Written Answers Nos. 292-311
292. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 286 of 6 April 2017, the status of payments to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18991/17]
View answerThe 85% advance of the 2016 payment has issued to the person named. My officials are examining this case and it appears that details of one GLAS parcel declared as Low Input Permanent pasture were not included in the payment calculation and this therefore needs to be reinstated. The matter is now being worked on and when it is resolved, the person named will receive any outstanding amount due.
293. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for a review of entitlements by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18996/17]
View answerAn application in respect of the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was received from the person named declaring an eligible area of 26.09 hectares.
Subsequently 4.06 ha were afforested and, in accordance with the Terms and Conditions of the BPS, were subject to eligibility criteria checks. It was for this reason that this area was initially excluded from the entitlement calculation. Following the completion of the necessary checks the lands afforested by the person named are now deemed eligible. The review of the entitlement position is underway and the person named will be informed of the outcome when completed.
294. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in relation to a GLAS application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18997/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full payments in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases. Following review by the Department this issue has now been resolved, 2016 payment has now been processed and has been sent for payment this week.
295. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will examine a decision, in view of information previously provided in an email response by his Department (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18998/17]
View answer297. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the rationale for a decision by his Department (details supplied); if he will review the decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19000/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 295 and 297 together.
Among the details supplied by the Deputy is a letter dated 28 February 2017 to my Department from the persons concerned. Please note that my Department provided a detailed response to this letter on 23 March 2017.
I can further inform the Deputy that the vessel owned by the persons concerned has recently been approved under both the Gill Net and TR2 New Entrant Schemes to fish in ICES Area VIIa for 2017 and authorisations have issued in this regard.
296. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of recent restrictions introduced by his Department with regard to movement rules for cattle being purchased in marts for live export to Northern Ireland; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that these changes are affecting the trade in live cattle to Northern Ireland; if he will review the restrictions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18999/17]
View answerUnder EU legislation, cattle exported from Ireland within the EU (including to Northern Ireland) must complete a residency period on a holding prior to export. The animal must have been resident on this holding within 29 days of moving to an assembly centre for export. Subsequent to moving from the holding, an animal may move one time through a mart and/or one time through a dealer’s holding, in that order. No further moves are permitted.
Prior to 2017, the Department’s AIM computer system did not automatically carry out verification checks on compliance with the residency requirement. AIM has been recently updated, with the result that these export eligibility verification checks are now carried out and cattle presented for export that do not meet the eligibility requirements are rejected by the system. Export eligibility for animals being exported via marts has also been aligned to this requirement.
A small number of minor technical and other anomalies that have been highlighted by exporters in relation to the operation of the AIM verification have been addressed or are in the process of being addressed. However the new arrangements have operated with minimal disruption, as evidenced by the fact that exports of live cattle to date in 2017 have increased by 42.4% compared with the same period last year, and have largely been welcomed by exporters.
298. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has discussed with the EU Commission that farm land under solar farm installations will be recognised as an agricultural activity and therefore be eligible for EU direct payments and qualify for retirement and agricultural reliefs at European Union level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19050/17]
View answerThe Direct Payments Division of my Department is in regular contact with DG Agri regarding the eligibility of land for payments under the various area-based schemes. The issue of solar panels has been raised specifically as part of these discussions. As currently interpreted the area under the solar panels is not deemed to be part of an agricultural activity as defined in Article 4 of Regulation 1307/2013*.
Accordingly, it is required to determine predominance having regard to Article 32(3)(a) of Regulation 1307/2013. Under this Article an assessment is made as to whether the agricultural activity on the remainder of the land "can be exercised without being significantly hampered by the intensity, nature, duration and timing of the non-agricultural activities."
As I have indicated in previous responses to this topic, my Department is willing to assess each individual case on its individual merits, including that part of land under solar panels, in order to determine whether the solar development would mean that agriculture is no longer the predominant activity.
* Article 4 of Regulation 1307/2013
Definitions and related provisions
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions shall apply:
"agricultural activity" means:
1. production, rearing or growing of agricultural products, including harvesting, milking, breeding animals, and keeping animals for farming purposes,
2. maintaining an agricultural area in a state which makes it suitable for grazing or cultivation without preparatory action going beyond usual agricultural methods and machineries, based on criteria established by Member States on the basis of a framework established by the Commission, or
3. carrying out a minimum activity, defined by Member States, on agricultural areas naturally kept in a state suitable for grazing or cultivation;
299. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will undertake a review of Food Wise 2025 in view of the fact that the targets in the strategy were forecast on the assumption that the UK remains within the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19051/17]
View answerFood Wise 2025, the ten year strategy for the agri-food sector published in July 2015, identifies the opportunities and challenges facing the sector and provides an enabling strategy that will allow the sector to grow and prosper. It includes more than 400 specific recommendations spread across the cross-cutting themes of sustainability, innovation, human capital, market development and competitiveness, as well as specific sectoral recommendations.
Food Wise is a vision for the sector developed by stakeholders and facilitated by my department. As regards reviewing the strategy in the light of Brexit, it is important to understand that Food Wise 2025 is, in fact, a living and evolving strategy. I chair quarterly meetings of the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC), with high level representatives from all the relevant Departments and State agencies. The committee reviews progress on detailed actions on a quarterly basis, in order to identify and solve problems quickly. Brexit has now been included as a standard item on the agenda of each meeting of the HLIC.
It is not yet clear what the final outcome of the UK's Brexit decision will be. While the value of agri food exports to the UK declined in 2016, primarily as a result of the reduction in the value of sterling, the overall value of exports increased. A hard Brexit involving the imposition of WTO tariffs would have a more significant adverse effect on the value of exports, but our stated aim is to avoid such a scenario.
In either event, while recognising the challenges, I do not believe that it would be appropriate to reduce our ambition for the sector at this juncture. Furthermore, it is clear that the implementation of the Food Wise recommendations, particularly those related to market development, competitiveness and innovation, will assume even greater importance in the light of the UK decision, regardless of the ultimate outcome.
300. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a breakdown of each scheme that has a coupled payment operated by his Department under pillar 1 of current CAP; the breakdown of annual expenditure for each year of the current CAP and the actual expenditure incurred to date, in tabular form; the number of participants in each such scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19052/17]
View answerAs requested please see below a breakdown of payments under the Protein Aid Scheme which is the only voluntary coupled payment operated by my Department under pillar 1 of the current CAP.
|
Year |
Number Paid |
Amount Paid |
|
2015 |
1,086 |
€2,899,147.19 |
|
2016 |
1,111 |
€2,954,047.71 |
301. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a €200 annual payment for suckler cows to ensure the sustainability of the national herd via a combination of a coupled payment in the context of the next CAP in addition to payments for farmers for actions under a suckler cow welfare scheme and or a beef genomics scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19053/17]
View answerIreland has supported the greater market orientation of the CAP over recent reforms, including by decoupling of payments from production, because farmers’ freedom to respond to the demands of the market is vital for the long-term development of the sector (as set out in Food Wise 2025).
This approach to the reform of the CAP was one which is recognised as being the most suitable approach to take, on the basis that the best interests of farmers were served by allowing them the flexibility to calibrate production to market demand without compromising income from the Basic Payment Scheme.
The provision of coupled support for suckler farmers under Pillar I would require a redistribution of direct payments between farmers and this would involve a linear cut across payment to all BPS beneficiaries. It would also require beneficiaries to maintain animals in order to obtain the premium, even in circumstances where supply and demand factors were exerting downward pressure on prices. There is also some evidence to suggest that the necessity to keep animals to obtain a premium had a negative impact on quality, with the focus turning to "farming the premium".
These are issues that were well rehearsed in the run up to the last and previous CAP reforms, and while there are counter arguments, on balance the judgement was that payments should be decoupled from production.
The BDGP builds upon the large investment in data recording and genomics which has been made in recent years and will continue to drive further developments and improvements in this area.
In relation to funding under Pillar II of the CAP, the BDGP, as already outlined, is the current main support for the suckler sector and provides farmers with some €300 million of funding over the next six years. I will continue to support this programme through the lifetime of the current RDP. Of course, this is in addition to the other supports for suckler farmers under the RDP, notably GLAS, ANCs and Knowledge Transfer groups.
302. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reopen the beef data and genomics programme for new participants in view of the fact the scheme is running 35% behind the participation target and a large underspend is likely as a consequence; and if so, when this will commence. [19055/17]
View answerI announced this morning that the Beef Data and Genomics Programme will be reopened to beef suckler farmers who are not already part of the scheme. The scheme will be known as BDGP II and will, like the original, commit to six years of payments to farmers for completion of actions aimed at delivering accelerated genetic improvement in the national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability. Payment rates and actions for participants in BDGP II will be the same as those in BDGP I with the exception that the training and carbon navigator actions must be completed by 31st October 2017. I am also glad to say that provision has been made for new entrants to suckler farming in the scheme and it is these farmers that will drive the future of the Irish suckler herd.
The success of the BDGP scheme over the course of its first two years led to many calls for the programme to be re-opened. Its benefits in driving both genetic improvement and sustainability of our beef farms are now well recognised. This is a significant investment in the suckler sector and a real vote of confidence by this Government in its future.
The scheme will be open for applications from next Wednesday 19th April and the closing date for receipt of applications, both online and paper, will be Monday 8th May 2017.
303. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the process of reviewing qualifying areas for the areas of natural constraint scheme; if his Department has completed the mapping exercise; when the maps will be published; the consultation that will be undertaken with farmers on the review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19056/17]
View answerUnder 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.
304. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the commitment made by his Department to spend €250 million per year on GLAS when the scheme is fully subscribed will be delivered in 2017; if not, the reason therefor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19057/17]
View answerThe GLAS scheme is one of the Agri-Environment measures approved in Ireland's Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The participation uptake target for the GLAS scheme in the RDP 2014-2020 was 50,000 farmers by 2018. This target will have been already exceeded when the remaining applications to GLAS 3 have been finalised over the coming weeks with over 50,000 farmers in the scheme by 2017.
I am therefore satisfied that all available EU funding to support agri-environment commitments in RDP 2014-2020 including GLAS will be fully utilised. In respect of 2017, the full outturn will not be known until the 2017 GLAS payments are calculated in the final quarter of the year for all cases which meet regulatory requirements and conditions of the Scheme.
305. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce crisis aid funding to tillage farmers that had their crop destroyed due to severe weather in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19058/17]
View answerI hosted a further Tillage Stakeholders Forum recently which consisted of representatives from all sides of this Sector. Addressing the Forum, I took the opportunity to highlight that one of my priorities has been to address the impact of the change in the sterling exchange rate and lower commodity prices in some sectors, which have caused cash flow difficulties for farmers.
Therefore I was pleased to facilitate the “Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme”, which was developed by my Department in co-operation with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and makes €150 million available to farmers throughout Ireland at interest rates of 2.95%. Distributed through AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank, it provides tillage farmers with a low cost, flexible source of working capital and will allow them to pay down more expensive forms of short-term debt, ensuring the ongoing financial sustainability of viable farming enterprises. The loans are for amounts up to €150,000 for up to six years and are flexible with interest only facilities of up to three years. Although no official returns have been made to my Department as yet, the banks have confirmed that they have applications up to the amounts available under the Scheme. I am pleased at the very positive reaction by farmers to the Scheme, which has proved that significant demand exists for low-cost flexible finance. I hope that the commercial banks will respond positively to this demand by reducing interest rates and providing more flexible terms for cash flow loans in the future. I am meeting with the Chief Executives of the banks shortly to discuss this and other issues relating to access to finance in the agri-food sector.
Also the Tillage Investment Scheme under TAMS II opened for online applications on the 8 March 2017. The specific areas of investment include Minimum Disturbance Tillage Equipment, Sprayers, Rain Water Harvesting, Grain Storage and Grain dryers. This Tillage Scheme is the latest of the Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II) to be launched under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The Scheme is co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). All applications must be made on-line, either by the farmer or by an adviser authorised to act on his or her behalf. The closing date for applications under the first tranche of the new scheme will be Friday 30 June 2017.
As an additional support to cash flow on farms, including Tillage farms, I am pleased to record that to date €1.183 billion has been paid out under the 2016/17 Basic Payment Scheme to 123,929 farmers and these payments are ongoing. Furthermore, payments of €201.38 million have also been made to 94,101 applicants under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme.
I can confirm to the Deputy that a wide ranging discussion took place among all the stakeholders who attended the latest session of the Tillage Forum, including on the issue of crop losses as a result of the poor harvest conditions of last autumn. My officials have since then had some further meetings with stakeholders and I will consider further the outcome of those deliberations.
306. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date for the next national tillage forum with stakeholders with a view to introducing a crisis aid fund for tillage farmers that had their crop destroyed or badly damaged by severe weather in 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19059/17]
View answerThe Deputy is aware I hosted a further Tillage Stakeholders Forum recently following on from the first one in October 2016 which on both occasions consisted of representatives from all sides of this Sector. Addressing the most recent Forum, I took the opportunity to highlight that one of my priorities has been to address the impact of the change in the sterling exchange rate and lower commodity prices in some sectors, which have caused cash flow difficulties for farmers.
Therefore I was pleased to facilitate the “Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme”, which was developed by my Department in co-operation with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) and makes €150 million available to farmers throughout Ireland at interest rates of 2.95%. Distributed through AIB, Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank, it provides tillage farmers with a low cost, flexible source of working capital and will allow them to pay down more expensive forms of short-term debt, ensuring the ongoing financial sustainability of viable farming enterprises. The loans are for amounts up to €150,000 for up to six years and are flexible with interest only facilities of up to three years. Although no official returns have been made to my Department as yet, the banks have confirmed that they have applications up to the amounts available under the Scheme. I am pleased at the very positive reaction by farmers to the Scheme. I hope that the commercial banks will respond positively to this demand by reducing interest rates and providing more flexible terms for cash flow loans in the future. I am meeting with the Chief Executives of the banks shortly to discuss this and other issues relating to access to finance in the agri-food sector.
Also the Tillage Investment Scheme under TAMS II opened for online applications on the 8 March 2017. The specific areas of investment include Minimum Disturbance Tillage Equipment, Sprayers, Rain Water Harvesting, Grain Storage and Grain dryers. This Tillage Scheme is the latest of the Targeted Modernisation Schemes (TAMS II) to be launched under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. The Scheme is co-funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). All applications must be made on-line, either by the farmer or by an adviser authorised to act on his or her behalf. The closing date for applications under the first tranche of the new scheme will be Friday 30 June 2017.
As an additional support to cash flow on farms, including Tillage farms, I am pleased to record that to date €1.183 billion has been paid out under the 2016/17 Basic Payment Scheme to 123,929 farmers and these payments are ongoing. Furthermore, payments of €201.38 million have also been made to 94,101 applicants under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme.
I can also confirm to the Deputy that a wide ranging discussion took place among all the stakeholders who attended the recent session of the Tillage Forum, including on the issue of crop losses as a result of the poor harvest conditions of last autumn. My officials have since then had some further meetings with stakeholders and I will consider further the outcome of those deliberations. No date has yet been set for another Tillage Forum.
307. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on CAP regulation 1306/2013 and the way all administrative controls must be completed before direct payments can issue to farmers even those that have not been selected for on-the-spot checks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19060/17]
View answerEU regulations governing the Direct Payment Schemes require that full and comprehensive checks, including Ground or Remote Sensing (Satellite) inspections where applicable, are fully completed before payments are issued. This is to ensure that payments do not issue on ineligible areas/features, that only eligible applicants are paid, and to avoid an applicant receiving an undue payment that would have to be recovered by my Department.
As the completion of the administrative and on-the-spot checks prior to payment issuing is prescribed in the EU regulations governing these schemes, my Department cannot deviate from these requirements. Individual cases can proceed to payment once all checks are finalised.
308. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on current CAP penalties relating to cross compliance and the way in which some farmers are of the view that it is not fair that a non-compliance of animal related cross compliance requirement causes penalties to all area based payments and vice versa; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19061/17]
View answerApplicants under the Basic Payment Scheme and other EU funded area-based schemes are obliged to comply with the requirements of the Cross Compliance regime. The Cross Compliance regime comprises 13 Statutory Management Requirements (SMRs), set down in EU legislation, and 7 Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition (GAEC) standards on the environment, climate change, good agricultural condition of land, public, animal and plant health and animal welfare.
The EU regulations governing Cross Compliance prescribe a range of penalties to be applied where a non-compliance with the requirements/standards is identified as part of an inspection or is cross-reported to my Department. The regulations further prescribe that penalties must be applied to all area-based schemes for which an individual is an applicant.
As the requirements for the application of Cross Compliance penalties is governed by EU regulations, my Department cannot deviate from these requirements.
309. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on CAP regulation 1306/2013 (Art. 75(1)(4)) and the way in which from 2018 no advanced RDP payments can be made before 16 October; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19063/17]
View answerUnder Article 75 (1) of EU Regulation 1306/2013 Member States are allowed to make advance payments on area and animal related rural development schemes from 16 October each year. This provision has been in place since the commencement of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and enables payments to issue to farmers before the completion of on-the-spot checks. The change being introduced from 2018 will mean that payments shall be made by 30th June the following year, but the facility for Member States to make advance payments from 16 October remains the same.
310. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on CAP regulation 1307/2013 and the current hectare thresholds for greening requirements and their impact on smaller sized farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19064/17]
View answerRegulation (EU) 1307/2013 established rules for direct payments to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy. Included in the Regulation are the various articles that relate to "agricultural practices beneficial for the climate and the environment", more commonly known as Greening.
Greening has three distinct provisions; Crop Diversification (CD), Ecological Focus Areas (EFA) and Permanent Grassland. Payments of over €360 million per annum are made under the Greening scheme and while all farmers are subject to greening, exemptions for grassland farmers means that it is approximately 7,000 farmers in the tillage sector who have to comply with these measures.
Under CD farmers with between 10 and 30 ha of arable land have to grow at least 2 crops, with those with over 30 ha having to have at least 3. Furthermore the main crop has to be more than 75% of the arable area, with the two crops not greater than 95%. Farmers with less than 10 ha are exempt. Tillage farmers with more than 15 ha of arable land are also required to have 5% EFA on their holdings.
Based on the 2014 cropping practices of Irish farmers prior to the introduction of Greening, approximately 3,000 had to modify the number and/or area of crops sown in 2015 to comply with greening. For the remaining 4,000 the crop rotation in place at the time meant that they already met the CD thresholds. In terms of EFA compliance, features already present on Irish farms such as hedges and land drains meant that over 90% of the 6,000 EFA farmers were already compliant. It was therefore only approximately 600 herds that had to undertake new measures, such as catch crops, to comply with greening.
I would like to acknowledge the efforts made by farmers and their agents to comply with these new measures and while for some the changes to farming practices did cause some difficulties compliance with both CD and EFA has been extremely high as witnessed by the very low level of reductions on greening payments in 2015 and 2016.
Specifically with regard to the smaller sized tillage farms who have to comply with the 2 crop rule, I have through staff of my Department made a number of approaches to the Commission on the issue of equivalent practices with a view to simplifying them.
311. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that have enrolled to date in GLAS 3 by county, in tabular form; the details of a breakdown between tier 1, 2 and 3 per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19065/17]
View answerA total of 12,933 farmers have been approved into GLAS 3 to date of which 6,541 are Tier 1, 5,710 are Tier 2 and 682 are Tier 3. Checks on the remaining 1,000 cases have been prioritised and are nearing completion and a county breakdown will not be available until this work is completed.
