Written Answers Nos. 952-971
952. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the cost to introduce a minimum weekly gross wage of €600 for all full-time employees under the aegis of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34584/17]
View answerBased on the introduction of a minimum weekly gross wage of €600, the estimated additional cost to the Departments payroll at present would be approximately €1,200,000. This figure however does not include the costs associated with Temporary Clerical Officers.
The parallel information in respect if State Bodies under the Aegis of this Department is a matter for the bodies themselves.
953. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of Teagasc education officers in County Donegal providing green cert courses in the first half of 2017. [34617/17]
View answerAs the details requested by the Deputy are an operational matter for Teagasc, the request has been forwarded to Teagasc for direct apply. In line with new Dáil procedures, such information can be requested directly from Teagasc using the dedicated email address: oireachtas@teagasc.ie.
954. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Teagasc education officers that will be working in County Donegal providing green cert courses in the autumn term 2017. [34618/17]
View answerAs the details requested by the Deputy are an operational matter for Teagasc, the request has been forwarded to Teagasc for direct apply. In line with new Dáil procedures, such information can be requested directly from Teagasc using the dedicated email address: oireachtas@teagasc.ie.
955. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of students studying for green cert courses through County Donegal Teagasc offices in the spring / summer term 2017. [34619/17]
View answerAs the details requested by the Deputy are an operational matter for Teagasc, the request has been forwarded to Teagasc for direct apply. In line with new Dáil procedures, such information can be requested directly from Teagasc using the dedicated email address: oireachtas@teagasc.ie.
956. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that will be studying for green cert courses through the County Donegal Teagasc office in the autumn term 2017; and of these the number that will be new students that commenced their course in Autumn 2017. [34620/17]
View answerAs the details requested by the Deputy are an operational matter for Teagasc, the request has been forwarded to Teagasc for direct apply. In line with new Dáil procedures, such information can be requested directly from Teagasc using the dedicated email address: oireachtas@teagasc.ie.
957. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses, in view of the need to promote animal welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34677/17]
View answerI have requested that officials of my Department complete an on-site assessment of all animals employed in circuses which operate within this jurisdiction. According to current information, there are very few performing wild animals currently engaged within the industry. I will be glad to update the Deputy when this review has been completed.
958. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine following a successful appeal the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was not paid their 2015 ANC payment, in view of the fact that the agriculture appeals office in its capacity as an independent body made this decision based on EU regulations, national legislation, guidelines and the terms and conditions of the scheme and also on the principles of natural justice. [34704/17]
View answerAn application under the Areas of Natural Constraints was received in my Department from the person named on 20 May 2015. Processing of this application has recently been finalised further to a decision of the independent Agricultural Appeals Office and payment will issued to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
959. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the progress towards the programme for Government commitment to review the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001. [34763/17]
View answerThe delivery of the commitment under The Programme for a Partnership Government is progressing. The Deputy will be aware that the commitment is to review the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 “to ensure the independence and efficiency of the Office in dealing with appeals from farmers”. I will shortly establish a Steering Committee to oversee the delivery of the commitment. The Committee will include independent experts. It is anticipated that the Committee will invite stakeholder input to the process. It is expected that the review will be completed by the end of this year.
960. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers enrolled in GLAS 1 and 2 that have submitted their nutrient management plans to date, by county, in tabular form; the number per county that have not submitted their nutrient management plans to date. [34764/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:
|
GLAS1 |
GLAS2 |
|||||
|
COUNTY |
Active |
NMP |
No NMP |
Active |
NMP |
No NMP |
|
Carlow |
278 |
179 |
99 |
127 |
51 |
76 |
|
Cavan |
907 |
631 |
276 |
432 |
199 |
233 |
|
Clare |
1618 |
1,038 |
580 |
689 |
278 |
411 |
|
Cork |
2160 |
1,372 |
788 |
1,009 |
408 |
601 |
|
Donegal |
1948 |
1,232 |
716 |
1,009 |
359 |
650 |
|
Dublin |
62 |
36 |
26 |
17 |
5 |
12 |
|
Galway |
3084 |
1,812 |
1,272 |
1,309 |
627 |
682 |
|
Kerry |
1768 |
709 |
1,059 |
872 |
276 |
596 |
|
Kildare |
246 |
182 |
64 |
80 |
34 |
46 |
|
Kilkenny |
433 |
254 |
179 |
209 |
20 |
189 |
|
Laois |
368 |
267 |
101 |
196 |
97 |
99 |
|
Leitrim |
1018 |
573 |
445 |
418 |
125 |
293 |
|
Limerick |
1053 |
435 |
618 |
302 |
128 |
174 |
|
Longford |
512 |
251 |
261 |
347 |
151 |
196 |
|
Louth |
148 |
99 |
49 |
80 |
21 |
59 |
|
Mayo |
2556 |
1,681 |
875 |
1,330 |
498 |
832 |
|
Meath |
424 |
208 |
216 |
204 |
89 |
115 |
|
Monaghan |
579 |
382 |
197 |
145 |
61 |
84 |
|
Offaly |
477 |
208 |
269 |
279 |
57 |
222 |
|
Roscommon |
1531 |
811 |
720 |
552 |
179 |
373 |
|
Sligo |
945 |
505 |
440 |
364 |
44 |
320 |
|
Tipperary |
1135 |
436 |
699 |
510 |
140 |
370 |
|
Waterford |
363 |
191 |
172 |
131 |
12 |
119 |
|
Westmeath |
649 |
289 |
360 |
263 |
72 |
191 |
|
Wexford |
773 |
446 |
327 |
266 |
48 |
218 |
|
Wicklow |
331 |
181 |
150 |
154 |
17 |
137 |
|
Totals |
25,366 |
14,408 |
10,958 |
11,294 |
3,996 |
7,298 |
961. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the latest EU data regarding the average cost of production per litre of milk. [34765/17]
View answerThe EU Farm Accountancy Date Network unit has created several models to estimate costs and margins for the various products, including milk and milk products. Operating costs are defined as specific costs (including feed and veterinary) and other non-specific operating costs (including upkeep of machinery, energy, contract work, taxes on land and buildings). The most recent FADN data available is for the 2013 accounting year; figures for subsequent years are estimates.
The most recent figures on price margins available from the EC Milk Market Observatory are for Q1 2017. https://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/sites/agriculture/files/market-observatory/milk/pdf/eu-prices-margins_en.pdf
962. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers participating in the beef data genomics scheme; the number of new farmers that have joined since the scheme reopened in May 2017; the number of farmers that have withdrawn that originally had approved application; the number of applications that were deemed ineligible; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34768/17]
View answerThe data requested by the deputy is as follows:
|
Beef Data and Genomics Scheme |
Nos. |
|
Current Participants in Beef Data and Genomics Programme 2015 - 2020 |
23,709 |
|
Withdrawals from Beef Data and Genomics Programme 2015 - 2020 |
5,230 |
|
Ineligible Beef Data and Genomics Programme 2015 - 2020 applicants |
952 |
|
Applications received for Beef Data and Genomics Programme 2017 - 2022 |
1,900 |
963. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications submitted to the SBCI agriculture cashflow support loan scheme per county, in tabular form; the number of successful applications per county; the number of unsuccessful applications per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34769/17]
View answer964. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount drawn to date under the SBCI agri-loan fund, by county, in tabular form; the number of participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34770/17]
View answer965. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeframe the SBCI agri-loan fund will remain open for applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34771/17]
View answer966. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average loan size drawn down to date under the SBCI agri-loan fund; the average loan size per county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34772/17]
View answer967. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount that has been drawn down to date under the SBCI agri-loan fund broken down by each lending pillar bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34773/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 963 to 967, inclusive, together.
The SBCI have provided my Department with an update on the progress of the drawdown of the Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme, which follows. To the end of June there have been 3,672 loan drawdowns amounting to a total of €117,308,197, an average loan amount of €31,947. Some 59% of the loans are for terms of 4 years or more. The SBCI have provided a regional rather than a county breakdown and it shows the amount drawn down in each region. They have also provided a sectoral breakdown.
Normal bank lending criteria applies to the Scheme and the terms and conditions of each individual loan are agreed between the bank and the applicant according to the purpose of the loans and the circumstances of the farming enterprise. The banks do not report specific information on refusals but have stated that it is in line with their normal loan refusal rates.
The banks advise that all of the remaining €150m is committed and is in the process of being drawn down. In line with the time limits imposed by the Regulation governing the EU contribution, it is expected that all of these loans will be drawn down by the end of September. The breakdown between the banks of the total €150 million available is:
- Bank of Ireland €65 million
- Allied Irish Bank €60 million
- Ulster Bank €25 million.
The banks will be paid for the interest rate subsidy according to the various loan amounts and terms, although to date no payments have been made to the banks.
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 have met with the Chief Executives of the participating banks to discuss this and other access to finance issues relating to the agrifood sector. I have asked the banks to respond positively to the demand that has been demonstrated by reducing interest rates and providing more flexible terms for cash flow loans in the future.
More detailed figures and analysis will be available once the Scheme has been fully drawn down and all reporting is finalised.
SBCI Agriculture Cashflow Support Scheme - end of June 2017
Summary of loan terms, numbers and size
|
Loan Term |
Totals € |
% of Funds |
No. of Loans |
Average Loan Size € |
|
1 year |
30,370,916 |
26% |
1,115 |
27,238 |
|
2 years |
10,326,163 |
9% |
508 |
20,327 |
|
3 years |
7,786,651 |
7% |
375 |
20,764 |
|
4 years |
14,259,538 |
12% |
453 |
31,478 |
|
5 years |
32,337,715 |
27% |
852 |
37,955 |
|
6 years |
22,227,214 |
19% |
369 |
60,236 |
|
TOTALS |
117,308,196 |
100% |
3,672 |
31,947 |
|
Summary |
||||
|
> 4 years |
68,824,467 |
59% |
1,674 |
43,223 |
|
2-3 years |
18,112,814 |
15% |
883 |
20,546 |
|
1 year |
30,370,916 |
26% |
1,115 |
27,238 |
Summary by Sector
|
Sector |
Totals € |
% of funds |
No. of Loans |
Average Loan size € |
|
Dairy |
49,893,145 |
43% |
1,358 |
36,740 |
|
Beef |
48,653,826 |
41% |
1,788 |
27,211 |
|
Sheep |
2,597,000 |
2% |
127 |
20,449 |
|
Pigs |
1,509,000 |
1% |
18 |
83,833 |
|
Tillage |
7,739,465 |
7% |
168 |
46,068 |
|
Horticulture |
878,500 |
1% |
11 |
79,864 |
|
Other |
6,037,261 |
5% |
202 |
29,887 |
|
Total |
117,308,197 |
100% |
3,672 |
31,947 |
|
Summary |
||||
|
Livestock & Dairy |
102,652,971 |
88% |
3,291 |
168,234 |
|
Non-Livestock |
14,655,226 |
12% |
381 |
155,819 |
Summary by Region
|
Region |
Totals € |
% of Funds |
|
IE011 - Border |
16,849,850 |
14% |
|
IE012 - Midland |
13,187,568 |
11% |
|
IE013 - West |
13,208,528 |
11% |
|
IE021 - Dublin |
285,000 |
0% |
|
IE022 - Mid-East |
10,116,286 |
9% |
|
IE023 - Mid-West |
18,374,142 |
16% |
|
IE024 - South-East (IE) |
19,534,871 |
17% |
|
IE025 - South-West (IE) |
25,751,952 |
22% |
|
Total |
117,308,196 |
100% |
|
Summary |
||
|
Border, Midlands and West |
43,245,946 |
37% |
|
Non-BMW |
74,062,251 |
63% |
968. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 672 of 11 April 2017, the progress on the ex-ante assessment for the financial instrument; and the latest timeframe for completion. [34774/17]
View answerThe contract for an Ex-ante Assessment for the use of Financial Instruments (FIs) within Ireland’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Operational Programmes was awarded to Indecon on 31 August, 2016. The Report of the ex-ante assessment examining all 7 required steps was finalised on 30 June 2017. We are currently analysing the report submitted to us by Indecon and are making arrangement for the publication of the summary findings and conclusions which must be published within 3 months of their date of finalisation. The final report will also be submitted to the RDP Monitoring Committee for information.
969. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide details regarding the number of farmers that applied for GLAS in each round according to tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3 breakdown, the number of farmers accepted; the number of farmers paid; the amount paid to date; the number of farmers in GLAS plus; and the number of farmers in GLAS that have commonage lands, by county, in tabular form. [34775/17]
View answerThe information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and will take some time to compile. The data will be furnished directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.
The referred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
970. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in receipt of GLAS 1 and GLAS 2 that have received the 15% of their 2016 payment, by county, in tabular form; the number of persons that have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting their 15% portion of 2016 payment; the number of GLAS recipients that have yet to receive this portion of payment by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34776/17]
View answerThe number of participants who have received their 15% balancing payment and who have been cleared for payment is set out in the table.
All GLAS participants must submit a nutrient management plan before their balancing payment can be released and to date 18,400 have complied with this requirement and some 18,250 are still awaited.
Balancing payments continue to be made on an on-going basis as files are cleared.
|
County |
No. of applicants paid to date |
No. of applicants cleared for payment this week |
|
Carlow |
183 |
16 |
|
Cavan |
701 |
51 |
|
Clare |
1020 |
194 |
|
Cork |
1374 |
235 |
|
Donegal |
1319 |
171 |
|
Dublin |
32 |
5 |
|
Galway |
2054 |
126 |
|
Kerry |
816 |
95 |
|
Kildare |
160 |
18 |
|
Kilkenny |
234 |
12 |
|
Laois |
302 |
14 |
|
Leitrim |
603 |
49 |
|
Limerick |
492 |
20 |
|
Longford |
349 |
21 |
|
Louth |
87 |
18 |
|
Mayo |
1752 |
185 |
|
Meath |
255 |
16 |
|
Monaghan |
394 |
15 |
|
Offaly |
232 |
12 |
|
Roscommon |
798 |
108 |
|
Sligo |
464 |
50 |
|
Tipperary |
517 |
15 |
|
Waterford |
153 |
24 |
|
Westmeath |
325 |
6 |
|
Wexford |
352 |
39 |
|
Wicklow |
133 |
38 |
|
Total |
15101 |
1553 |
971. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that have applied to the knowledge transfer group scheme under the rural development programme 2014 to 2020 to date in each of the beef, sheep, dairy, tillage, equine and poultry sectors; the targeted number of groups formed; the number of groups finalised to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34777/17]
View answerThe Knowledge Transfer (KT) Programme is included in Ireland's Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020. 20,252 farmer applications have been registered for the scheme. These are broken down between the sectors in the following table:
|
Total |
Beef |
Dairy |
Sheep |
Tillage |
Poultry |
Equine |
|
|
Number of Participants Applied |
20,252 |
10,072 |
4,258 |
4,310 |
885 |
248 |
479 |
The number of KT groups that registered for approval under the Programme is as follows.
|
Total |
Beef |
Dairy |
Sheep |
Tillage |
Poultry |
Equine |
|
|
Number of Groups Applied |
1201 |
582 |
271 |
252 |
55 |
14 |
27 |
The current position in relation to KT Groups that have finalised the approval process is as follows:
|
Total |
Beef |
Dairy |
Sheep |
Tillage |
Poultry |
Equine |
|
|
Number of Groups Finalised to date |
1190 |
582 |
268 |
251 |
55 |
14 |
20 |
