Written Answers Nos 933-956
933. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the decision not to provide compensation for farmers that lost their potato and grain crops as a result of the flooding in County Donegal in August 2017 will be reconsidered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46429/17]
View answerThe Deputy will be aware I visited the affected areas in County Donegal with my Government colleague Minster of State Joe McHugh following the exceptional rainfall of August 22 last to see at first-hand some of the very significant problems that a number of farmers faced as a result. I committed during my visit to supporting these farmers.
In the immediate aftermath of the flood I prioritised the availability of support by means of the Animal Welfare Helpline which includes responding to urgent requirements for emergency feed provision. In addition advice was provided to affected farmers in dealing with the immediate challenges that arose.
The principal and most widespread impacts of the floods on farms in the Inishowen Peninsula centred on damage to land, fencing, fodder and livestock. To address these pressing issues in the most effective manner I introduced a targeted measure of assistance. Support under this measure applies to losses of livestock, conserved fodder (Hay or Silage) and as a contribution towards the clean-up cost of agricultural lands, including repair to fences, damaged by debris washed up by the floods. The measure is subject to the provisions of EU de minimis state aid rules in the agriculture sector and only losses not covered by insurance are eligible for consideration.
As I indicated previously, while it is not possible to address all of the problems the unprecedented rainfall caused on farms this measure is, in my view, a most comprehensive, timely and appropriate response to the main difficulties farmers there had to deal with. The measure closed for applications on Friday 29 September and these are now being processed as quickly as possible. On-the-spot verification of applications for support is also fully underway and will be concluded shortly.
934. Deputy Michael Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the options that will be available to farmers that do not have Internet access for 2018 when applying for area aid in view of the fact the application is due to move to an online procedure from now on. [46431/17]
View answerUnder EU Regulations, there are specific requirements with regard to aid applications for area related schemes. One such requirement is that all applications are required to be submitted online from 2018 onwards. Farmers can apply online themselves at www.agfood.ie, or authorise an approved agricultural agent to do so on their behalf.
In recent years there has been steady growth in the number of farmers who apply online for the Basic Payment Scheme, and in 2017 some 114,000 farmers did so. In order to support this move to online application, my Department has put a range of supports in place to assist applicants. For example, in 2016 and 2017 officials from my Department held clinics in a number of locations around the country to provide one-to-one assistance to farmers in making their applications online and to answer any queries regarding the application process individuals may have.
It is intended that a similar range of supports will be put in place to support the move to 100% online applications in 2018. While these supports have not been finalised at this stage, it is expected that they will include the provision of online and written guidance materials, the provision of telephone helplines and a further series of support clinics for farmers around the country. In advance of the 2018 application period, farmers will be notified of the range of different supports that my Department will be making available.
The supports offered in previous years have been well received by farmers, and I am committed to supporting farmers in applying online in 2018 to ensure that they can avail of the benefits that online application offers.
935. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to bring all animal-related legislation under the responsibility of one department rather than three separate departments as currently is the case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46435/17]
View answerThe key change introduced into the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 was to bring all aspects of animal welfare under the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. This has led to improved enforcement of the law in the area of welfare. My officials have been assisted in this work by authorised officers from a number of animal welfare charities. There are no plans to go beyond this change at the present time.
936. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 to ban wild animal circuses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46436/17]
View answerOfficials of my Department have recently completed an on-site assessment of all animals employed in the circuses which operate within this jurisdiction.
A report on this assessment is currently being finalised.
937. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names of the special advisers employed in his Department; the names of special advisers to junior ministers in his Department; the annual salary of each adviser; if these persons were special advisers immediately prior to taking up their current role or immediately prior to the June 2017 Cabinet reshuffle; if so, the minister to which they were appointed to; the date each special adviser was appointed with effect as stated in the government order; the date of the Government order; if they received a salary for the period before the appointment order was signed in the case of special advisers whose appointment order date has an effect date earlier than the order date; if so, by whom they were paid; if a special adviser during a period later backdated by appointment order had access to confidential material and or Cabinet papers; if they were subject to the Official Secrets Act 1963 during this period; if any persons currently employed as special advisers have not yet been appointed by order since the Cabinet reshuffle of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46460/17]
View answerAs of Friday 3 November, the names of my special advisers within the Department are: Ms. Aine Kilroy and Mr. Jonathon Hoare. There is currently no special adviser assigned to Minister Doyle. Both Ms. Kilroy and Mr. Hoare were in there respective roles prior to the Cabinet reshuffle of June 2017.
The current salary scale for Ministerial Advisers is: Special Advisor (Principal Officer) €79,401.00 - €91,624.00
The date of appointment of Ms. Kilroy and Mr. Hoare as stated in the Government Order is 14 June 2017. The order was signed on 19 September 2017.
It is my understanding that there is no clear prohibition on the retrospective appointment of Special Advisers. Furthermore there is no general prohibition on making statutory provisions retrospective, unless they interfere with established rights and in the case of an administrative difficulty, it is both permissible and common to apply the provision retrospectively.
All Ministerial advisers are subject to the Official Secrets Act.
938. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce CCTV and security grants for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46597/17]
View answerThe TAMS II Scheme already provides attractive grant rates for a number of safety measures on farms including yard lights.
There are no plans currently to grant aid CCTV under the TAMS II measures.
939. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are plans by Coillte to upgrade a park (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46599/17]
View answerCoillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the development of recreational facilities on its lands, are the responsibility of the company.
The matter was, however, raised with Coillte who advise that it is Ireland’s largest provider of outdoor recreation with 12 forest parks, 290 recreation sites and more than 3,000 kilometres of waymarked trails nationwide. Coillte advises, in relation to this specific forest park, that other than routine maintenance and upkeep of the existing facilities, Coillte has no development plans for the forest park in the medium term. Coillte added that this does not preclude that development works would not be carried out there in the future and that Coillte will commence an assessment of all forest parks in 2018.
940. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46604/17]
View answerI am advised that the practice of pair trawling in inshore waters and estuaries, including Kenmare Bay, around Ireland is confined to fishing for sprat. The Irish Wildlife Trust also identifies sprat as the target species for this activity.
Sprat is a short-lived species and an important prey fish for many marine species thus vital to the ocean food chain as well as an important source of income for inshore fishermen.
The central objective of the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) is to ensure that fishing and aquaculture activities are environmentally sustainable in the long term through the conservation and sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources and the management of fisheries and fleets exploiting such resources. Ireland is committed to ensuring the conservation of the seabirds and marine life around our coast through the Birds and Habitats Directive, among other instruments.
Sprat in Irish waters is not a species subject to fishing quotas or Total Allowable Catches established under EU regulation. Scientifically, relatively little is known about the sprat species. The International Council of the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) considers sprat to be a data limited stock which means that more detailed data is required in order to form a full understanding of the state of the stock.
Available scientific information is that sprat in Ireland spawn from January to June with a fishery normally taking place from October to Christmas. This is a fortuitous situation, allowing some degree of reproductive output as the fishery takes place after the fish have been able to spawn. The Marine Institute advise that there is no evidence that spawning sprat are or ever have been targeted in Irish fisheries nor is there evidence that sprat actually spawn inshore. That of course is not to deny that they are easily targeted inshore when they occur there.
In order to address the lack of accurate information in respect of the sprat stocks in the waters around Ireland, a three year research project, partially funded by industry, commenced in October 2014 and is now in its final stage, under the auspices of the Marine Institute in cooperation with the Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology.
This project aims to develop an accurate and detailed understanding of the stock structure of sprat around Ireland. It will determine whether the sprat in Irish coastal waters is one stock or several separate stocks and it aims to increase our understanding of their role in the broader marine ecosystem. This data will in turn contribute to the ICES assessment of the vulnerability or otherwise of sprat in the waters around Ireland.
In addition to this research project, the Marine Institute is committed to working closely with Industry to obtain increased observer coverage in the sprat fisheries. Six such observer trips (five off Donegal and one off the South West Coast) have taken place in the past four weeks with more proposed in November. The purpose of the observer scheme is twofold:
- To obtain biological information on the resource itself and on any other fishery bycatch, ie herring, juvenile mackerel, etc.
- To obtain information on any bycatch this fishery might have of protected, endangered and threatened species, under the European maritime and fisheries fund (EMFF) marine biodiversity scheme such as marine mammals, seabirds and listed fish species.
It is expected that these projects/observer schemes will allow for more intensive data collection and enhanced scientific knowledge on the sprat stock thus supporting any future management actions considered necessary including the issue of pair trawling.
On the issue of sea-lice, this is managed by the Marine Institute on behalf of the State. The sea lice monitoring and control programme in place in Ireland is comprehensive and transparent with all farms inspected 14 times per annum by independent inspectors from the Marine Institute. The results are circulated to all interested parties monthly and published annually . The Irish monitoring and control programme is unique in that it is completely independent of industry and the full results are published. It is comprehensive in that all farms and all sites are inspected.
These protocols are considered to be more advanced than those operated in other jurisdictions for the following reasons:
- The inspection regime is totally independent of the industry.
- Data obtained as a result of inspections is published and made widely available.
- Treatment trigger levels are set at a low level.
The monitoring and control programme in Ireland has been acknowledged by the Environment Directorate (DG Environment) of the EU Commission as representing international best practice.
941. Deputy Eugene Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the debt recovery section of his Department is permitted to impose interest rate charges on moneys it is seeking to recoup as a result of overpayments or fines in view of the fact that it is not licensed by the Central Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46623/17]
View answerMy Department is obliged to charge interest on overpayments in accordance with Article 27 (1) of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 908/2014 of 6 August 2014 which states that "the interest on undue payments to be recovered as a consequence of irregularity or negligence, shall be calculated for the period elapsing between the expiry of the payment deadline for the beneficiary indicated in the recovery order and the date of the repayment or deduction". Article 27 (2) of the same regulation further states that "the interest rate to be applied shall in any case not be lower than the interest rate provided for by national law for the recovery of comparable undue expenditures or for the collection of receivables due". The interest rate currently in operation is 3% as set down in Statutory Instrument 13/2006 - European Communities (Recovery of Amounts) (Amendment) Regulations 2006.
942. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to intervene and establish strict regulations for greyhound owners with regard to exporting dogs to countries in which they have been documented as suffering abuse and cruelty; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46657/17]
View answerTrade within the EU of dogs, including greyhounds, is governed by EU law.
Under EU law, dogs moved to another EU country from Ireland must be accompanied by an EU pet passport, be microchipped, and have a valid rabies vaccination.
Also under EU law, a premises exporting dogs must be registered with my Department. Before travel, dogs must undergo a clinical examination by an authorised veterinarian, who must verify that the animals show no obvious signs of disease and are fit to be transported. Dogs must also have a health certificate issued by a Department veterinarian. Exporters must comply with EU law on the protection of animals during transport.
This ensures that only healthy dogs, over the age of 15 weeks, are allowed to be exported.
Officials of my Department have met with Bord na gCon and with the welfare members of the International Greyhound Forum, which includes the Dogs Trust and the ISPCA, to consider issues around the export of greyhounds. Bord na gCon is also a member of this Forum.
Bord na gCon advises all owners involved in the export of greyhounds to only export to destinations that provide the expected levels of greyhound care and management as defined in its Code of Practice. I fully endorse this view.
943. Deputy Maureen O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to allow external welfare officers or welfare officers appointed from his Department to inspect greyhound kennels in view of the fact that to date the welfare officers are appointed by the IGB which is not a transparent system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46658/17]
View answerThe IGB officers are being appointed to assist the work of authorised officers of my Department in the animal welfare area. I am satisfied that the IGB officers have the requisite experience.
944. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 300 of 24 October 2017, if he will address the specific query regarding the progress of development by Coillte of mountain bike trails in the Clydagh Valley and south County Kerry area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46660/17]
View answerCoillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the development of recreational facilities on its lands, are the responsibility of the company.
The matter was, however, raised with Coillte, who advised that, as mentioned in my earlier reply, it issued the ‘Off-road cycling Strategy’ in 2012 that set out the plan for the future management and development of off-road cycling on Coillte lands. I outlined, in my previous response, the position in relation to the candidate site at Rossacroo forest close to Killarney. With reference to the further two sites assessed in the South Kerry area for mountain bike trails, I am advised that one of these was in the Clydagh Valley but, as the two sites did not comply with the required criteria for development, the projects were not progressed in these locations.
I am also advised Coillte are not planning any development of a mountain bike trail in the Clydagh valley or South Kerry area at present.
945. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of compensation for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46686/17]
View answerThe primary compensation scheme for farmers whose herds are affected by TB is the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme under which compensation is payable for cattle removed as reactors.
Entitlement to compensation is conditional on herdowners complying with the provisions of National and EU legislative requirements and controls relating to animal welfare, disease, movement and identification.
In relation to the herdowner in question an inspection was required on the holding and this took place on 3 November. Payment to the herdowner is currently being processed in the Regional Veterinary Office and it is expected that it will issue early next week.
946. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sheep imported from the UK and Northern Ireland in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46687/17]
View answerThe intra EU movement of animals is recorded on the Trade Control and Expert System (TRACES), which is the EU-wide online management tool for all sanitary requirements on intra-EU trade and importation of animals, semen and embryo, food, feed and plants. Movements are recorded at the level of Member State only on TRACES.
However, no figures are available from TRACES for the period prior to 2016.
The totals of sheep imported from Northern Ireland to Ireland based on figures recorded by my Department’s Animal Identification and Movement (AIM) system for the years 2010 – 2015 inclusive are in the table. Figures available from TRACES for 2016 and up to 1 November 2017 showing imports from the United Kingdom are also presented below.
|
Year |
No of sheep imported from Northern Ireland |
|
2010 |
390,534 |
|
2011 |
462,091 |
|
2012 |
406,619 |
|
2013 |
438,616 |
|
2014 |
378,699 |
|
2015 |
335,349 |
|
Year |
No of sheep imported from UK incl Northern Ireland |
|
2016 |
374,902 |
|
2017 (to date) |
388,517 |
Whilst TRACES provide no further breakdown at a level lower than Member State the vast majority of sheep imported from the United Kingdom are imported directly from Northern Ireland.
947. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons still waiting on grant payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46696/17]
View answerThe total number of applicants who applied for the TAMS II Schemes in Co. Wexford is 792. Of these 593 applicants have received approval to undertake the work applied for.
115 farmers have completed their investments and have submitted a claim for payment. Payments can only issue when the work has been completed and a payment claim has been submitted. Payments have issued in 77 cases to date.
Approvals and payments continue on an on going basis.
These figures are set out in the following table:
|
Applications Received |
Approved |
Payment Claims Received |
Claims Paid |
|
792 |
593 |
115 |
77 |
948. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter regarding a forestry payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46697/17]
View answerThe forest owner in question has been assigned forest premiums at the non-farmer rate (15 years). The applicant planted his lands in 2012 but has not provided valid proof of farming activity in accordance with the particular scheme rules.
Under the Afforestation Scheme rules applying at the time that the applicant entered the Scheme, he would be assigned forest premiums at the farmer rate (20 years) if he could prove farming activity for either the year of completion (2012) or one of the previous three years. It must be noted that an active Department ID (Equine No) assigned following the year of completion was not acceptable under the Scheme rules.
If, over the term of the contract (15 years ), the applicant can submit farmer proof in accordance with the Scheme rules the issue of the premium status assigned can be revisited and the applicant has previously been informed of this.
949. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legal cost in respect of a case (details supplied) which concluded recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46718/17]
View answerThe decision of Supreme Court Justice O'Donnell was delivered on 18 October 2017 in relation to this case. Both parties had sought to appeal various aspects of the decision of the High Court. The Supreme Court struck out both appeals and varied the High Court Order reducing the general damages awarded to Mr. Hanrahan while increasing the valuation of his cattle. The issue of costs in this case remains outstanding and as such it would not be appropriate for me to make any comment in relation to costs at this time.
950. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legal cost to date of a case (details supplied) which his department has appealed to the Supreme Court; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46719/17]
View answerThe current position is that the case in question is pending before the Court of Appeal rather than the Supreme Court and has been listed for hearing on 16 October 2018. No costs have been paid to date in relation to these proceedings and as the dispute is still ongoing, it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this time.
951. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if amoebic gill disease, pancreatic disease and cardiomyopathy was present at a farm (details supplied) in County Cork during the summer of 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46830/17]
View answerThe diseases referred to by the Deputy are not listed in EU Council Directive 2006/88/EC and do not therefore require mandatory notification.
The specific information requested by the Deputy is of a commercially sensitive nature and, therefore, it would not be appropriate for me to comment.
952. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of notifications of increased levels of mortalities on salmon farms in the past two years under SI 261 of 2008 (details supplied). [46831/17]
View answerThe Marine Institute has advised my Department that it received 41 notifications of increased mortalities on salmon farms in the period referred to by the Deputy under the provisions of Regulation 9(2) of SI 261 of 2008.
953. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has addressed the requirement of operators to comply with SI 261 of 2008. [46832/17]
View answerThe Marine Institute, as the Competent Authority, is charged with the implementation of all aspects of SI No 261 of 2008 other than Regulation 37 (relating to offences). Enquiries to the Marine Institute may be sent to the following address:-
Marine Institute
Fish Health Unit
Rinville
Oranmore
Co. Galway
www.marine.ie
954. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Marine Institute with the assistance of the national risk assessment committee has addressed the presence of amoebic gill disease, pancreatic disease and cardiomyopathy; and if it was determined that immediate eradication is required. [46833/17]
View answerMy Department has been advised by the Marine Institute that the National Risk Assessment Committee assists the Institute with decision making in relation to potential eradication measures in the event of the detection of a non-exotic disease or a disease for which Ireland has been granted national measures in the context of Council Directive 2006/88/EC. Amoebic Gill Disease, Pancreas Disease and Cardiomyopathy Syndrome are not listed in this Directive and are therefore not considered by this Committee.
955. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason underpasses are not included for grant aid under TAMS; his plans to include it under the next tranche of TAMS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46835/17]
View answerThe TAMS II Scheme has been very successful to date in terms of uptake with the number of approvals that have issued to date exceeding 11,500. All of these approvals represent committed expenditure under the TAMS II measure of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020. Until such time as these approvals are acted upon or expire the budget for TAMS must include provision for the potential expenditure involved. A total budget of €395m is available under TAMS II for a suite of seven measures covering a wide range of investments.
Of the applications approved just under 2,500 payment claims have been received to date, representing 21% of approvals. `Payment claims submitted have been paid in over 75% of cases and these continue to be paid on an ongoing basis. However, until such time as the works applied for and approved have been completed and payment claims submitted, payments cannot issue. All participants who have completed approved works are urged to submit their payment claims immediately to facilitate early payment.
Approvals and payments continue to issue on an on- going basis for the comprehensive list of investments already included in the suite of seven existing TAMS measures. The existing investments under the TAMS II Schemes are very comprehensive and there are no plans at present to amend the list of investments available under TAMS to include underpasses.
956. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a study prepared for the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the potential impact of Brexit on the agriculture industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46842/17]
View answer957. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to raise with the EU Council of Agriculture Ministers the concerns outlined in the report prepared for the European Parliament's Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development regarding the likely impact of Brexit on the agriculture industry with particular reference to border controls here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46843/17]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 956 and 957 together.
The report referred to is a very useful contribution to the range of research and analysis that has been carried out on the potential implications of Brexit for the agri-food and fisheries sectors. The detailed findings of the report will be assessed, but the key findings confirm what we already know, which is that Ireland will be the most severely affected of the EU27 Member States by the impact of Brexit, and that the agri-food sector is the most exposed sector of the economy because of its particular reliance on the UK market and the highly integrated nature of Ireland-UK agri-food trade.
We are fully aware of this, and have been responding accordingly. Budget 2017 and Budget 2018 contained immediate and practical measures such as new low-cost loan schemes and increased funding to Bord Bia to help the agrifood and fisheries sectors in particular to deal with the immediate impacts of Brexit.
Our approach to the negotiations on the future relationship will be to ensure that the future EU-UK trading relationship will be as close to the current arrangements as possible.
I am continuing to engage, both informally and bilaterally, with my counterparts in the other Member States. At the Agri-Fish Council meeting in Luxembourg last month, I raised the issue of the impact of Brexit on Ireland’s agri-food and fisheries sectors to ensure it remains at the forefront as the negotiations evolve.
