Michael Healy-Rae
Question:263. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12216/17]
View answerGLAS Payments
Questions (263)
Written answers
The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has been paid in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
The 85% advance payment for 2016 has also been paid to the person named. The balancing 15% payment for 2016 will be processed in due course according to the regulatory requirements.
Young Farmers Scheme
Questions (264)
Brendan Griffin
Question:264. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12221/17]
View answerWritten answers
The Young Farmers’ Installation Scheme was discontinued for new applications with effect from 14 October 2008 as part of the decisions taken in the context of the 2009 Budget. Under the 2014 -2020 Rural Development Programme an enhanced capital investment scheme for young trained farmers was introduced. This new Scheme provides grant aid at a rate of 60% compared to the standard grant rate of 40% which is available under other on-farm investment schemes on certain investments up to €80,000.
Farmers who were unable to avail of the installation aid scheme and who now do not meet the eligibility conditions of the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II will be prioritised for grant aid under the TAMS II Schemes at the grant rate of 40%.
Teagasc Courses
Questions (265)
Brendan Griffin
Question:265. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter in relation to the Teagasc green certificate (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12238/17]
View answerWritten answers
Teagasc deliver the Green Cert course on a full-time, part-time and distance education (online) basis. The provision of places is an operational matter for Teagasc. I am advised by Teagasc that local managers have discretion to deal with genuine force majeure circumstances where individuals may require priority enrolment. Further information is available from local Teagasc Advisory offices.
Live Exports
Questions (266)
Clare Daly
Question:266. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure that live cattle exports to Turkey and the Middle East by Irish exporters are not in breach of EU Regulation EC No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport, in view of recent revelations (details supplied). [12246/17]
View answerWritten answers
Ireland has a comprehensive legislative framework in place to ensure that vessels authorised for the carriage of livestock by sea are equipped to the very highest specification. Indeed, Irish legislation sets out standards in relation to livestock ships which far exceed EU legislation and there are rigorous controls and procedures in place to ensure strict compliance with this legislation.
Only ships approved by DAFM can load cattle for export from Ireland. Cattle being exported are monitored by my Department’s veterinary inspectors during the prescribed isolation period. This is in addition to inspections carried out by Turkish Official Veterinarians during the isolation period and the work carried out by the Private Veterinary Practitioner who carries out the testing required prior to export.
The loading of cattle is supervised by officials of my Department and the animals are inspected and certified as regards health status and fitness for travel. Cattle on board a livestock ship departing from Ireland are typically bedded and penned in conditions very similar to cattle in any feedlot or cattle shed.
At the time of the first shipment to Turkey at end of September 2016, a private veterinary practitioner accompanied the load from Ireland to Turkey and the unloading of the cattle was monitored by a veterinary inspector from my Department who reported that the cattle were well rested, were in good condition and were fed following landing.
To date the feedback as regards the welfare, quality and health of the Irish cattle that have been exported by ship to Turkey has been very positive. My Department will continue to promote and maintain an environment in which live exports can continue in both an economic and sustainable manner and with due regard for the welfare of all animals exported.
GLAS Payments
Questions (267)
Margaret Murphy O'Mahony
Question:267. Deputy Margaret Murphy O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in County Cork who have not received 85% of their total 2016 payment under GLAS 1, GLAS 2 and AEOS; the reason for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12273/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under the EU Regulations governing GLAS and the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.
Some 2,172 farmers are active GLAS 1 and a further 1,053 are active in GLAS 2 in County Cork of which 1,823 in GLAS 1 and 855 in GLAS 2, have successfully completed the GLAS prepayment checks in respect of the 2016 scheme year and a first payment instalment of 85% has issued.
The current position is that 349 farmers in GLAS 1 and 198 farmers in GLAS 2 have yet to receive their payment and their applications continue to be processed.
Outstanding payments under both GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 are largely delayed due to declaration of incompatible parcel usage on the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application for a chosen GLAS action; changes in parcel boundaries on which a GLAS action is chosen including splitting or merging of parcels; an applicant no longer claiming a parcel on their 2016 BPS; incomplete documentation such as incorrect information on Low-Emission Slurry Declaration; incomplete interim commonage management plans and incompatible data and parcel history on Department databases.
Payments under the Scheme will continue to issue on an ongoing basis as issues are resolved and cases are cleared for payment.
In respect of AEOS, as all AEOS II 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. This is the same procedure as applied to AEOS 1 participants finishing in that Scheme.
A total of 428 farmers in Co. Cork were due a 2016 payment in AEOS of which 324 have been paid and 104 are awaiting payment.
GLAS Payments
Questions (268)
Lisa Chambers
Question:268. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing GLAS payments to a person (details supplied) in view of the fact they were due to receive same on 31 December 2016 and to date they have not received them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12284/17]
View answerWritten answers
The person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases. Department officials are actively working to resolve this issue with a view to further processing the application for the 2016 payment as soon as possible.
Fisheries Protection
Questions (269)
Brendan Griffin
Question:269. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12326/17]
View answerWritten answers
I appreciate the additional views supplied by the Deputy's constituent. I would point out that there are a number of different views regarding the possible impact of pair trawling in coastal areas and, in particular, in Kenmare Bay, primarily due to the paucity of accurate information.
That is why, as previously mentioned, I have asked the Marine Institute to work in conjunction with the National Parks and Wildlife Service to consider how we can improve our knowledge of the possible impacts of these fisheries on by catch of fish, sea birds and mammals.
Separately, we have the ongoing sprat specific research project being conducted by the Marine Institute and Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology as well as the efforts to have sprat added to the species covered by the European Maritime & Fisheries Fund Marine Biodiversity Scheme as previously advised.
Live Exports
Questions (270)
Brendan Smith
Question:270. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has had discussions with the EU Agriculture Commissioner regarding the ruling by the World Trade Organisation that Russia's 2014 import bans on live pigs, pork and other pork products from the EU are illegal; the measures being implemented to restore the export of pig products to Russia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12402/17]
View answerWritten answers
I very much welcome the recent ruling by the WTO, which confirmed that Russia's import bans on live pigs, pork and other pork products from the EU is illegal under international trade rules. This ruling sends a strong message to Russia and all WTO Members on their obligation to respect international standards and to adapt appropriate measures when respecting the principle of Regionalisation as part of the WTO-SPS Agreement.
I also welcome calls for Russia to withdraw this unjustified ban and to allow normal business to resume between EU businesses and its Russian partners.
Since December 2015, I have called on the Commission at regular intervals to increase its political, technical and diplomatic efforts to unlock the Russian market for EU pigmeat in relation to products such as pig fats and offals. I intend to further intensify these calls with the Commission on foot on the WTO ruling and look forward to fully engaging with the Commission on this issue.
GLAS Payments
Questions (271)
Brendan Smith
Question:271. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan who have not received 85% of their total 2016 payment under GLAS 1, GLAS 2 and AEOS; the reason for this delay; when payments will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12428/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under the EU Regulations governing GLAS and the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.
Some 913 farmers are active GLAS 1 and a further 445 are active in GLAS 2 in County Cavan of which 807 in GLAS 1 and 390 in GLAS 2, have successfully completed the GLAS prepayment checks in respect of the 2016 scheme year and a first payment instalment of 85% has issued.
The current position for Cavan is that 106 farmers in GLAS 1 and 55 farmers in GLAS 2 have yet to receive their payment and their applications continue to be processed.
For County Monaghan some 579 farmers are active GLAS 1 and a further 150 are active in GLAS 2 of which 508 in GLAS 1 and 130 in GLAS 2, have successfully completed the GLAS prepayment checks in respect of the 2016 scheme year and a first payment instalment of 85% has issued leaving 71 in GLAS 1 and 20 in GLAS 2 remaining to be paid
Outstanding payments under both GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 are largely delayed due to declaration of incompatible parcel usage on the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application for a chosen GLAS action; changes in parcel boundaries on which a GLAS action is chosen including splitting or merging of parcels; an applicant no longer claiming a parcel on their 2016 BPS; incomplete documentation such as incorrect information on Low-Emission Slurry Declaration; incomplete interim commonage management plans and incompatible data and parcel history on Department databases.
Payments under the Scheme will continue to issue on an ongoing basis as issues are resolved and cases are cleared for payment.
In respect of AEOS, as all AEOS II 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. This is the same procedure as applied to AEOS 1 participants finishing in that Scheme.
The current position is that a total of 244 farmers in Co. Cavan were due a 2016 payment in AEOS of which 198 have been paid and 46 are awaiting payment.
For County Monaghan the current position is that a total of 151 farmers were due a 2016 payment in AEOS of which 107 have been paid and 44 are awaiting payment.
Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme
Questions (272)
Brendan Smith
Question:272. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan availing of the areas of natural constraint scheme; the status of the process of reviewing qualifying areas for the areas of natural constraint scheme; if his Department has completed the mapping exercise in counties Cavan and Monaghan; when the maps will be published; the consultation that will be undertaken with representative organisations; if his Department plans to hold public meetings to assist in the best possible engagement by persons in this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12429/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under the 2016 ANC scheme there were 4,507 applicants in County Cavan and 3,768 in County Monaghan.
Under the Rural Development Regulation each Member State must designate areas eligible for payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme. The ANC scheme replaces the previous Disadvantaged Areas Scheme / Less Favoured Areas Scheme. The designation of eligible areas under these schemes to date has been based on a range of socio-economic factors. From 2018 eligible areas must instead be designated using a set list of bio-physical criteria. In cases where a Member State does not introduce this new system for payment, the old scheme remains in place but payments must phase out on a digressive basis.
The biophysical criteria set out in the legislation to underpin the new system of designation are:
- Low temperature
- Dryness
- Excess soil moisture
- Limited soil drainage
- Unfavourable texture and stoniness
- Shallow rooting depth
- Poor chemical properties
- Steep slope.
My Department has commenced work on this project, and relevant technical experts are currently working on sourcing and analysing the data in relation to the new criteria. Department officials have also been in contact with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and DG Agri in the EU Commission in relation to technical issues arising. Over the coming months this analysis will identify areas deemed to be facing natural constraints, which will in parallel be subjected to a refinement process. It is envisaged that stakeholders will be consulted as this process develops.
GLAS Payments
Questions (273)
Aindrias Moynihan
Question:273. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of persons in County Cork who have not received 85% of their total 2016 payment under GLAS 1, GLAS 2 and AEOS; the reason for this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12430/17]
View answerWritten answers
Under the EU Regulations governing GLAS and the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.
Some 2,172 farmers are active GLAS 1 and a further 1053 are active in GLAS 2 in County Cork of which 1,823 in GLAS 1 and 855 in GLAS 2, have successfully completed the GLAS prepayment checks in respect of the 2016 scheme year and a first payment instalment of 85% has issued.
The current position is that 349 farmers in GLAS 1 and 198 farmers in GLAS 2 have yet to receive their payment and their applications continue to be processed.
Outstanding payments under both GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 are largely delayed due to declaration of incompatible parcel usage on the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application for a chosen GLAS action; changes in parcel boundaries on which a GLAS action is chosen including splitting or merging of parcels; an applicant no longer claiming a parcel on their 2016 BPS; incomplete documentation such as incorrect information on Low-Emission Slurry Declaration; incomplete interim commonage management plans and incompatible data and parcel history on Department databases.
Payments under the Scheme will continue to issue on an ongoing basis as issues are resolved and cases are cleared for payment.
In respect of AEOS, as all AEOS II 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. This is the same procedure as applied to AEOS 1 participants finishing in that Scheme.
A total of 428 farmers in Co. Cork were due a 2016 payment in AEOS, of which 324 have been paid and 104 are awaiting payment.