Written Answers Nos. 195-205
195. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the number of horses and ponies slaughtered in each of the last two years; the number slaughtered privately; the number exported live; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42381/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total equine slaughter numbers for plants approved by my Department over the past two years are as follows:
|
Year |
Number |
|
2010 |
7,296 |
|
2011 |
12,386 |
Slaughter figures for Local Authority supervised establishments and numbers slaughtered privately are not included in my Department’s figures.
Central Statistic Office figures indicate that 1,222 live equines were exported in 2010 and 2,061 in 2011. This total includes breeding horses as well as horses for slaughter, with the latter numbering 495 in 2011 (number not recorded in 2010).
196. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when a 2012 disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42409/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number, whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. This application had not been determined in sufficient time to enable payment with the first tranche on 26 September. However, immediately a decision is reached, the person concerned will be notified in writing. Should the decision be negative, a fully independent appeals procedure is available.
197. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his future interests in the forestry sector; his plans to maintain forestry premiums; his plans to encourage forestry; his future outlook on forestry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42410/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFunding for forestry in 2013, like every other item in my Department’s budget, will be determined in the context of ongoing discussions on the framing of the 2013 Budget. In 2012 the Government provided almost €112 million in funding for the forestry programme, reflecting its continued commitment to a sector which is important both in creating and maintaining employment in rural areas, while also playing a significant climate change role. I am committed to achieving the highest possible level of funding for forestry into the future, to ensure a sustainable and viable industry, and to provide attractive incentives to farmers and other landowners to plant their land. The level of interest in forestry remains high among farmers with approval of applications running ahead of levels achieved in the corresponding period in 2011. I am confident that this level of interest will be sustained.
198. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the position regarding a disadvantage area scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42411/12]
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.
199. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine his plans to close any of his Department's offices in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42412/12]
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 frontline services will be fully maintained and public access for all of the Department's 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.
200. Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive their disadvantaged area payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42427/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraWhile an application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 2 May 2012, payment has not issued as the conditions of the Scheme have not been satisfied, at this stage.
The Terms and Conditions governing the Scheme require, inter alia, that all equine premises must be registered with the Department in accordance with S.I No 8 of 2012 (Disease of Animals Act 1996 (Registration of Horse Premises) Order 2012). As the premises concerned are not registered, payment could not be made. Once this requirement of the Scheme has been met, the application of the person named will be further processed with a view to payment.
201. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when a 2012 disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42429/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 3 May 2012, processing of which has recently been completed. Payment will, therefore, issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
202. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when a 2012 disadvantaged area payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42430/12]
Amharc ar fhreagra
The person concerned is an applicant under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Currently, this applicant is one of a number whose cases are impacted by a requirement of a minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare and who have applied for a derogation in this regard. This application had not been determined in sufficient time to enable payment with the first tranche on 26 September. However, immediately a decision is reached, the person concerned will be notified in writing. Should the decision be negative, a fully independent appeals procedure is available.
203. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42437/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 1 May 2012, processing of which has recently been completed. Payment will, therefore, issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
204. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the reason payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway is held up due to a parcel being re-numbered; the reason parcels are being re-numbered and the rationale behind this; the reason this work could not have been done prior to the payment date; the number of farmers are affected; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42441/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2012. As a result of normal verification processes, which form part of the overall controls on the payment system, it had not been possible to include this case with the first tranche of payments made on 26 September. These processes have now been completed and payment will, therefore, issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
205. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture; Food and the Marine the reason the disadvantaged area payment is being held up in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway is being held up; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42446/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 2 May 2012. However, payment has not yet issued as, at this stage, it has not been possible to verify that one of the Terms and Conditions governing the 2012 Scheme, relating to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units per forage acre declared, has been satisfied. Once it has been possible to verify that this requirement has been met, the case will be further processed with a view to payment at the earliest possible date thereafter.
