Tuesday, 17 Apr 2018

Written Answers Nos. 1101-1117

GLAS Payments

Questions (1101)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1101. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15899/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The GLAS payments due to person named are fully up to date, with the exception of the GLAS plus advance payment which is expected to be processed shortly.

GLAS Payments

Questions (1102)

Dara Calleary

Question:

1102. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of outstanding GLAS payments by county; the period of time that each application is delayed; the steps his Department has taken to alleviate the issues surrounding delayed GLAS payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15903/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The information requested is provided below in tabular form.  As of 12 April, 46,835 participants have received a 2017 advance payment. This represents over 98% of all eligible applicants. There will be another payment run this week also.

The majority of the remaining cases are the responsibility of the applicant and the payment is delayed due to the applicant failing to meet his or her obligations under the scheme. I would encourage all applicants to ensure that any outstanding issues are resolved in order to allow the Department to make the payment

Once cases are cleared payment issues without delay and weekly updates are published on my Department's website.

Payments

-	GLAS 1		GLAS 2		GLAS 3		TOTAL
County	Advance paid	Adv not paid	Advance paid	Adv not paid	Advance paid	Adv not paid	Advance paid	Adv not paid
Carlow	261	10	115	9	124	3	500	22
Cavan	871	29	401	26	521	13	1,793	68
Clare	1,531	66	651	30	783	23	2,965	119
Cork	2,037	82	933	55	888	44	3,858	181
Donegal	1,835	80	939	52	1,348	59	4,122	191
Dublin	54	4	17	0	18	1	89	5
Galway	2,859	170	1,187	89	1,527	52	5,573	311
Kerry	1,665	88	810	55	721	38	3,196	181
Kildare	221	20	63	13	101	13	385	46
Kilkenny	409	15	192	15	176	15	777	45
Laois	353	13	182	8	217	14	752	35
Leitrim	981	29	395	24	510	13	1,886	66
Limerick	1,007	33	274	22	392	8	1,673	63
Longford	497	12	327	13	320	8	1,144	33
Louth	133	13	69	8	92	2	294	23
Mayo	2,334	196	1,188	129	1,574	80	5,096	405
Meath	402	15	189	6	235	14	826	35
Monaghan	550	20	139	3	332	3	1,021	26
Offaly	451	23	253	21	280	13	984	57
Roscommon	1,465	48	511	34	692	20	2,668	102
Sligo	885	46	341	21	478	13	1,704	80
Tipperary	1,065	51	466	23	478	13	2,009	87
Waterford	320	33	111	19	109	12	540	64
Westmeath	621	17	248	11	267	12	1,136	40
Wexford	694	52	232	28	280	27	1,206	107
Wicklow	306	17	141	10	191	8	638	35
TOTAL	23,807	1,182	10,374	724	12,654	521	46,835	2,427

Basic Payment Scheme Applications

Questions (1103)

Tom Neville

Question:

1103. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if advice will be provided on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15916/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application in respect of the person named was received on 1 May 2015. The application was submitted by the applicant’s authorised agent. As part of the 2015 application, the applicant's share of a commonage parcel was reduced from 10/125 to 2/125. This reduction was also included in his 2016 and 2017 applications. The person named has now requested that this share be increased again to the pre-2015 level.

Applicants/agents are permitted under the regulations to increase their claims without penalty only up to the closing date for amendments of 31 May for each of the Scheme years. Unfortunately it is not possible to increase the claimed areas at this late stage. If the person named submits an appeal together with any relevant supporting documentation it will be examined by my Department.

Agriculture Scheme Penalties

Questions (1104)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

1104. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the fine imposed on a person (details supplied) will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15953/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was a participant in the AEOS2 scheme which finished on 31 December 2016.

One of the actions selected was Conservation of Genetic Resources. The terms and conditions relating to this action require the participant to be a member of the relevant breed society for the full term of the contract.

As the person named has not complied with this requirement, he is not eligible for payment under this action and all money paid for this action over the course of the scheme must be recouped.

The person named will be offered the opportunity to request a review of this decision including any relevant supporting documentation. Should a review be requested the original decision will be reviewed within the Department. The person named will be informed in writing of the outcome of such a review and if they remain dissatisfied with the decision they will have the option to submit an appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office. 

Animal Identification Schemes

Questions (1105)

Jackie Cahill

Question:

1105. Deputy Jackie Cahill asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress and timeframe for the introduction of mandatory electronic tagging of cattle; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15998/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department provides for the use of EID (electronic tags) in the supply of official bovine identification tags to herd keepers by approved tag vendors.  In this regard herd keepers can on a voluntary basis choose to identify bovine animals using a conventional and electronic tag.

Regulation (EU) No 653/2014 provides for the introduction of electronic identification of bovines on a voluntary basis or mandatory basis from 18 July 2019 whereby each Member State shall ensure that the necessary infrastructure is in place for the electronic identification of animals.  The European Commission plans to introduce the required Implementing and Delegated Acts prior to July 2019 and in this regard my Department will keep the position under review at EU level.

I am considering the scope for the possibility of introducing mandatory electronic identification of bovines in the context of the benefits that EID will provide to all interested stakeholders. The development of a plan to implement EID will require consultation with all stakeholders, including farm organisations, Associated Livestock Marts (ALM), ICOS, Meat Industry Ireland (MII) and approved tag suppliers. 

The schedule for any implementation of mandatory EID would obviously be influenced by this consultation process and would need to take into consideration a number of challenging practical logistical issues, such as tag supply capacity, the integration of a new EID system with the conventional tagging system which currently exists in the national herd, etc. My officials have had some preliminary discussions with the farm organisation on the introduction of mandatory EID recently.

GLAS Payments

Questions (1106)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

1106. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay to date for the payment not issuing; if the solution identified by his Department has been successfully implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16023/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received the payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year.

The Department is aware of an issue with this case that has delayed the 2016 and 2017 payments. It is expected that the matter will be resolved and payment will issue very shortly. GLAS payments are continuing to issue on a weekly basis.  

GLAS Payments

Questions (1107)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

1107. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay to date for the payment not issuing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16024/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017.

An issue has presented in relation to the individual's BPS application, and my Department has been in contact with the relevant parties in an effort to resolve this issue.  Once this issue is finalised the GLAS application will be processed for payment. GLAS payments are issuing on a weekly basis.

GLAS Payments

Questions (1108)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

1108. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay to date for the payment not issuing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16025/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The above named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of January 1 2016 and has received all payments in respect of the 2016 scheme year.

A finalised commonage management plan (CMP) must be submitted in respect of GLAS participants with a commonage action.  This requirement has not been met by the applicant and payment cannot issue until it does.

GLAS Payments

Questions (1109)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

1109. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay to date for the payment not issuing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16026/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has been fully paid in respect of 2015 and 2016.

A Commonage Management Plan (CMP) needs to be finalised in this case.  This requirement has not been met by the applicant.  The 2017 advance payment cannot issue until the CMP requirement is met. 

GLAS Payments

Questions (1110)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

1110. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay to date for the payment not issuing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16027/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received all payments in respect of 2015 and 2016.

The Department is aware of an issue with this case that resulted in the 2017 advance payment not being made and is working to resolve the issue as soon as possible. GLAS payments continue to issue on a weekly basis.

GLAS Payments

Questions (1111)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

1111. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay to date for the payment not issuing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16028/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has been fully paid in respect of 2015 and 2016.

A Commonage Management Plan (CMP) needs to be finalised in this case. This requirement has not been met by the applicant. The 2017 advance payment cannot issue until the CMP requirement is met. 

Agricultural Production Costs

Questions (1112)

Charlie McConalogue

Question:

1112. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking to have tariffs and duties removed from fertiliser costs in the EU in order to reduce the cost of fertiliser to farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16049/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I am very conscious that fertiliser is a major input cost on farms. Indeed EUROSTAT estimates that fertiliser is the third most important expenditure item on EU farms, accounting for €19.2 billon of input costs in 2014. In terms of Irish farms, the Central Statistics Office 2017 Preliminary estimates of Output, Input and Income in Agriculture identifies fertiliser expenditure at €513 million in 2017, an increase of 0.8% on 2016.

I have long believed that the elimination of fertiliser tariffs and anti-dumping duties is something that could help farmers reduce their input costs and this is something that I have actively pursued at the Agri Fish Council in 2016 and 2017, both with the Commission and in consultation with my Council colleagues.

At the Agri Fish Council in June 2017, I asked the Commission to address the significant overpricing of fertilisers in the EU brought about by the imposition of anti-dumping duties on imports.

In that context, in August 2017 the Commission gave notice of its intention to conduct a partial interim review of the anti dumping measures applicable to imports of ammonium nitrate originating in Russia. It is expected that this review will be completed in late 2018 as per European Commission notification (2017/C271/07). However I understand that  there may be an interim decision from the Commission on the review of the anti dumping levy shortly. If that is the case, I look forward to the interim decision and my officials will review accordingly.

I should point out however, that while Commissioner Hogan acknowledged the desirability of bringing about lower prices, he has also indicated that, despite considerable efforts on his part both with other Member States and internally within the Commission, consensus will be difficult to achieve.

Ash Dieback Threat

Questions (1113)

Willie Penrose

Question:

1113. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a report which has to be compiled by an official in his Department concerning the ash dieback disease in a person's (details supplied) plantation will be carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16093/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Further to a report from the person's Registered Forester of symptoms of ill-health in ash trees in the forest plantation in question, a Forestry Inspector from the Department attended the site last Autumn (2017) and samples were taken to be analysed in a laboratory for the presence of Hymenoschyphus fraxineus, Chalara ash dieback disease.

The analysis of these samples, which was undertaken at the Department’s Plant Health Laboratory, proved negative for presence of the disease. The person’s Registered Forester was advised of this negative result by the Department by e-mail at the end of February 2018.

In relation to the submission of a Form 3 application for the payment of the 2nd instalment afforestation grant, there appears to be a misunderstanding of the options available to the forest owner and/or their Registered Forester. It has been Department policy since April 2017 that Form 3s may be submitted for processing, notwithstanding a suspected presence of Chalara ash dieback disease in a forest plantation. In such cases, the application will be processed so long as the plantation has otherwise been successfully established to Department’s standards.

Details of this and other relevant policies can be found in Circular No. 6 of 2017 and are posted on the Department’s website at:

https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/forestry/grantandpremiumschemes/schemecirculars/2017/Circular6RevisionsRADWIS270417.pdf

The Department will send a reminder e-mail, and contact the Registered Forester in person, to reconfirm the results of the tests undertaken and to refer them to the relevant policy documents and options open to them and their client.

Transfer of Entitlements

Questions (1114)

Noel Grealish

Question:

1114. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer who, as part of an agreement to lease land, transfers their BPS entitlements to the leasee can recover these entitlements along with the land at the termination of the lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16114/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Entitlements transferred by farmers by way of lease to a third party will revert to the farmer at the end of the relevant scheme year of the lease period. The reversion of entitlements on expiry of a lease is not considered a transfer of entitlements.

Transfer of Entitlements

Questions (1115)

Noel Grealish

Question:

1115. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer leasing land and transferring entitlements as part of the lease must retain some land and corresponding entitlements in order to be able to recover the entitlements at the termination of the lease; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16115/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Entitlements transferred by farmers by way of lease to a third party will revert to the farmer at the end of the relevant scheme year of the lease period. The reversion of entitlements on expiry of a lease is not considered a transfer of entitlements. Transfers of entitlements by way of lease may be with or without land.

Agriculture Scheme Appeals

Questions (1116)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1116. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal for a farm payment by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16160/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named was the subject of a Nitrates inspection on 9 and 22 February 2017, carried out by my Department on behalf of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. This inspection identified a range of non-compliances with the cross compliance requirements under the Nitrates Regulations. Due to the level and serious nature of the non-compliances determined, an intentional penalty of 100% was applied to the 2017 Direct Schemes payments. The person named was notified of this decision on 13 March 2017.

The person named sought a review of this decision and this process is nearing completion. The person named will be notified of the outcome shortly.

In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.

Transfer of Entitlements

Questions (1117)

Tom Neville

Question:

1117. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a transfer of entitlements has been completed for a farmer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16194/18]

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The above named person submitted a 2018 Transfer of Entitlements application to my Department. The closing date for receipt of applications is 15 May 2018. Processing of 2018 applications will commence after 15 May and the person named will then be notified in writing of the outcome of their application when the processing is completed.