Vol. 855 No. 3
90. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm the start-up date for GLAS as a matter of urgency as many farmers have finished rural environment protection scheme 4 and are substantially down on their income; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40711/14]
The GLAS Scheme is currently with the European Commission for approval, as part of the Rural Development Programme 2014 – 2020. My officials have very recently received observations from the Commission on the draft Programme and will respond to those as soon as possible. I am therefore not in position at this stage to confirm a start-up date as it is entirely dependent on when we receive full and final approval from the Commission. It is my intention that the Scheme will be rolled-out very quickly after Commission approval is received and it is my expectation that contracts will commence in 2015.
91. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has yet to receive their disadvantaged area payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40722/14]
The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 1 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed. Processing of payments due will now be finalised and will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
92. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when they may expect payment to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40723/14]
The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment scheme application on 8 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of the Single Farm Payment and Disadvantaged Areas’ schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
This application was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed and I expect that payment will shortly issue to the nominated bank account of the person named.
93. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will be issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40753/14]
Processing of the Single Farm Payment application of the person named has recently been finalised, with payment due to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
94. Deputy Seamus Kirk asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the serious crisis with livestock rustling across the country but particularly in the Border area, and if he is proposing a co-ordinated strategy with his counterpart North of the Border; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40756/14]
I am aware of the incidence of stolen livestock in the country. Theft is primarily a matter for the Garda Síochána and any incident involving theft of livestock should be reported to the Garda Síochána in the first instance. Officers of my Department assist with investigations when requested to do so by the Garda. In this regard, I would like to draw the Deputy’s attention to the fact that a recent operation involving my Department’s Investigation Division and the Garda resulted in the discovery of an illegal abattoir near the Border. This matter is being investigated. There is also close liaison with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland aimed at addressing the issue of stolen livestock. In this regard, a cross-border liaison Group comprising this Department’s Investigations Division, the Garda and PSNI liaise and investigate the theft of livestock on an all-Ireland basis.
95. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is possible to enter a long-term lease on lands currently in an agri-environment options scheme without the lessee being penalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40764/14]
AEOS is a voluntary Scheme where participants elect to carry out specific environmental commitments and in order for a verifiable benefit to be achieved the governing regulations require that those commitments must be delivered for a minimum of five years. Accordingly in cases where an AEOS commitment is delivered on leased land that land must be held for the duration of the AEOS contract. In order to protect the integrity of the Scheme and to comply with the governing regulations the Department has no option but to recover monies where commitments are not delivered for the full term of the contract, and in certain cases to apply penalties in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
96. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a headage payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40765/14]
An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named and requested the submission of further information to allow the application be further processed. The application will be finalised on receipt of this documentation with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible thereafter.
