Thursday, 18 Jan 2018

Written Answers Nos. 246-258

Common Agricultural Policy Reform

Questions (246)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

246. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the policy view in the EU communication 'The Future of Food and Farming Communication' which proposes to delegate to member state level the design and delivery of some CAP measures which are under the EU’s remit; his further views on concerns that the new delivery mechanism proposing that member states tailor implementing measures to local circumstances would jeopardise the level playing field among farmers; and his views on whether moves to renationalise farm rules add further complexity to CAP schemes. [2662/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The European Commission published its CAP Communication titled “The Future of Food and Farming” on 29 November 2017.

The Communication proposes a simpler CAP, with a sharper focus on objectives and results, particularly in the environmental area. A key proposal of the Communication offers greater freedom for Member States to implement CAP in a manner which suits their own climatic and environmental conditions, with basic policy parameters and objectives laid down at EU level. This would require Member States to develop a simple CAP Strategic Plan, to be approved by the Commission, which would cover both Pillar I and Pillar II interventions.

As a proponent of subsidiarity, I am glad this features in the Communication in a significant way. Nonetheless reconciling this ambition with administrative simplification will not be easy.  Although the Communication proposes a simpler planning process than that currently in place for Rural Development Programmes, Member States will have to work hard together to ensure that this does not lead to further complexity, and that integrity of the single market is preserved.

My Department is currently reviewing the Communication in advance of legislative provisions to be presented by the Commission in mid 2018.

Beef Data and Genomics Programme

Questions (247)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

247. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the areas he will target with underspend from the beef data and genomics programme in view of the fact that only €37 million will issue in 2017 payments behind the annual €52 million originally committed under the scheme when launched. [2664/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department provides a number of supports to the suckler herd. A range of direct payments and  grant schemes provide vital income and investment support to the suckler sector, including BPS, ANC, GLAS and TAMS.

The Beef Data and Genomics Programme is the main support specifically targeted for the suckler sector, which will provide Irish beef farmers with some €300 million of funding over the lifetime of the current RDP.  Last April the BDGP was reopened to beef suckler farmers who were not already part of the scheme. BDGP provides for payments to farmers for completion of actions which deliver accelerated genetic improvement in the national herd and improvement of its environmental sustainability.

€38.2m was paid in 2017 in respect of the 2017 scheme year. However, €46.2m was actually paid in 2017 in respect of 2017 and earlier scheme years, along with training and carbon navigator payments. Payments for the 2017 scheme year will continue to be made as further herds become compliant. The final spend will not be fully quantified until all payments to applicants for their actions in 2017 have been completed.

Estimates Process

Questions (248)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

248. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the €23,800,000 granted for capital supply services of unspent appropriations in the 2018 Estimates for public services for his Department (details supplied). [2665/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The €23,800,000 unspent appropriations to be carried forward into 2018 is comprised of Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (€12.8m), Afforestation and Forestry Development, (€7m) and Bord Iascaigh Mhara (€4m).

Organic Farming Scheme Payments

Questions (249)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

249. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the 2017 organic scheme payments. [2666/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In 2017, payments totalling €8.8m were made under the Organic Farming Scheme to 1,642 farmers.  With specific regard to advance payments to farmers for 2017, these payments commenced in December in line with the Department's commitment. A total of €4.2m has issued to date to 831 participants.  Payments to the remaining farmers are being processed and will continue to issue when complete.

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Questions (250)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

250. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on increasing the grant rate available for low emissions slurry spreading equipment to at least 60%. [2669/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The support for the Low Emission Slurry Spreading Measure (LESS) under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS II) is, subject to the terms and conditions of the Scheme, at a general grant rate of 40% rising to 60% for qualifying farmers under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme. These grant rates are set in Ireland's Rural Development Programme. There has been significant uptake under this measure and there are no plans to increase these grant rates.

The maximum amount of investment eligible for grant aid under the LESS Measure is generally €40,000 per holding. It is also worth noting that the investment ceiling under this measure is, uniquely among all TAMS II measures, not subject to the overall investment ceiling under TAMS II of €80,000 per holding.

The TAMS scheme has been extremely successful with 12,500 approvals for Irish farmers to date. However there remain almost 10,000 of these approvals unused to date and until these applicants submit their payment applications, I am not in a position to consider new investments or grant rates under the scheme.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (251)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

251. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the fact that the December 2017 exchequer returns show that his department ran €78 million behind profile in gross voted expenditure for 2017. [2670/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A total of €80.2m of my Department’s 2017 allocation was not expended, which comprised of almost €63m of the current allocation and €16.7m of the capital with a further €23.8m of capital expenditure being carried over into 2018.  Total expenditure  by my  Department  in 2017 was €1,387m which is the highest level of expenditure since 2011. This is comprised of current spend at €1,167m which was €81m (7%) higher than 2016 and capital expenditure of over €219m, €48m ahead of 2016 which was at its highest level since 2010. I am pleased that the expenditure reflects a very substantial increase in our spending on RDP schemes which reached almost €540m in 2017 compared to €425m in 2016.

Of the €63m of the unspent allocation on the current side the largest gaps compared to estimate  were in GLAS and Knowledge Transfer which together account for just over €42m. Under GLAS, payments reached about 38,000 applicants with the remaining applications still being processed. For Knowledge Transfer the €9m underspend is largely due to slower than anticipated return of payment acknowledgements which must be received from farmers before facilitators are paid. There is also a gap of more than €5m on Food Safety/Animal Health & Welfare & Plant Health due to our relatively low instance of disease and just over €4m across the Seafood Programme  and €3m on our Administrative budget.

The items where capital expenditure was lower than allocated were in Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes,  Afforestation, Forestry Development, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Organic Sector Development and the Remediation of Haulbowline Island.  It can be noted that TAMS expenditure at €31m is about €24m more than 2016.

Forestry Grants

Questions (252)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

252. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of forest premium applicants that have been paid and not paid respectively for 2017. [2671/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Land-owners who planted their land under the Afforestation Grant and Premium Schemes make an application annually for a forestry premium. 13,946 applicants applied to my Department for a 2017 forestry premium.  Of this number, 13,749 applicants have been paid and 197 have not yet been paid. 

There are various reasons why premiums may not have yet been paid.  These would include awaiting confirmation of the applicant’s tax clearance status, a requirement for forest remedial works to be carried out or the application being received in late 2017 and currently being processed.

Question No. 253 answered with Question No. 232.

Inland Fisheries Ireland

Questions (254)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

254. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will address a matter (details supplied) in relation to a report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2451/18]

Written answers

Minister of State at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The business case for vehicle telematics arose from audit recommendations by RSM McClure who conducted a review within Inland Fisheries Ireland (IFI). I am advised by IFI that the report of RSM McClure clearly identified the risks relating to fleet which is mainly focused on legal compliance, value for money and being able to demonstrate visibility on fleet activities. The Score Rating for fleet operation was defined as limited. RSM found a significant risk that the system could fail to meet its objectives. It was recommended that prompt action was required to improve the adequacy and/or effectiveness of governance, risk management and control.

I would emphasise that the primary purpose of a vehicle telematics system is to improve efficiency, productivity, vehicle utilisation, service delivery, value for money, and of paramount importance the security and health and safety of employees. Following a competitive tender process, a company well recognised in the field, was awarded the contract to provide fleet management software and vehicle telematics to IFI.

The tender was awarded on the basis of the review above identifying the need for an electronic solution to ensure legal compliance. The successful tenderer  has over 1000 companies/organisations using this system, some of which are local authorities as well as government agencies such as the Office of Public Works, Irish Coastguard and others.  Other Public Bodies have similar systems in place.

IFI operates within the assigned maximum number of employees as assigned by my Department based on sanction from the Department of Public Expenditure and reform. The filling of any post that becomes vacant is a day to day operational matter for the Board and management of IFI and is reviewed on a case by case basis, in line with the permitted number of employees and the national operational requirements of IFI.

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Questions (255)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

255. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the procurement process will be finalised for the NBP and a contractor appointed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2395/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

The Government's National Broadband Plan (NBP) aims to ensure high speed broadband access (minimum 30 megabits per second) to all premises in Ireland, regardless of location.  The NBP has been a catalyst in encouraging investment by the telecoms sector so that today over 67% of the 2.3m premises in Ireland have access to high speed broadband and this is set to increase to 77% (1.8m premises) by the end of 2018 and to 90% (2.1m premises) by the end of 2020. My Department is in a formal procurement process to select a company or companies who will roll-out a new high speed broadband network in the State intervention area under the NBP. That procurement process is now at an advanced stage. 

The "Detailed Solutions” submitted by two bidders last September are being evaluated by the NBP specialist team. This is the last stage of the procurement process before moving to the final tender stage, which will be followed by the appointment of a preferred bidder(s) and contract signature.

As part of this procurement process, the bidder(s) will be required to submit their strategies, including timescales, for the network build and rollout. My Department will engage with the winning bidder(s) to ensure the most efficient deployment as part of the contract.

Departmental Expenditure

Questions (256)

Dara Calleary

Question:

256. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the reason for the €14 million in capital underspend in his Department as outlined in the fiscal monitor for December 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2492/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

My Department actively manages expenditure each year in order to deliver on its agreed business priorities and objectives. In overall terms, capital expenditure at end 2017 was some €163m out of a total allocation of €183m (including capital carryover from 2017), equating to 89% of profiled expenditure.  €6m of the 2017 capital underspend is being carried forward into 2018, leaving a net capital underspend of €14m. 

The capital underspend in 2017 was due principally to lower than anticipated expenditure in the Communications, Energy and Environment & Waste Management Programme areas. The main reasons for the underspends are set out in the Table.

Programme Area	Reason for Underspend
Communications	Expenditure in relation to the National Broadband Plan project reflected the current stage and complexity of the procurement process.  While 2017 targets under the Trading Online Voucher Scheme were exceeded, the average cost of vouchers was less than estimated, resulting in a lower drawdown under the Scheme.
Energy	Underspends arose within the Sustainable Energy Programmes due, in the main, to slower than expected demand for the Deep Retrofit Scheme, and the delay in the commencement of the Support Scheme for Renewable Heat until 2018. Drawdown of funding support in the energy research area was also less than anticipated.
Environment & Waste Management	Underspend in the waste management area resulted from lower drawdown of grant funding for landfill remediation projects undertaken by Local Authorities, and delays in the repatriation of waste from illegal landfills in Northern Ireland, progress on which is dependent on an Executive being in place in Northern Ireland.   Expenditure on environmental technical research and modelling was also less than anticipated.

Electric Vehicles

Questions (257, 258)

Niamh Smyth

Question:

257. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the number of electric vehicle charge points in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the location of each; the number that are out of order; his plans to introduce more; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2562/18]

Niamh Smyth

Question:

258. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if the electric car charge point in Virginia, County Cavan will be reinstated; if so, the timeframe for same; the reason this facility was removed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2563/18]

Written answers

Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment

I propose to take Questions Nos. 257 and 258 together.

The ESB, through its eCars programme, has rolled out both publicly accessible charging infrastructure and domestic charge points for electric vehicles. There are approximately 900 EV charge points in Ireland of which circa 70 are rapid chargers.  There are charge points located at Carrickmacross, Castleblaney, Clones, Monaghan Town, Bailieborogh, Ballyjamesduff, Cavan Town and Cootehill. A map showing all public charge points in Ireland, including the status and availability of the charge points, is available on the ESB’s website at www.esb.ie/ecars.

The maintenance of these charge points is an operational matter for the ESB and I have asked that the eCars team contact the Deputy directly in relation to the charge point in Virginia.

In March 2014, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities approved an application from ESB Networks to recover the costs of a pilot project to a maximum of €25 million from use of system charges to cover the rollout of this infrastructure. Following a public consultation process, the Commission for Regulation of Utilities published its independent regulatory decision in relation to the ownership of this infrastructure in October 2017. A key outcome of the decision is that the charging network should not form part of the regulated asset base and therefore expansions of the network should not be funded from network charges. This is in keeping with the proposals set out by the European Commission in the Clean Energy for All Europeans package which was published in 2016.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities also envisages the future sale of the infrastructure by ESB Networks. However, the continued ownership of the charging network by ESB Networks for a transitional period of up to ten years is provided for. This ensures no short to medium term impact on the electric vehicle charging infrastructure and allows the ESB to continue to provide electric vehicle charging across Ireland.

The decision also set out the need for the electric vehicle charging infrastructure to operate on a commercial basis. In the absence of State-led support, this is unlikely to happen in the near term.  Funding has been allocated in my Department's budget this year to support the provision of public charging, with a particular focus on increasing the number of rapid chargers on key national routes.

The Low Emissions Vehicle Taskforce, which is co-chaired by my Department and the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, is considering a range of measures and options available to Government to accelerate the deployment of electric vehicles. A key focus of the work of the Taskforce is examining options for infrastructure, regulation and pricing in order to devise a sustainable policy framework for effective and efficient electric vehicle charging.  This includes examining options for the provision of public charging.