
61,000 |
71,000 |
71,000 |
40,850 |
|
C.3.3 |
Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) |
|
20,000 |
20,000 |
142,000 |
|
C.4 |
Land Mobility-Early Retirement Scheme |
10,000 |
8,144 |
7,394 |
5,016 |
|
C.5.1 |
Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) |
17,200 |
34,000 |
30,500 |
35,800 |
|
C.3.5 |
Organic Farming Schemes |
(included in REPS) |
6,000 |
6,000 |
10,000
|
|
C.3.1 |
Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) including Catchment Programme |
121,450 |
52,000 |
52,000 |
2194 |
|
C.3.4 |
Locally Led Environmental Schemes |
|
|
|
1,200 |
|
C.9 |
Technical assistance |
1000 |
1000 |
100 |
1000 |
|
B.3 |
Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Disease |
|
|
|
700
|
|
A.10.5 |
Speciality Foods Scheme |
|
|
|
989 |
|
A.10.10 |
Collaborative Farming |
|
|
|
500 |
As mentioned above, the allocations shown above are the Vote sub head allocations, and in some cases these cover more than the 2014-2020 RDP co-funded activities. For example, approximately €5.0m of the allocation in the BDGP Subhead in 2015 related to payments made in 2015 for the Beef Genomics Scheme and Beef Data Programme (which were the BDGPs non-RDP co-funded predecessor schemes) rather than the co-funded BDGP scheme, while the co-funded expenditure on the Early Retirement Scheme in 2014 and 2015 was drawn from the previous RDP rather than the 2014-2020 RDP, and the same applied to TAMS for 2014 and most of 2015. Furthermore Locally Led (Burren Life) was a fully EU funded scheme up to this year.
Expenditure for 2014, 2015 and up to 23rd November 2016 is set out in Table 3.
Table 3: Amount of expenditure to date
|
Title of Scheme |
2014 €000 |
2015 €000 |
2016 Outturn – 23 Nov. €000 |
|
Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme |
194,238 |
205,906 |
197,978 |
|
Beef Data and Genomics Programme |
|
34,692 |
28,927 |
|
AEOS |
60,773 |
79,801 |
13,719 |
|
GLAS |
|
11,453 |
5,259 |
|
Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme |
16,456 |
24,830 |
5,117 |
|
Early Retirement Scheme |
10,523 |
7,143 |
3,813 |
|
Organic Farming Schemes |
4,428 |
7,969 |
2,529 |
|
REPS |
133,342 |
30,173 |
2,491 |
|
Locally Led Environmental Schemes (Burren) |
|
|
952 |
|
Technical assistance |
140 |
123 |
687 |
|
Collaborative Farming |
|
|
220 |
|
Speciality Foods Scheme |
|
|
10 |
|
Targeted Advisory Service for Animal Disease |
|
|
74 |
In relation to LEADER, expenditure related to the 2014-2020 RDP was nil in 2014 and in 2015 was €1,251,185. The allocation to this measure in 2016 is €35,988,800. My Department does not have up-to-date 2016 expenditure figures as this Measure is not managed by the Department
A very substantial amount of further expenditure will take place in the coming weeks particularly in respect of the GLAS, AEOS and BDGP schemes.
233. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 741 of 21 July 2016, the estimated cost for the original proposal submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36762/16]
View answerOn the 21st of July the question asked was "the estimated cost in 2017 of permitting young farmers who are less than 40 years of age, who have been farming for five years or more and who do not qualify for the 60% TAMS grant aid rate to qualify for an intermediary grant aid level of 50%; and if he will make a statement on the matter."
The response was given in a letter to the Deputy on the 21st September 2016 where it was indicated that following Departmental analysis the estimated potential cost in 2017 would be €20.2m.
There are no plans in place to introduce this rate for this category of farmer, however, these farmers are given priority in all other TAMS II investment schemes.
234. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of farmers to date who have applied to join GLAS III per county, and in each respective tier in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36763/16]
View answerTo date almost 8,000 applications have been created on the GLAS 3 online system. The breakdown of the information requested by the Deputy will not be available until after the scheme closing date at which time all applications will be assessed.
Given the large volume of applications being created applicants would again be encouraged to adopt actions that will promote them from Tier 3 to a higher tier, thus increasing their chances of selection into the scheme.
235. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received, in total, under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme 2 on a county basis in tabular form; the total number of approved applications; the total number of payment claims lodged; the total number of payment claims that have been approved for payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36764/16]
View answerThe number of applications received under TAMS II on a county basis is set out in the following table. The total number of approved applications to date is 4,832. The total number of payment claims lodged to date is 472 and the total number of payment claims that have been approved for payment to date is 135. It should be noted that Tranche 5 remains open for the submission of applications up to and including 13 January 2017. Approvals and payment claims submitted online continue to be processed on an ongoing basis.
Farmers who have completed the work are urged to lodge their payment claims without delay so that their grants can be paid before the end of the year.
TAMS II – Tranches 1 to 5 – Applications Received by County
|
County |
Total |
|
Carlow |
96 |
|
Cavan |
391 |
|
Clare |
283 |
|
Cork |
1397 |
|
Donegal |
465 |
|
Dublin |
26 |
|
Galway |
683 |
|
Kerry |
668 |
|
Kildare |
127 |
|
Kilkenny |
475 |
|
Laois |
218 |
|
Leitrim |
148 |
|
Limerick |
446 |
|
Longford |
111 |
|
Louth |
89 |
|
Mayo |
322 |
|
Meath |
271 |
|
Monaghan |
340 |
|
Offaly |
203 |
|
Roscommon |
362 |
|
Sligo |
134 |
|
Tipperary |
760 |
|
Waterford |
312 |
|
Westmeath |
226 |
|
Wexford |
397 |
|
Wicklow |
137 |
|
Totals |
9087 |
236. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when farmers who apply for the new agri-loan scheme announced in budget 2017 can expect this lending facility to be operational in 2017; when successful applicants will receive loans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36767/16]
View answerI announced last week that the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) has invited banks and other lenders to take part in the "Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme". The closing date for this "Open Call" is 25 November 2016. My Department and the SBCI have been working closely on the Scheme and it is hoped that loans will be available through the participating financial institutions early in 2017.
