Written Answers Nos. 1051-1074
1051. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which Coillte has fully complied with all of its own consultancy processes and procedures in respect of development of Coillte land at a location (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13519/17]
View answerCoillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management and development of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.
The company has, however, provided details of its involvement in the development, to which the Deputy refers, at Hellfire Club/Massey's Wood in South Dublin County Council. Coillte advises that it has entered into an agreement with South Dublin County Council to allow the Council to develop proposals for a gateway visitor facility in the Dublin Mountains located at the Hellfire forest property. The company advises that this facility is intended to introduce the Dublin Mountains to a range of new visitors and improve facilities for visitors seeking to access the forest and other properties in the Dublin Mountains area. The company also advises that the proposal is to develop a series of improved walking and hiking trails in Hellfire and Massey’s Wood forest properties to link into the Dublin Mountains Way (one of the National Waymarked Ways) and provide for greater accessibility to the forests catering for the abilities of a wider range of visitors, and will include a visitor building with a café, interactive information for visitors about the natural and built heritage of the area, and toilets and rest areas. I am also advised that a tree-top connection will link Hellfire and Massey’s Wood – similar to the canopy walk trail in Lough Key Forest Park. I understand that improved car-parking and traffic management facilities are also proposed to deal with significant increased use of the forest properties in the Dublin Mountains area.
As regards consultation, Coillte advise that the proposal (if advanced to planning stage), will follow all statutory consultation procedures under the Planning and Development Acts. Coillte add that they have already undertaken early local engagement with local residents and adjoining landowners on a one-to-one basis and with two group presentations to adjoining landowners, the next one of which is scheduled for tomorrow (March 22nd). Coillte advise that it has a stated consultation policy and procedures published on http://www.coillte.ie/about-us/social-responsibility/consultation/, that they are following stated processes and that this process of engagement and consultation is ongoing. Coillte concluded by advising that, where suggestions and issues of concern have been raised by stakeholders, Coillte have endeavoured to make amendments to proposals to deal with such concerns, citing the example here of the scale of the proposed visitor building, which was flagged as a concern by adjoining landowners. Coillte advise that the scale has been reduced to address the concerns raised locally.
1052. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Coillte has a full and accurate list of all farmers and other landowners who are likely to be materially affected by a proposed development on Coillte land at a location (details supplied); the steps he plans to take to ensure all relevant consultation processes and procedures are fully followed by Coillte in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13520/17]
View answerCoillte CGA was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management and development of their forest estate, are the responsibility of the company.
The company has, however, provided the information sought in relation to its involvement in the development at Hellfire Club/Massey's Wood in South Dublin County Council. Coillte advise that it has been provided with a full list of all adjoining landowners whether they are households or farm owners (from Property Registration Authority records), adjoining all boundaries of Hellfire and Massey’s forest properties.
Consultation in relation to the proposed development is an operational matter for Coillte. The company has, however, advised that it has a stated consultation policy and procedures (published on www.coillte.ie/about-us/social-responsibility/consultation/), that it is following stated processes and that this process of engagement and consultation is ongoing. Coillte advise that the proposal (if advanced to planning stage), will follow all statutory consultation procedures under the Planning and Development Acts, but add that they have already undertaken early local engagement with local residents and adjoining landowners on a one-to-one basis and with 2 group presentations to adjoining landowners, (with the next one scheduled for tomorrow, March 22nd). Coillte also advise that, where suggestions and issues of concern have been raised by stakeholders, Coillte have endeavoured to make amends to proposals to deal with such concerns. Coillte are maintaining a record of all consultations in compliance with its stated policy and procedures.
1053. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are proposals to be considered under the CAP negotiations which would suggest that persons on pensions should not receive farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13536/17]
View answerNegotiations on the future of CAP post 2020 are still very much in their early stages. Discussions to date have focused on the future orientation of the CAP, based on a number of priorities including building resilience, responding to environmental challenges to ensure sustainable intensification of food production, ensuring generational renewal, maintaining a market orientated CAP and ensuring an adequately funded CAP post 2020.
I am not aware of any specific proposals relating to the matter referred to by the deputy.
1054. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied). [13552/17]
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 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.
1055. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13556/17]
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 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.
1056. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if persons who use sludge for the growth of energy crops can still qualify for quality assurance in view of the fact the crop does not enter the food chain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13560/17]
View answerThe Bord Bia Quality Mark can be applied to food that has been produced to the highest Bord Bia quality standards, and provides quality assurance to the food chain and is a critical element of both our national and international marketing agenda.
The quality assurance standards that must be complied with are drawn up by a panel of experts selected from various parts of the industry/supply chain and include independent scientific and food safety expertise. The main areas covered by the standards at the farm level include traceability, animal welfare, care for the environment and safe use of medicines and chemicals.
Under the quality assurance standards, sewage sludge cannot be used on any land owned or managed by a Quality Assurance member.
1057. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which a small farm (details supplied) may engage with the Food and Drug Administration agency in the United States with a view to pursuing export opportunities. [13564/17]
View answerIreland can export the product referred to to the USA provided the food business operator is registered with the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Prior to registration, the company in question needs to comply with a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan at the production facility. HACCP is an international standard that all EU food companies must comply with.
The most straightforward way for the operator in question to register with the USDA is by using the on-line services at: www.fda.gov/food/guidanceregulation/foodfacilityregistration/default.htm.
The FDA must then receive advance notice on shipments of imported food prior to exportation, using a prior notification system:
www.fda.gov/Food/GuidanceRegulation/ImportsExports/Importing/ucm2006836.htm.
Should the Food Business Operator require any further assistance, the help line numbers in the US FDA are:
Registration with the FDA - 0013015750156
Prior Notification of import - 0017032618435.
1058. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons applying for the basic payment scheme, single payment scheme, disadvantaged area scheme and areas of natural constraint scheme who had payments deducted as a result of any inspections conducted by his Department for each of the years from 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, by county, in tabular form; the number who received penalties of less than 20%, 50% and maximum penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13609/17]
View answerThe extensive range of data requested is not readily available. Officials in my Department will collate the information requested and forward it directly to the Deputy.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
1059. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who applied for the basic payment scheme, single payment scheme, disadvantaged area scheme and areas of natural constraint scheme who sought an internal review of the findings of his Department, by county, for each of the years from 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; the number who received penalties of less than 20%, 50% and maximum penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13610/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is currently being collated and will be forwarded at an early date.
1060. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who applied for the basic payment scheme, single payment scheme, disadvantaged area scheme and areas of natural constraint scheme who sought to appeal the findings to the agricultural appeals office, by county, in each of the years from 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; the number who received penalties of less than 20%, 50% and maximum penalties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13611/17]
View answer1062. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of decisions of the appeals office that have been appealed by his Department for each of the years from 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13613/17]
View answer1063. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the percentage of appeals brought before the agricultural appeals office that dealt with the basic payment scheme for each of the years from 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13614/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1060, 1062 and 1063 together.
It is not possible within the short timeframe to provide the detailed information requested by the Deputy. I will respond to the Deputy directly once the information has been collated.
1061. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who applied for the basic payment scheme, single payment scheme, disadvantaged area scheme and areas of natural constraint scheme who have made any kind of application to the High Court to review or appeal any decision of his Department for each of the years from 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13612/17]
View answerPlease see the table of the number of persons that applied for the Basic Payment Scheme, Single Farm Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Area Scheme and Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme that have made any kind of application to the High Court to review or appeal any decision of his Department for each of the years 2011 to 2016 and to date in 2017.
|
Year |
Number of Applicants |
|
2017 |
1 |
|
2016 |
1 |
|
2015 |
0 |
|
2014 |
0 |
|
2013 |
1 |
|
2012 |
2 |
|
2011 |
1 |
1064. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received in the latest tranche of the GLAS scheme; the number of these that have been or will be admitted to the scheme; the starting date for these persons in the scheme; the cut-off score in terms of points allocated to be successful in joining the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13643/17]
View answerAlmost 14,000 applications were submitted for the third tranche of GLAS (GLAS 3) on the online application system of which 12,600 have been accepted into the scheme to date with a starting date of 1st January 2017. The remaining 1,400 applications require further investigation. This work is on-going and until completed it is not possible to be definitive about the final number accepted into GLAS 3 but I am confident the majority of these applications will be successful.
All so called Tier 1 and Tier 2 applications which are delivering higher environmental benefits have been accepted into the Scheme and all Tier 3 applications which have met the minimum score of 16.5 as set out in the Scheme terms and conditions, have also been accepted into Scheme.
1065. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who have not yet received their first payment for 2016 under the GLAS scheme, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13644/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table.
Number of persons paid and unpaid for 2016 under the GLAS scheme
|
County |
Number of persons paid |
Number of persons not paid |
|
Carlow |
360 |
47 |
|
Cavan |
1,216 |
129 |
|
Clare |
2,099 |
213 |
|
Cork |
2,727 |
457 |
|
Donegal |
2,520 |
447 |
|
Dublin |
64 |
16 |
|
Galway |
3,680 |
737 |
|
Kerry |
2,322 |
335 |
|
Kildare |
282 |
51 |
|
Kilkenny |
557 |
89 |
|
Laois |
494 |
75 |
|
Leitrim |
1,295 |
151 |
|
Limerick |
1,188 |
170 |
|
Longford |
794 |
72 |
|
Louth |
193 |
36 |
|
Mayo |
3,263 |
639 |
|
Meath |
538 |
94 |
|
Monaghan |
648 |
77 |
|
Offaly |
669 |
88 |
|
Roscommon |
1,868 |
221 |
|
Sligo |
1,198 |
120 |
|
Tipperary |
1,409 |
250 |
|
Waterford |
395 |
101 |
|
Westmeath |
829 |
89 |
|
Wexford |
872 |
174 |
|
Wicklow |
404 |
83 |
|
Totals |
31,884 |
4,961 |
1066. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total payment under the GLAS scheme each year since its inception, including to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13645/17]
View answerThe amounts paid under the GLAS scheme in 2015, 2016 and 2017 to date is set out in the table.
Amount paid under the GLAS scheme in 2015, 2016 and 2017 to date
|
Payment |
GLAS 1 |
GLAS 2 |
|
Year |
Payments Created |
Payments Created |
|
2015 |
11,340,800.00 |
No Payments as scheme start date 1 January 2016. |
|
2016 |
74,444,221.59 |
28,674,458.94 |
|
2017 |
9,809,287.80 |
6,347,970.87 |
|
Total |
95,594,309.39 |
35,022,429.81 |
1067. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13656/17]
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 presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases. Department officials have examined this issue and the application is now being further processed for payment in respect of the 2016 scheme year.
1068. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will rectify a records anomaly in the context of GLAS in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13665/17]
View answerMy Department has not found an anomaly in the GLAS records in respect of the persons named.
In 2015 my Department put in place a procedure for the appointment of commonage advisors to prepare management plans for Commonage shareholders in GLAS. This procedure was followed and an approved advisor was assigned in September 2015 to prepare the commonage management plan for commonage H19714A comprising of LPIS parcels H197143357, H19714360, H19714433 and H19714434 and the name of the person assigned was published on my Department's website.
The persons named above are GLAS participants and the commonage identification number H19714A is quoted in their respective GLAS applications and received commonage payment in respect of the 2015 part year. As part of the 2016 payment process my Department issued an Interim Commonage Management Plan for H19714A to the assigned advisor in October 2016 for signature by the shareholders to allow 2016 payments to issue.
On reviewing the documentation in this case I note the persons named applied to have commonage H19714A sub-divided and on foot of this request in November 2016 identification number H19714F was created. However from a GLAS perspective specifically in respect of the preparation of a management plan as the commonage advisor was assigned to prepare a plan for the entire area contained in H19714A, including the area covered by H19714F, he remains the approved advisor for commonage H19714F and my officials will now instruct him to prepare a separate plan for Commonage H19714F.
1069. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13667/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015.
The application has successfully completed the GLAS prepayment checking process in respect of the 2015 scheme year and payment will issue at the earliest opportunity.
Following the issue of payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year, the application will be processed for the 2016 scheme year.
1070. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the fit-out costs for the newly designed containment laboratory at the Backweston facility in County Kildare are included in the declared costs; if the fit-out costs are not included in the projected costs for this fit-out, which is due to be handed over in May 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13706/17]
View answerMy Department in collaboration with the Office of Public Works is currently developing a high containment laboratory at Backweston to enhance our National capability in the laboratory diagnosis of exotic viral diseases of farmed animals.
Aside from the costs of the building works, there will be an outlay on laboratory furnishings and equipment. The estimated total cost is €235,000, excluding VAT, and the items purchased will be subject to the usual public procurement processes.
1071. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the original contractors were not held liable for the faults in the original works in 2005 when the high-containment laboratory was built; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13707/17]
View answerThe inclusion of a high containment (bio-security level 4) laboratory suite in the original design of the laboratory complex at Backweston was informed by the experience of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) in Ireland and the UK in 2001. During that outbreak we were entirely dependent on the Pirbright Laboratory in the UK for laboratory diagnosis of suspect cases of disease. In addition, following on from “9/11” and more stringent regulations on air transport of dangerous goods, it became increasingly difficult to send samples from suspect cases to the UK. It therefore became essential to develop national capability in exotic viral disease diagnosis and to ensure we had a facility within which exotic viruses could be safely handled. The original specification for this containment laboratory was based on the UK Ministry for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) standard of that time.
In 2007, while officials in my Department and the Office of Public Works (OPW) were attempting to resolve some outstanding issues on the original Laboratory project, there was yet another FMD outbreak in the UK in 2007. This outbreak prompted an international revision of bio-containment standards for laboratories handling the virus. In Ireland this incident emphasised both the need to develop our own testing capability and the critical importance attaching to bio-containment standards.
It was therefore decided to progress amelioration works on the high containment laboratory suite at Backweston so that it could be operated at the highest international standard attainable (the Australia-New Zealand standard) rather than the MAFF standard which was now considered dated.
OPW is currently in consultation with the Chief State Solicitor’s Office on pursuing the original contractor in respect of an underlying issue in the fabric of the original building uncovered during the current work.
1072. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are other expenditures involved in the redesign, build and commissioning of the high containment laboratory at the Backweston facility in County Kildare that have not been provided. [13708/17]
View answerMy Department, in collaboration with the Office of Public Works, is currently developing a high containment laboratory at Backweston to enhance our National capability in the laboratory diagnosis of exotic viral diseases of farmed animals.
It was decided to undertake amelioration works on a pre-existing laboratory space to achieve the highest attainable international standard of bio-containment – the Australia-New Zealand BSL4 standard. This decision followed an outbreak of Foot-and-Mouth Disease in the UK in 2007 which was associated with the escape of virus from the Pirbright laboratory facility.
Consequently, to address potential risk and have confidence that a building project would deliver a facility to the required certified standard the following steps were taken:- A US engineering firm (which specialises in building and retrofitting containment laboratories) was retained on contract to oversee the design, build and commissioning of the laboratory; their proposed building solution was implemented and tested in one part of the laboratory and the heat treatment and drainage system was redesigned. The total cost of this preparatory work was €954,080.
The tendered cost of the main building works was €4.9 million excluding VAT. However additional costs of €1.07m (broken down below) have accrued due to variations to the building contract as a result of specification or working method changes, or due to unforeseen circumstances. During the construction works an underlying issue in the fabric of the original building was discovered – this did not affect the stability of the structure but had the potential to compromise containment and required an engineering solution and was associated with project delays which cost €219,572. This is a highly specialised project, the first of its kind undertaken in Ireland, such that it was inevitable that some changes would be made during the building phase to ensure the required level of containment and building efficiency - these variations to bolster air-tightness and security and enhance integration with building controls amounted to €853,790 (ex. VAT).
1073. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an agri-environment options scheme payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13710/17]
View answerThe person named commenced their AEOS 2 contract on 1st September 2011. Payments have issued in respect of the 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 before payments can issue. As 2016 is the final scheme-year of payment for the person-named, re-checks on payments made for all scheme years must be completed before final payment can be processed. It is expected that these checks will be completed shortly and payments due will issue then.
1074. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question Number 538 of 21 February 2017, when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13714/17]
View answerThe person named has already received full payment for year one under the Burren Farming for Conservation Scheme and therefore will not be receiving further payment for the first year of his Organic Farming Scheme contract. His year 2 payment under the Organic scheme is now being examined.
