Written Answers Nos. 174-180
174. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the amount of money that would be available for redistribution amongst lower income farmers if the currrent rules of the single payment were to be amended post 2012 to limit the payment per hectare to €500/ha and the maximum payment payable to any farmer under the single farm payment to €50,000; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42135/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has modelled various CAP reform proposals using the 2010 Single Payment Scheme (SPS) database of actual payments to farmers in that year, rather than entitlements. Analysis of this database shows the following:
- around 7,600 farmers were paid at rates in excess of €500 per hectare in 2010. Capping payments at €500 per hectare would in theory provide around €42 million for re-distribution;
- around 2,100 farmers received single payments in excess of €50,000 in 2010. Capping the maximum payment to these farmers at €50,000 would in theory provide €50 million for redistribution.
Note that these figures are not cumulative, as around 1,000 of the farmers on payments over €50,000 are also on a payment rate in excess of €500 per hectare. Note also that farms with eligible area under 3 hectares are excluded from this analysis.
It should also be borne in mind that decisions have yet to be taken on the multiannual financial framework for the EU budget for the period after 2013. Thus, at this point, we do not know the overall amount of funding that will be available for the Common Agricultural Policy or the allocation that will be made to Ireland. In those circumstances, it is not possible to provide a definitive answer to the deputy’s questions.
175. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if payment of the agri environment options scheme has issued to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42138/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and has received full payment totalling €1,223.24 in respect of 2011.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. This process is well advanced in respect of the 2012 scheme year and I expect that payments will commence before the end of the year.
176. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he will provide confirmation of the total area aid paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in 2010; the amount paid to the herd owner and the amount paid to any other parties; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42147/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am not in a position to comment in detail about this case other than to say that, in making payment, my Department was obliged to comply with the terms of a Court Order obtained by a third party.
177. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an area-based payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42149/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is an applicant under the Single Payment and Disadvantaged Area Schemes.
In order to meet EU requirements, the application concerned was one of a number which was selected for inspection. As this process had not been completed in sufficient time, it was not possible to include the person concerned with the initial tranche of DAS payments on 26 September. As soon as the inspection and related processes are completed, the application concerned will be progressed.
178. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when the details of the new agri-environment option scheme 3 will be available; the dates from which farmers can apply and the commencement date of the scheme; and when will the first payment be made under the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42189/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails of the re-opened Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS) which I announced last week with funding of €20m will be available on the Department’s website in the next few days. The Terms and Conditions for the scheme will be largely similar to those of previous years. The closing date for applications is 30 November and my aim is to ensure that all applications are processed with a view approving the new participants in the scheme with effect from 1 April 2013. Under the EU Regulations governing this and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before payment may issue. Subject to the completion of this process, I expect that payments under the re-opened scheme will commence at the end of 2013 or early 2014.
179. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he intends to reorganise or close any Department offices in the city and county of Cork; if this is proposed, the nature of the changes being planned, the services to be withdrawn and the offices to close; the arrangements for re-location of staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42195/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has two Regional Offices, in Clonakilty and in Cork city and a separate office from which the Marine functions are delivered in Clonakilty. As part of the reform process within my Department which has been ongoing for some time and has led to significant savings, I have decided to merge my Department’s Clonakilty activities in the Clogheen complex. This will leverage further cost savings while maintaining the highest level of services to shareholders. Administrative staff located at Darrara will, on their transfer to Clogheen, take up duties in the Marine Divisions of the Department and their former duties will be absorbed by the existing staff in the Cork Regional Office.
These arrangements will enable the Department to maintain service levels across the county with the result of leaner staffing levels into the future. It is important to point out that these changes will not negatively impact upon local access and services for local customers and front-line services will be fully maintained and public access for all of the Departments stakeholders will be available at Park Road. The Department vets, inspectors and technical officers will remain in place at Clonakilty to service our clients across all of the schemes that are provided from our Regional Offices. In Cork city, current services will continue as before.
180. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine if he intends to ban the import of ash trees to stop the spread of the fungus Chalara fraxinea which would have a devastating impact on native ash trees;; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42198/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraChalara fraxinea is a relatively new harmful plant disease which affects ash trees. It is widespread throughout much of Europe, where it has caused significant damage in recent years. The disease is currently not regulated under the EU Plant Health Directive.
I am very concerned about this disease. The Forest Service of my Department has been carrying out surveys for the disease to determine its status in Ireland and has also been monitoring imports of ash plants, and wood products.
To date the disease has not yet been found in Ireland but it has been recently detected in Great Britain, largely associated with imported plant material.
At present there are no plans to impose an import ban. However, all measures available under EU and national legislation will be utilised to prevent the spread of the disease to Ireland. My Department is also currently working on this matter closely with the Northern Ireland and Great Britain authorities.
