Pat Breen
Question:285. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20962/17]
View answerGLAS Payments
Questions (285)
Written answers
The person named approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified as a result of the merging of two parcels with GLAS actions on them. 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.
GLAS Payments
Questions (286)
Michael Lowry
Question:286. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20984/17]
View answerWritten answers
The person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of the 1 January 2016.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an over-declaration of wild bird cover area was identified resulting in the application of a penalty. Department officials are actively working to process this case.
Agriculture Scheme Payments
Questions (287)
Pat Breen
Question:287. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Question No. 590 of 4 April 2017, the status of payments for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21024/17]
View answerWritten answers
The person named is an applicant or beneficiary under three closely related schemes, i.e. the Burren Farming for Conservation Scheme, its successor the Burren Programme, and the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS).
He has already received payment for 2015 under the Burren Farming for Conservation Scheme and for 2016 under the new Burren Programme. I can also confirm that he has now been approved into the Organic Farming Scheme (OFS) with a contract start date of 1 June 2015.
As he has already received payment for 2015 under the earlier Burren Farming for Conservation Scheme he will not receive a further payment for that year under the OFS, as it was not possible to benefit under both these schemes at the same time. However, under the terms and conditions negotiated by my Department for the new Rural Development Programme, I am glad to say that from now on he may be eligible for payment under both the OFS and the new Burren Programme, provided of course that he receives the required field-scores under the latter programme. The payment due to him for 2016 under the Organic Farming Scheme is now being assessed.
Aquaculture Licence Applications
Questions (288)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:288. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of aquaculture licences for oyster harvesting in an area (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21025/17]
View answerWritten answers
Trawbreaga Bay is designated as a Special Area of Conservation (North Innishowen Coast SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area (Trawbreaga Bay SPA) under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 sites). All applications in ‘Natura’ areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives.
While the Appropriate Assessment is carried out on a bay-wide basis, each licence application within the bay must be assessed individually. Factors to be considered include location within the bay, species, scale and intensity of production, potential visual impact, etc.
In addition to Natura requirements, under EU Environmental Impact Assessment Directives all licence applications must undergo Environmental Impact Screening Assessment. This requires significant input from the Department’s scientific and technical advisors. All applications, in compliance with the requirements of the applicable legislation, are advertised in order to facilitate public consultation, and submissions or observations received must be considered as part of the licence determination process.
An Appropriate Assessment report has now been completed by the Marine Institute in respect of Trawbreaga Bay. My Department is currently examining the general licensing issues that arise for consideration as a result of the Appropriate Assessment report. It is also in the process of carrying out Environmental Screening Assessments in respect of aquaculture licence applications in the bay. A significant number of these assessments have been completed. It is hoped to commence the public and statutory consultation phase of the licensing process shortly.
Every effort is being made to expedite the determination of aquaculture licence applications in this bay having regard to all the complexities involved.
Fisheries Protection
Questions (289)
Michael Healy-Rae
Question:289. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21027/17]
View answerWritten answers
In relation to the statement about a proposed ban from 0-12 miles, I am not aware of any such proposed ban. In relation to mackerel management, I received a request from the Irish South and West Fish Producer Organisation to allocate the increase over 2016 of Ireland’s mackerel quota for 2017 entirely to the Polyvalent Segment on a 1 year pilot basis in exchange for the recipient vessels forgoing demersal fishing in order to gauge the impact on the demersal vessels.
This matter has generated a lot of discussion in the industry and I have received many representations on the matter. Having carefully considered the matter, I decided that, without prejudice, there is a case for a review of the policy on allocations between the RSW Pelagic segment and the polyvalent segment of the fleet, taking account of request by the IS&WFO. In that regard, I decided that I am restricting consideration to the increased quota for Ireland in 2017 over that in 2016.
It is important to note that I have not made any decision at this time to change the allocations between the segments in respect of this part of the quota. All relevant issues will be carefully evaluated and subject to a full consultation with stakeholders before I decide if any amendment to the policy is justified for the proper and effective management of the mackerel fishery.
The public consultation process concluded on 28 February 2017 and 353 submissions were received. All submissions are currently being evaluated.
To support transparency in this process, it is intended that all views received on the Consultation Document and/or any clarification provided will be publicly made available on my Department’s website. Following the closure of the formal consultation process, any meeting that may be held with stakeholders will be open to all interested stakeholders that have engaged in the public consultation.
Farm Inspections
Questions (290)
Charlie McConalogue
Question:290. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and type of farm inspections, cross-compliance and so on carried out in 2015 and 2016; the number of breaches found; the types of breaches; the number of penalties imposed on farmers (details supplied); the breakdown of the size of the individual monetary penalties imposed, by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21029/17]
View answerWritten answers
The extensive range of data that has been requested by the Deputy is not readily available. Officials in my Department will collate the data requested and forward it directly to the Deputy.
Question No. 291 withdrawn.
Nitrates Usage
Questions (292)
Niamh Smyth
Question:292. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address the concerns raised by persons (details supplied) in view of a proposed ban on splash plates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21107/17]
View answerWritten answers
To maximise nitrogen uptake, slurry should be applied on cool, overcast or misty days. Good agronomic advice is to apply as much slurry as possible in the springtime to maximise the fertiliser nitrogen value of slurry. Spring applied slurry is worth approximately 3 units of nitrogen per 1,000 gallons extra compared with summer application. Since the introduction of the Nitrates Regulations in 2006 there has been a significant increase in the volume of slurry applied in springtime rather than at other times of the year. The regulations require farmers achieve high levels of nitrogen use efficiency from slurry and this can only be achieved by applying slurry in the right weather conditions (cool, overcast, misty conditions).
The Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment recently launched a public consultation to inform the development of a National Clean Air Strategy. The consultation document identified the main issues in relation to air quality and emission sources. It recognised that the spreading of slurry can, depending on the timing of the application and the weather conditions, result in nitrogen loss from slurry to the atmosphere through ammonia volatilisation. That Department will conduct a thorough examination of all submissions received as part of its consultation phase.
On foot of farmer demand to improve the utilisation of slurry as a fertiliser, my Department is assisting farmers under TAMS in the purchase of Low Emission Slurry Spreading equipment such as the trailing shoe. In addition a significant cohort of farmers have applied under the GLAS scheme to apply slurry using low emission equipment.
Aquaculture Licence Applications
Questions (293)
Dara Calleary
Question:293. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a BIM application for a farm (details supplied). [21132/17]
View answerWritten answers
My Department has not received an aquaculture licence application from Bord Iascaigh Mhara in respect of aquaculture activity in the area referred to by the Deputy.
Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla
Questions (294)
Catherine Connolly
Question:294. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Catherine Connolly den Aire Cumarsáide, Gníomhaithe ar son na hAeráide agus Comhshaoil cén fáth nach bhfuil leagan Gaeilge den Phlean Náisiúnta um Maolú ar fáil; an ndeimhneoidh sé go mbeidh cóip den leagan Gaeilge le fáil láithreach bonn; an mbeidh síneadh ama i gceist ó thaobh na tréimhse comhairliúcháin de; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [20886/17]
View answerWritten answers
Tá dualgas reachtúil orm faoin Acht um Ghníomhú Aeráide agus um Fhorbairt Ísealcharbóin 2015 chéad Plean Náisiúnta Maolúcháin na hÉireann a chur faoi bhráid an Rialtas nach deireanaí ná an 10 Meitheamh 2017. Próiseás coimpléascach le móran céimeanna agus idirghníomhaíochtaí le Roinne agus Gníomhaireachtaí eile ar sceideal dúshlánach a bhí i bhforbairt an Plean le cinntiú go cloífear leis an sprioc reachtúil seo. Tá dualgas orm freisin, faoi reachtaíocht 2015, tabhairt faoi comhairliúchán poiblí ar an dréacht Phlean. Le cinntiú go gcloítear leis an sprioc i Mí Meitheamh, bhí gá an dréacht den Phlean a fhoilsiú nach deireanaí ná lár mí Márta ar feadh tréimhse sé seachtaine. Dhún an comhairliúcháin poiblí ar 24 Aibreán.
Cé nach féidir an tréimhse comhairliúcháin a leathnú mar thoradh ar na dualgais reachtúla thuasluaite, tá sé tábhachtach nótáil go bhfuil sé ar intinn agam gur doiciméad beo a bheidh sa Phlean Náisiúnta Maolúcháin, a cuirfear ar fáil ar suíomh idirlíona mo Roinn, agus go ndéanfar uasdátú leanúnach ar mar a thagann níos mó roghanna earnála maolúcháin chun cinn agus níos mó roghanna earnála atá níos éifeachtaí ó thaobh costas de chun cinn mar thoradh ar anailís, caidreamh agus nuálaíocht teicneolaíochta. Chomh maith le tuairiscí rialta ar dhul chun cinn, beidh próiséas foirmeálta ullmhú Pleananna Náisiúnta Maolúcháin leantacha ar a laghad uair amháin gach cúig bliana.
Chomh maith leis sin, glacaim go bhfuil gá gníomhú maidir le dúshlán na haeráide leis an sochaí go ginearálta, athrú iompair a spreagadh agus struchtúir a chruthú ag leibhéal aítiúl, réigiúnach agus náisiúnta chun tacú le ginneadh smaointe agus na smaointe seo a aistríú isteach i gníomhaithe oiríunacha atá éifeachtach ó thaobh costas de. Le cuidiú le dul chun cinn sa réimse seo d’fhógair mé le deireanaí sonraí maidir le Comhrá Náisiúnta faoi Ghníomhú ar son na hAeráide .
Deimhním don Teachta go bhfuil mo Roinn lán eolach maidir leis na dualgais atá ar an Roinn faoi Acht na dTeangacha Oifigiúla agus go cuireadh chuile iarracht i gcríoch chun cinntiú gur féidir leagan Gaeilge den Phlean a chur ar fáil chomh luath agus is féidir. Tá mo Roinn ag déanamh profáil deiridh ar théacs Gaeilge an dréacht Phlean agus foilseoidh mé an leagan seo ar suíomh idirlíona mo Roinn chomh luath agus is féidir. Tá sé beartaithe agam freisin leagan Gaeilge den leagan chríochnaithe den Phlean Náisiúnta Maolúcháin a chur ar fail i ndiaidh go gceadaíonn an Rialtas an Plean deiridh.
National Broadband Plan Implementation
Questions (295)
Michael Collins
Question:295. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the way in which he envisages the broadband intervention map of the national broadband plan impacting rural Internet service providers; his plans to fill gaps in coverage in outlying areas when rural Internet service providers have been forced out of business in view of the fact that the national broadband plan has not fully rolled out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20980/17]
View answerWritten answers
The National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to deliver high speed services to every city, town, village and individual premises in Ireland. The Programme for Government commits to the delivery of the NBP as a matter of priority. This is being achieved through private investment by commercial telecommunications companies and through a State intervention in areas where commercial investment has not been fully demonstrated.
A key principle of the NBP is to support and stimulate commercial investment through policy and regulatory measures. Commercial investment since the publication of the NBP has considerably exceeded expectations. To date, the commercial telecommunications sector has invested over €2.5bn in upgrading and modernising networks which support the provision of high speed broadband and mobile telecoms services. It is important to note that the significant investment required to make high speed telecommunication services publicly available, occurs within a fully liberalised market. It is a matter for the competing network providers to decide those areas which can be served on a commercial basis, in the first instance.
In November 2016 my Department initiated a review of an eir proposal to rollout fibre to over 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. These premises were in areas that had formed part of the procurement process for the NBP State Intervention area. This analysis is now complete and on 4 April, I signed a Commitment Agreement with eir in relation to its plans to provide high speed broadband to an additional 300,000 premises in rural areas on a commercial basis. Eir has committed to doing this work over a 90 week period, with an average of 500 premises passed per day. The rollout plan has been agreed with my Department and will be monitored closely by my Department to ensure that eir meets its obligations under the Agreement. A copy of the Commitment Agreement is available on my website www.dccae.gov.ie.
It is important to note the eir network is a wholesale network. This means that existing retail internet service providers can contract with eir to access the network and use it to meet the future needs of their customers.
Cyber Security Policy
Questions (296)
Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire
Question:296. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost of establishing a digital safety officer inclusive of a required staff team; and the estimated full year cost of running such an office. [20994/17]
View answerWritten answers
The proposal to establish a Digital Safety Commissioner’s Office is one of a number of recommendations contained in the Law Reform Commission’s Report on Harmful Communications and Digital Safety, which was published in September 2016.
The feasibility of establishing such an office is currently being considered by me and, as part of this process, the matter has been referred to the Cabinet Committee on Social Policy and Public Service Reform for discussion. As consideration of the issue is in its initial stages, no detailed estimates in regard to likely resource requirements and costs have yet been made.