Written Answers Nos. 1408-1427
1408. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure savings that are earmarked for his Department for 2018 that are not accounted for in the mid-year expenditure report or are not included in the fiscal space calculations for 2018. [38894/17]
View answerThe Mid-Year Expenditure Report sets out the pre-Budget expenditure ceiling for my Department of €1,270 million for current expenditure and €238 million for capital expenditure. This represents the spending baseline for examination of my Department's budgetary priorities for 2018.
As outlined in the Mid-Year Expenditure Report, the increases planned in expenditure for the delivery of public services are set at sustainable levels in order to ensure that the resources allocated are affordable both now and in the future. Consequently, it is important that there is an ongoing focus on the totality of Departmental spending and not just the incremental increase each year.
This was the context for this year's Spending Review which will support the consideration of existing expenditure alongside budgetary proposals during the Budget Estimates process.
Expenditure on the schemes and services operated by my Department are kept under constant review throughout the year. These schemes and services are subject to a range of external factors such as demand from beneficiaries, market and economic factors, animal disease incidence, and the pace of completion of capital investment and research projects as well as the need to adhere to important issues of governance, legal and contractual obligations, including compliance with national and EU operational rules and requirements.
Where any savings are identified during the Estimates process they can be used to meet any emerging expenditure pressures without impacting on the available fiscal space. Work is ongoing in this regard.
1411. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of mushroom farmers and businesses that have been approved to participate in the special agri-loan scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38912/17]
View answerThe last summary of the Agriculture Cashflow Support Scheme provided to my Department by the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI) showed that, up to the end of June, there were 3,672 loan drawdowns amounting to a total of €117,308,197 (or 78% of the total). This is an average loan amount of €31,947. Some 59% of the loans are for terms of 4 years or more. A breakdown by sector, which shows 11 loans to the horticulture sector totalling €878,500, is as follows:
|
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 |
The participating banks have advised that all of the remaining €150m is committed and is in the process of being drawn down. More detailed figures and analysis, including detail on sub-sectors such as mushroom growing, will be available once the Scheme has been fully drawn down and all reporting is finalised.
1412. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce long-term low-cost loan measures to assist agribusinesses improve competitiveness due to the particular challenges that will arise from Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38918/17]
View answerThe Agriculture Cashflow Support Loan Scheme was developed by my Department in co-operation with the Strategic Banking Corporation of Ireland (SBCI), and made €150 million available to farmers throughout Ireland at low-cost interest rates of 2.95%. It provided farmers with a low-cost, flexible source of working capital, allowing them to pay down more expensive forms of short-term debt, ensuring the ongoing financial sustainability of viable farming enterprises. The Scheme was launched on 31 January 2017 and by the beginning of March, all of the participating banks had reported that their funds were committed.
The SBCI have reported that, to the end of June 2017, there have been 3,672 loan drawdowns amounting to a total of €117.3 million (or 78% of the total). This is an average loan amount of almost €32,000. Some 59% of the loans are for terms of 4 years or more. The participating banks have advised that all of the remaining €150m is in the process of being drawn down.
One of my priorities has been to address the impact of the change in the sterling exchange rate and lower commodity prices in some agriculture sectors. I was 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 since met with the Chief Executives of the participating banks to discuss this and other access to finance issues relating to the agri-food 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.
I believe that this scheme demonstrates the importance of lower cost and more flexible finance as a response to competitive pressures, and I hope that it will be a model for possible future measures.
1413. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38939/17]
View answerThe person named was approved into GLAS with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has been paid in full for the 2015 scheme year.
The 85% payment for 2016 has been processed and payment has issued to the person named.
All GLAS 1 participants are required to submit a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP) before the 2016 15% payment can be made. When the NMP on behalf of the person named is submitted the balancing payment checks can be completed.
1414. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the State is preparing an application to the European Commission to authorise a multimillion euro package of state aid to help farmers deal with price fluctuations in sterling arising from the Brexit vote. [38946/17]
View answerBrexit poses enormous challenges for the Irish agri-food and fisheries sectors, the most immediate of which arises in the form of the significant fall in the value of sterling against the euro, which has become particularly acute recently.
I fully understand and appreciate the significant impact that this is having on farmers. Indeed, I and my Department, with the support of the Government, have been actively engaged in developing responses that will help to ameliorate this impact, for example through the new €150 million loan fund introduced as part of a package of measures announced in Budget 2017. We are also actively considering further measures that may need to be deployed over the medium- to longer-term.
However, the scale of the difficulties being created by the current period of volatility requires that other approaches be considered. Accordingly, I have been considering the need for specific EU support, and have been engaging with Commissioner Hogan and other Member States in this regard, most recently at last week's Informal Council in Estonia.
I intend to pursue the matter further by raising it at next month's AgriFish Council and by asking my colleagues to consider a range of measures that will help the Irish agri-food sector to deal with these difficulties.
1415. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who applied to the crop loss compensation scheme by county, in tabular form; and when payments will issue. [38947/17]
View answerIn July I launched the Weather Related Crop Damage Measure for tillage farmers impacted by adverse weather in September 2016. Commercial cereal growers who experienced greater than 30% loss in tonnes of eligible crops sold as a result of the wet harvest conditions in September 2016 were eligible to apply for aid. The eligible crops under the measures are spring wheat, spring barley, spring oats and spring oilseed rape
162 applications have been received under this Measure. The closing date was 25 August.
These applications are currently being examined for completeness and compliance with eligibility requirements as set out in the Scheme Terms and Conditions. Following this process, the applications will be subject to the standard administrative and on the ground verification procedures. Following this, cleared files will be processed for payment.
The county breakdown of the applications received is as follows.
|
County |
Applicants |
|
Cork |
82 |
|
Donegal |
25 |
|
Galway |
22 |
|
Kerry |
7 |
|
Kilkenny |
1 |
|
Longford |
4 |
|
Louth |
2 |
|
Mayo |
4 |
|
Meath |
2 |
|
Roscommon |
6 |
|
Tipperary |
4 |
|
Waterford |
1 |
|
Wexford |
2 |
|
162 |
1416. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who are active in the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, who are eligible for GLAS+ payments; the estimated average payment for eligible persons; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38948/17]
View answerBased on the current participation levels in GLAS 1 and 2, there are 2,633 applicants deemed eligible for GLAS+ payments.
It is only when the 2017 payment processing is complete that the average annual GLAS+ value for GLAS 1, GLAS 2 and GLAS 3 participants will be available.
1417. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of a complaint submitted by a person (details supplied); if his Department has sought a report from the county council named; if other agencies of the State have been contacted by his Department to assist in the investigation of the matter; if the contractors or subcontractors for the roads contracts have been interviewed or investigated; if the chief executive of the council involved has submitted a report on the complaint; if the dumping was supervised by council staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36873/17]
View answerThe primary responsibility for the management of any waste, including costs for removal or disposal, lies with the holder of the waste, i.e. the natural or legal person in possession of the waste, or the producer of the waste. The Waste Management Act 1996 (as amended) imposes a general duty of care on holders of waste, under which a person may not hold, transport, recover or dispose of waste in a manner that causes, or is likely to cause, environmental pollution. Penalties for serious dumping offences provided for under the Waste Management Acts are substantial. Persons who are found to be responsible for, or involved in, the unauthorised disposal of waste are liable to a maximum fine of €3,000 on summary conviction and/or imprisonment for up to 12 months, and to a maximum fine of €15 million on conviction on indictment and/or imprisonment for up to 10 years.
Enforcement actions against illegal waste activity are statutorily a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement within the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). I understand that the local authority concerned continue to engage with the EPA with respect to this complaint. As the statutory agency with responsibility for enforcement of waste legislation, the EPA is the appropriate agency for adjudicating on and pursuing such cases.
Under section 60(3) of the Waste Management Act 1996, as Minister, I am precluded from exercising any power or control in relation to the performance by the EPA or a local authority, in particular circumstances, of a statutory function vested in it, including enforcement functions.
1418. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the guidelines in place to ensure persons are made aware that lo-call 1890 numbers may be more expensive to call from a mobile than landlines; his plans to ensure persons calling State offices are aware of this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37429/17]
View answerThe matter raised in the Question is a customer service issue for each individual public body including Government Departments. The use and display of telephone numbers is an area in which I have no statutory function. The Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) manages and administers the National Numbering Scheme which lists all numbers and codes that are available for use on public telecommunications networks. ComReg, which is independent in the exercise of its functions, has established a variety of access code types, in accordance with international norms, including:
- geographic numbering where charges are incurred by the caller at a local or national rate;
- 1850 numbers which share the costs between the caller and the service provider at a fixed rate when called from a fixed line number, and
- 1890 numbers which share the costs between the caller and the service provider having regard to the duration of the call when called from a fixed line number.
I understand that ComReg has recently launched a public consultation in relation to non-geographic numbers with a view to increasing transparency on the pricing of calls on these lines.
I welcome this significant initiative by ComReg which will be of benefit to all consumers. It will also strengthen the Regulator’s role in consumer protection. It represents a useful opportunity for the public and all stakeholders to engage with ComReg on its proposals that will enhance transparency on pricing and streamline number ranges to improve services for users. I would encourage people to participate and contribute in the consultation process and make their views known. The consultation documents and relevant documentation together with an infographic, research findings and proposals are all available on ComReg’s website at www.comreg.ie/ngnreview. The consultation period will run until 12 October 2017.
While I cannot compel public bodies including Government Departments and offices to use or display any particular telephone access codes in preference to alternative codes available, I would draw the Deputy's attention to arrangements in my Department which operates an 1890 lo-call option for users contacting my Department from fixed line numbers and a standard 01-6782000 access code which allows mobile phone users to contact my Department at the standard rate charged by their service provider or within their bundled minutes package. Other Government Departments offering a lo-call number also offer a standard phone number which can be accessed both from within and outside Ireland and which may be less expensive for mobile users to use.
1419. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will impose a ban on fishing within 64 m of the weir at a location (details supplied) [37544/17]
View answerI have requested Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the State body with responsibility for the inland fisheries resource, to consider the need for a Bye-law as suggested in the question and to provide me with appropriate scientific and management advice.
I have been informed by IFI that no requests for such a measure on behalf of the local angling groups has been received.
One local individual recently indicated his intention to submit a proposal for a Byelaw restricting angling in the area of the fish pass, once planned remedial works to be carried out by the Local Authority to repair a breach in the weir cap are complete.
While I understand that the Local Authority has not commenced the proposed works, I will have IFI consider the matter.
1420. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the allocation in each of the past ten years per annum for the restocking of hatcheries and rivers; and the areas in current and capital expenditure in which it has been spent. [38492/17]
View answerInland Fisheries Ireland (IFI), the state agency responsible for the protection, management and conservation of Ireland's inland fisheries and sea angling resources was established in July 2010 following an amalgamation of the former Central and 7 Regional Fishery Boards. Details of overall out-turns from Exchequer allocations to IFI, in the period 2011 (IFI's first full year of operation) to date, to support its wide range of functions are set out in the table below.
The allocation is not disaggregated between operational functions and there is, consequently, no specific allocation for hatcheries and spawning beds. The support of all functions is a day to day operational matter for the Board of IFI.
In addition, IFI generates own income, which is used to contribute to its overall spend. Details of own income is also detailed in the table.
|
Year |
Exchequer Allocation |
Own Income |
|
2011 |
€24,945,000 |
€4,994,312 |
|
2012 |
€25,448,000 |
€5,224,981 |
|
2013 |
€28,258,604 |
€4,573,509 |
|
2014 |
€24,417,000 |
€4,177,793 |
|
2015 |
€23,875,624 |
€2,954,681 |
|
2016 |
€26,803,338 |
€2,615,225 (Subject to Audit) |
|
2017 |
€26,578,000 |
€2,900,000 (estimated) |
1421. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when he plans to bring forward amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36787/17]
View answer1422. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his legislative plans to provide for the collection of readmission fees by broadcasters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36788/17]
View answer1425. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the licence fee revenue he expects will be retained on an annual basis for the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland, BAI; the impact this will have on revenue for broadcasting companies (details supplied), in view of the proposed head 2 of the general scheme of the Broadcasting (Amendment) Bill 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36791/17]
View answer1441. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the changes he is planning on making to the funding of public broadcasting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37727/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1421, 1422, 1425 and 1441 together.
As the Deputy will be aware, I have obtained Government approval to proceed with the drafting of a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009 including amendment of the provisions of the Act relating to the broadcasting levy to alleviate the burden on broadcasters. The proposals provide that a portion of the licence fee receipts will be paid to BAI to help defray their administrative costs. This will reduce the overall levy to be paid by the sector and would be applied evenly across all broadcasters. The amount of the reduction would be contingent on the overall level of licence fee receipts.
The proposals also provide for the introduction of a new funding scheme to offer bursaries to journalists working in local or community radio stations and to provide for tendering for TV Licence fee collection.
The proposed amendments are currently being considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action and Environment under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.
1423. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans for legislation to ensure that pay television providers operating here must ensure subscribers have a television licence before entering into a contract; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36789/17]
View answer1424. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment his plans to progress the legislation previously approved by Cabinet that would allow the television licence collection agent access to the subscription data of pay television providers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36790/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1423 and 1424 together.
As the Deputy is aware, I have obtained Government approval to proceed with the drafting of a number of legislative amendments to the Broadcasting Act 2009. The proposed amendments are currently being considered by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Communications, Climate Action & Environment under Pre-Legislative Scrutiny.
The previous Government gave approval for the preparation of legislation to enable the TV Licence Collection Agent (currently An Post) to access the subscription data held by TV service providers. This proposal is not being pursued in the current amendments.
The issue of subscriber contracts is a commercial matter between the subscriber and the contract provider and I have no role in relation to such contracts.
1426. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he has given further consideration to the concerns outlined by public representatives in counties Cavan, Monaghan and Meath in relation to the draft terms of reference for the independent study in relation to the proposed North-South interconnector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36861/17]
View answerI have approved the appointment of independent experts to carry out this study and their work has commenced. The consultants are: Bo Normark (Chair), Prof. Ronnie Belmans and Prof. Keith Bell. This Independent Expert Group is expected to deliver their final report by 31 January 2018. The terms of reference fulfil the central point of the motions that were passed in both Houses. That is to “examine the technical feasibility and cost of undergrounding the North-South Interconnector, taking into account the most recent developments in technology and experience gained from existing projects abroad” .
There were three key areas of concern raised in the meetings that I held with Oireachtas members both prior to and after the publication of the terms of reference and also in the meetings that my officials held with Monaghan Anti-Pylon Committee and North East Pylon Pressure Campaign. The first two of these – construction and operation costs, and technical feasibility – are included in the terms of reference.
A third strand of issues were raised in these meetings, but these cannot be included. Firstly, An Bord Pleanála and the statutory planning process is the appropriate method by which such impacts are assessed and evaluated. Secondly, it is not possible to quantify such impacts with any degree of certainty. As such, it would therefore be a qualitative assessment. However, as the level of compensation provided to land and property owners is considered to be a reflection of the impact of such factors on land and property values, I have commissioned an additional study to focus on the "Levels of Compensation Provided to Land and Property Owners in Proximity to High-Voltage Transmission Lines in a European Context." This study will deliver a significant body of independently collated information on comparative practices in a number of jurisdictions. My Department is currently finalising the procurement of the necessary expertise to complete this study, and the study is expected to be completed in early 2018.
1427. Deputy Brendan Howlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of political staff employed in his Department, including parliamentary assistants, secretarial assistants, special advisers, drivers and other relevant positions; the number of civil or public service staff seconded to work within his Department or constituency offices; the salaries and job titles of each such person; the duty or role of each, in each of the years 2015 to 2016, and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36949/17]
View answerThe information sought by the Deputy is set out in the tables:
|
2015 |
- |
|
Minister White |
|
|
Position |
Salary per annum |
|
Special Adviser to Minister |
€82,587 |
|
Special Adviser to Minister |
€91,624 |
|
Personal Secretary |
€23,820 |
|
Personal Assistant |
€49,790 |
|
Civilian Driver x 2 |
€34,700 |
|
2016 |
- |
|
|
|
|
Minister White (up to 6/5/16) |
|
|
Position |
Salary per annum |
|
Special Adviser to Minister |
€82,587 |
|
Special Adviser to Minister |
€91,624 |
|
Personal Secretary |
€23,820 |
|
Personal Assistant |
€49,790 |
|
Civilian Driver x 2 |
€34,700 |
|
|
|
|
Minister Naughten (6/5/16)* |
|
|
Position |
Salary per annum |
|
Special Adviser to Minister (appointed 27/06/2016) |
€88,936 |
|
Special Adviser to Minister (appointed 13/06/2016) |
€79,401 |
|
Civilian Driver (appointed 09/05/2016) |
€34,700 |
|
Civilian Driver (appointed 30/05/2016) |
€34,700 |
*With effect from the 32nd Dáil, Personal Secretaries and Personal Assistants of office holders are paid under the Scheme for Secretarial Assistance by the Houses of the Oireachtas, not by the individual Department.
|
2017 to Date |
- |
- |
|
Minister Naughten |
||
|
Position |
Salary per annum |
Pay adjustments in accordance with the Financial Emergency Measures Act wef 1/4/17 |
|
Special Adviser to Minister (appointed 27/06/2016) |
€88,936 |
€91,716 |
|
Special Adviser to Minister (appointed 13/06/2016) |
€79,401 |
€81,767 |
|
Civilian Driver (appointed 09/05/2016) |
€34,700 |
€35,700 |
|
Civilian Driver (appointed 30/05/2016) |
€34,700 |
€35,700 |
|
|
|
|
|
Minister Of State Kyne** (wef 20/06/2017 – re-appointed as Minister of State ) |
|
|
|
Position |
Salary per annum |
|
|
Civilian Driver (appointed 09/05/2016) |
€35,700 |
|
|
Civilian Driver (appointed 30/05/2016) |
€35,700 |
|
**Minister of States Staff for 2015 & 2016 and 2017 (up to 19/6/17) were paid by Department of Arts Heritage and the Gaeltacht.
No civil or public servants were seconded to work within my department or constituency officers for the periods in question. The numbers of civil service staff assigned to both my private and constituency offices are within the limits prescribed by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform guidelines.
