Written Answers Nos. 518-538
518. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, payments due to be issued to applicants in County Monaghan before the end of 2016 which were not issued by the target date; the number of those payments that have issued in the interim; the number outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3101/17]
View answerUnder 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.
The following table outlines the number of farmers in Monaghan actively participating in GLAS 1 and 2 that are due a payment in respect of the 2016 scheme year and the numbers that have not received a payment in respect of 2016.
|
Scheme |
Numbers of active applications for Monaghan |
Number of applications not paid for Monaghan |
|
GLAS 1 |
585 |
145 |
|
GLAS 2 |
152 |
38 |
Work on processing cases which did not pass the required pre payment checks is on-going with a view to effecting payment as quickly as possible.
519. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the green cert; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2598/17]
View answerTeagasc is the main provider of further education courses in agriculture, food, horticulture, forestry and equine studies. In excess of 3,500 people participate annually in these courses. Typically, over two-thirds of learners attend the seven agricultural colleges in the Teagasc network, with the balance attending part-time courses at 12 regional education centres and at local advisory offices.
The delivery of courses is an operational matter in the first instance for Teagasc. They recognise the challenges posed for part-time farmers in attending courses and every effort is made to accommodate them, by delivering training in a flexible manner, balanced against the need to maintain education quality. It must also be appreciated that agricultural education by its nature requires a high level of hands on skills based instruction to encourage learners to develop proficiency in farm tasks and complete farm based assignment and projects.
Insofar as the Green Cert programme is concerned, it has been developed to meet the training requirements for both full-time and part-time farmers, and is provided on both a part-time and distance education basis to facilitate people who have an off farm job.
520. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has met with representatives of the tillage sector; and if he envisages that direct supports will be made to the sector in view of recent volatile weather events in certain parts of the country. [2671/17]
View answerYou may be aware I hosted a Tillage Stakeholders Forum last October which consisted of representatives from all sides of this Sector. As I stated in the Dáil just last week, I believe that a further stakeholders forum will help us all scope out the issues for this vital Sector providing 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.
You may also be aware that one of my chief priorities is to provide low-cost more flexible finance for the industry and in this regard I was happy to announce on Budget Day, my plans for a €150 million Agri Cash Flow Loan Support Scheme. This has been developed in conjunction with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), by leveraging EU and Exchequer funding totalling €25million from my Department, to deliver a total loan fund of €150 million, which 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 the EU’s agriculture State Aid de minimis requirements. This is a cash flow support facility, to improve the working capital position of farmers and other viable primary agriculture SMEs. The loans will be unsecured and are primarily to pay down expensive forms of credit such as merchant credit and other short-term financing facilities such as overdrafts. I recently welcomed the SBCI “Open Call” for financial intermediaries to deliver the Scheme.
The SBCI is targeting that the loans will be available in the market by the end of this month. I am encouraging farmers to consider their cash flow and borrowings situation now and, if appropriate to their circumstances, to be prepared to apply for these loans when they become available. The loan scheme is part of a “three pillar strategy” in response to income volatility that I announced in the 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 is available for 2016 tax liability, and will go some way towards addressing cash flow concerns.
As an additional support to cash flow on farms, including Tillage farms, I also confirmed that advance payments would be made in 2016 in respect of the Basic Payment and Greening Payment schemes.
Advance payments commenced on the 17 October last, the earliest possible date by which payments can begin under the governing EU Regulations, with the addition of balancing payments from the 1 December. To date €1,168 billion has been paid out to more than 122,889 farmers and payments are ongoing. Payments in excess of €195 million have also been made to more than 91,000 applicants under the Areas of Natural Constraints scheme.
Also a TAMS Scheme, specifically tailored to the tillage sector, is due to open early this year. This Scheme will support grain growers in achieving further economic efficiencies and details will be made available in the near future. I want to restate 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.
I fully acknowledge and accept the difficulties that have been experienced by the farming community, not least by our tillage farmers. This sector is a very important area in the agricultural economy and 2016 was a challenging year both in terms of market returns and variable weather conditions experienced during the harvest.
521. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to ensure that the veterinary laboratory in Dunally, County Sligo, is kept open as it is vital to the agrifood sector in the north west; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2684/17]
View answerMy Department commissioned a Working Group led by Prof. Alan Reilly to undertake a comprehensive review of its Laboratory Services in order to develop a long-term strategy for the Laboratories and to build on the existing capability and expertise of the Service. The group considered both the Central Laboratory Complex at Backweston and the Regional Laboratories located in Athlone, Cork, Kilkenny, Limerick and Sligo. The Group has presented a report to the Department, which makes recommendations on:
1. Oversight and co-ordination of the laboratories activities
2. Re-organisation of Divisions and support functions within the Central Laboratory complex
3. Options for the future development of the Regional Laboratories – with a view to improving disease investigative and surveillance capability but with the over-riding imperative of maintaining and enhancing services to farmers and
4. Human resources management within the laboratories - with a focus on grading structures, career development opportunities and workforce planning
The Department is currently consulting with its laboratory-based staff on these recommendations and will proceed to consult with other stakeholders.
A decision on any of these recommendations will await the outcome of this consultative process. In the case of the Regional Laboratories any decision will also be informed by a cost benefit analysis of the various options that have been proposed for their future development.
522. Deputy Martin Heydon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a TAMS grant application for a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2690/17]
View answerThe applicant in question has submitted a claim for payment under the Dairy Equipment Scheme of TAMS II.
Following inspection it has been established that there is an internal agitation point on site. The applicant has been advised that this will have to be removed before payment will issue.
523. Deputy Michael D'Arcy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the frequency with which racing dogs are drug tested here; the number of winners that have been tested in the past two years after the race; if all winners could be drug tested after each race; the reason the 2015 drug test results have not been released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2712/17]
View answerThe administration of greyhound races is an operational matter for Bord na gCon. However I have made enquiries with Bord Na gCon in relation to the matters raised by the deputy.
Bord na gCon inform me that in 2015 there were 5,632 samples analysed at Board approved Laboratories for the purpose of prohibited substance detection. 79 of these samples returned a positive result for an Adverse Analytical Finding. The corresponding figure for 2016 is 5,388 with 47 confirmed Adverse Analytical Findings returned (to date). A number of samples from 2016 remain to be completed. 12,681 greyhounds raced at licensed stadia in 2015 and 12,312 greyhounds raced at licensed stadia in 2016. The minimum requirement for testing at a licensed race meeting is two random samples per race meeting. More extensive sampling is undertaken by testing teams which are deployed both on a random and targeted basis. Samples are also taken at Sales Trials and at trainer’s premises for greyhounds currently racing.
They state that of the 79 Adverse Analytical Findings in 2015, 13 were taken from winning greyhounds at greyhound races. Of the 47 Adverse Analytical Findings in 2016, 4 were taken from winning greyhounds.
They further state that during the year 2016, 1st placed greyhounds were the most frequently tested at just under 20% of all greyhound tested. However prohibited substances can be used to enhance or to impair performance in racing greyhounds. Testing all winners (amounting to some 16,500 samples) is not therefore the most efficient use of available resources nor an effective anti-doping & medication control strategy.
Bord na gCon state that the results of all samples taken since the 1st October 2015 are placed on the IGB Website immediately after the results are notified to IGB along with information which identifies the dog in question. Samples taken prior to that date could only be published for legal reasons where the Control Committee had found a breach of the racing regulation had occurred. The overall statistics for 2015 have been published on a regular basis.
524. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoin Scéim um Roghanna Comhshaoil Talmhaíochta (AEOS 2) le feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí tugtha); cén fáth go bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [2715/17]
View answerThosaigh an duine atá ainmnithe a c(h)onradh faoi AEOS 2 an 1 Meán Fómhair 2011. Íocaíochtaí déanta le haghaidh bhlianta scéime 2011-2015.
Faoi na Rialacháin den AE lena rialaítear an Scéim agus scéimeanna eile íocaíochta atá bunaithe ar cheantar, caithfidh seiceáil chuimsitheach riaracháin a bheith déanta, lena n-áirítear cros-seiceáil leis an gCóras Aitheanta Dáileachtaí Talún. Ós rud é go mbeidh na rannpháirtithe uile de chuid AEOS 2 ag fáil a n-íocaíochtaí deiridh faoin scéim, caithfidh athsheiceáil íocaíochtaí a bheith críochnaithe le haghaidh na mblianta scéime go léir sula ndéanfar an íocaíocht deiridh. Tá oifigigh ag obair ar na comhaid seo agus déanfar an íocaíocht chomh luath agus is féidir.
(The person named commenced their AEOS 2 contract on 1 September 2011. Payments issued for 2011-2015 scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System must take place. As all AEOS 2 participants will be receiving their final payments under the scheme, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. Officials are working through these files and payment will be made as soon as possible.)
525. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under TAMS II will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2716/17]
View answerThe applicant in question was approved for payment of a grant under the Dairy Equipment Scheme of TAMS II on 16 January 2017. Payment in this case will issue shortly.
526. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all payments have been made under the green low carbon agri-environment scheme. [2803/17]
View answerAt the end of December 2016 there were 37,500 active participants in the GLAS scheme of whom 27,400 received 85% of their 2016 payment. Payment can only issue where all the required validation checks have been successfully passed. My Department is reviewing outstanding cases and as they pass the validation checks they will be paid as quickly as possible.
527. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive an AEOS, agri-environment options scheme, payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2819/17]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS 2 contract on 1 September 2011. Payments issued for 2011-2015 scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System must take place. As all AEOS 2 participants will be receiving their final payments under the scheme, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. Officials are working through these files and payment will issue as soon as possible.
528. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, payments that have issued as part of the most recent tranche; the number of outstanding payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2824/17]
View answerAt the end of December 2016 there were 37,500 active participants in the GLAS of whom 27,400 received 85% of their 2016 payment. Payment can only issue where all the required validation checks have been successfully passed. Work on processing all outstanding cases is on-going with a view to effecting payment as quickly as possible.
529. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure that a person (details supplied) receives the GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, payment due for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2833/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. During the 2016 prepayment checking process, an issue was identified with the Conservation of Solitary Bees (Sand) action. Department officials are examining this issue with a view to resolving and further processing the application for payment at the earliest opportunity.
530. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to expedite a GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, payment due to persons (details supplied) for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2834/17]
View answerThe persons named were approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
The first payment due to the persons named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. During the 2016 prepayment checking process, an issue was identified with the Traditional Hay Meadow (part parcel) action. Department officials are examining this issue with a view to resolving and further processing the application for payment at the earliest opportunity.
531. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to expedite an application for a GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, payment due to a person (details supplied) for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2835/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. During the 2016 prepayment checking process, an issue was identified with the Nitrates Derogation check. The Nitrates section in my Department are awaiting additional correspondence from the person named in order to complete the processing of the derogation. Once the issue with the derogation check has been resolved, the GLAS application of the person named will be further processed for payment with a view to issuing payment as soon as possible.
532. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure a person (details supplied) is paid a GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, payment for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2837/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. During the 2016 prepayment checking process, an issue was identified with the Low Input Permanent Pasture action. Department officials are examining this issue with a view to resolving and further processing the application for payment at the earliest opportunity.
533. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to have the 2016 GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, payment made to persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2838/17]
View answerThe persons named were approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
The first payment due to the persons named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. The application has successfully completed the prepayment checking process in respect of 2016 and a first instalment of 85% will issue shortly.
534. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure a person (details supplied) is paid a GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, payment without further delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2839/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified with the cross checks on the Direct payments Scheme. Department officials are examining this issue with a view to resolving and further processing the application for 2016 payment at the earliest opportunity.
535. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not received any payments in 2016 in respect of the BPS, basic payment scheme, ANC scheme, areas of natural constraint scheme, and GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme; the steps he will take to ensure the person receives a payment without delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2840/17]
View answerThe person named submitted a 2016 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint schemes application on 9 May 2016. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection.
Processing of this inspection necessitated the verification of the position on the ground by means of a field visit. This field visit has been completed and the results are currently being processed to finalisation.
Officials in my Department are prioritising this case with the intention of issuing any payments due to the nominated bank account of the person named as soon as possible.
536. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that much of the seafood stocked in supermarkets is coming from Thailand, in particular from Samut Sakhon, which is known to use practices commonly termed modern-day slavery; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a recent International Labour Organization report estimated 10,000 migrant children aged between 13 and 15 years work in the city and another UN agency study found that nearly 60% of Burmese labourers toiling in its seafood processing industry were victims of forced labour. [2850/17]
View answer537. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that no seafood stocked in supermarkets here from Thailand has been caught or processed using practices commonly termed modern-day slavery; the safeguards in place to ensure that consumers are not unwittingly purchasing seafood that was caught or processed using such practices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2851/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 536 and 537 together.
Decisions on the sourcing of fish or fish products for the retail sector are a matter for the individual enterprises concerned, subject to compliance with the relevant legislation. Imports of fish and seafood from outside the EU are strictly regulated.
Through the EU’s Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing Regulation Ireland is working to ensure that Thailand is fully compliant with all trade of marine fishery products into the EU. The EU Commission has conducted a thorough analysis of the situation and held a series of discussions with Thai authorities since 2011. Following the conclusion of this process, on 25 April 2015 the European Commission issued Thailand with a ‘yellow card’ warning due to its inadequate fisheries legal framework and poor monitoring, control and traceability systems. This key instrument in the fight against illegal fishing ensures that only fisheries products that have been certified as legal can access the EU market. By doing so, the European Commission has initiated a dialogue process with the Thai authorities, with the purpose of identifying the shortcomings and determining corrective measures.
The associated problems of human trafficking and slave labour in Thailand’s fisheries sector are recognised. While the EU IUU Regulation does not directly address the human trafficking and working conditions on-board fishing vessels, it is intended that improvements in the fisheries control system will also improve the control of labour conditions in the seafood industry. I should also note that several Commission services continue to work on the issues of human trafficking and slave labour in Thailand. In view of the commitment of the Thai Government to address not only the IUU fishing but also to improve the labour situation, the European Commission is now holding a parallel dialogue on labour and supports the Thai Government with technical assistance programmes aiming at combatting child labour and forced labour in the fisheries and seafood sectors.
The Thai authorities have given the highest political attention to this matter. A tailored action plan to address the shortcomings in Thailand’s fishing industry as well as a formal dialogue with the Thai authorities to make them take the necessary corrective measures is currently in place. Progress has been recorded, particularly on the legislative front. However, the EU Commission has reported that the dialogue is proving difficult and there remain serious concerns about the steps taken by Thailand to fight IUU fishing activities. This means that further action by the Commission cannot be ruled out.
I would like to take this opportunity to assure you that Ireland fully supports the EU approach to date.
538. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the GLAS, green low carbon agri-environment scheme, will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2863/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
The application has successfully completed the prepayment checking process in respect of the 2016 scheme year and a first instalment of 85% will issue shortly.
