Written Answers Nos. 189-196
189. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine If he will restore the live trade to Libya, Egypt and the Lebanon which will provide vital price competition and outlets for stock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51691/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe three markets in question are open to exports of live cattle from Ireland. The following table sets out the current position in relation to the specifics of each of these markets.
|
Country |
Type of market |
|
Egypt |
Open to fattening cattle under 20 months and to slaughter cattle under 30 months |
|
Lebanon |
Open to Breeding /fattening and slaughter cattle under 36 months |
|
Libya |
Open to fattening and slaughter male cattle under 24 months – increase in age limit to 30 months has been agreed but official endorsement is awaited. |
No boats from Ireland are currently approved for such export but I am hopeful that a ship will be approved around the year-end to enable sailings to commence in the new year.
190. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to assist farmers, where in some sectors their incomes will be down as much as 30% as a result of the bad weather, rising feed costs, rising fertiliser costs and rising fuel costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51693/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very conscious of the significant problems and pressures that the very heavy rainfall this summer has caused for farmers. I fully appreciate the importance of cash flow to farm enterprises and particularly so this year and I have responded swiftly to these pressures within the funds available to me.
I sought and received EU approval for the advance payment of the 2012 Single Farm Payment and immediately arranged for the commencement of the payments on 16 October. Almost 97% of eligible applicants have received an advance payment totalling altogether over €600 million to date. By year-end I expect payments of some €1.2 billion under the single payment scheme to have been disbursed to farmers .
The value and importance of other scheme payments to farmers are also very important and payments worth some €191 million under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme have been made since 26th September last. This funding will provide a boost to the rural economy and will benefit all areas of the country.
A further sum of €64 million was paid under the REPS scheme and I envisage that by the end of 2012 a further €121 million will be spent. AEOS payments are well advanced and continue to issue as quickly as possible. To date some €25 million has been paid and I expect that a further €32.2 million will be paid out before the end of 2012. My intention is to ensure that payments in respect of 2012 are made on the earliest possible date.
Recently, I announced the re-opening of AEOS to new entrants. I am providing €20 million for the scheme which will build on the success of REPS and both AEOS 1 and 2 in delivering an annual income to farmers in return for farming to high environmental standards. A maximum payment of €4,000 per annum will apply to individual applicants under the re-opened AEOS scheme. As the average payments in the past have been lower than the maximum, I am confident that up to 6,000 new participants can be accepted into the scheme.
Agricultural advisers have been very active in providing advice & assistance for farmers affected by the bad weather. A series of public meetings were held across the country in September to address fodder / financial and social aspects of the weather crisis. Weather clinics were held in all Teagasc offices recently and newsletters and media articles were prepared to outline options open to those farmers facing difficulties.
191. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [51706/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe position with regard to the first application is that the area proposed for planting is located within a Special Protection Area (SPA) designated for the protection of the hen harrier. Given the restrictions that apply to planting and other developments within this area it has not proven possible to approve the application to plant. Any future afforestation within the SPA must take into account the results of recent Hen Harrier breeding and distribution surveys, the availability of suitable habitat and the effects of other cumulative developments on hen harrier populations e.g. wind farms. Discussions are ongoing between this Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service about the extent to which future planting, if any, may be approved within this area.
As regards the more recent application it is understood that part of this area also comes within the area designated for the protection of the hen harrier. This application is currently being processed and a decision will be given in due course.
192. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a íocfar deontas faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntaiste (Disadvantage Area Scheme) 2012 le feilmeoir (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [51711/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuarthas iarratas faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste ón duine ainmnithe an 14 Bealtaine 2012. Níl aon íocaíocht eisithe fós, áfach, mar nach gcomhlíonann gabháltas an té ainmnithe íos-cheanglais dlús-stoic na Scéime do 2012. A luaithe is a dheimhneofar go bhfuil an gabháltas ag comhlíonadh na gceanglas seo cuirfear an cás chun cinn le súil is íocaíocht a dhéanamh chomh luath agus is féidir ina dhiaidh sin.
193. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a íocfar deontas faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntaiste (Disadvantage Area Scheme) 2012 le feilmeoir (sonraí tugtha); agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [51712/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuarthas iarratas faoin Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste 2012 ón duine ainmnithe an 27 Aibreán 2012. Níor eisíodh íocaíocht go fóill, áfach, mar nárbh fhéidir go dtí seo a fhíorú gur comhlíonadh ceann de Théarmaí agus Coinníollacha Scéim 2012, a bhaineann le meánmhéid bliantúil de 0.15 aonad beostoic a choimeád in aghaidh an heicteáir foráiste dearbhaithe. Chomh luath agus is féidir an coinníoll sin a fhíorú, déanfar an cás a phróiseáil le súil agus íocaíocht a dhéanamh chomh luath ina dhiaidh sin agus is féidir.
194. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that the proposals regarding the minimum and maximum stocking rates for sheep has now been deferred until there is proper consultation with the farming groups and proper thought and consideration is given to the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51758/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Commonage Framework Plans, first published in 2002, have been reviewed to take account of the current vegetative condition of commonages nationally. This review which will replace the Commonage Framework Plans has been carried out by the National Parks and Wildlife Service in co-operation with my Department. The review was carried out on a commonage LPIS parcel basis and sets a minimum and maximum number of ewe equivalents (EE) required to graze the commonage parcel to ensure that it is maintained in Good Agricultural and Environmental Conditions (GAEC). I am currently considering an implementation plan to take account of the changed stocking levels.
My Department is trying to reconcile the reality of commonages with the EU requirements of GAEC. I will work with the farmers, farm organisations and others to design a practical solution.
195. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason persons applying for the agri-environment options scheme have to submit the original equine passports to the Department's offices in County Wexford; the reason a stamped copy, stamped at the local veterinary office, will not suffice for the purposes of the AEOS in view of the fact that many persons are reluctant to post equine passports to County Wexford because of the risk of the passports going astray and also because of the delay in returning these passports to them, which could prevent a possible sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51778/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agri-environmental Options Scheme is co-funded by the EU and as such is governed by EU rules and regulations and so all payments made under the scheme are subject to comprehensive administrative check and validations to ensure that payments are issued in accordance with all scheme conditions. This includes verification that the claimant owns the animals in question in the case of payments under the Conservation of Animal Genetic Resources (Rare Breeds). Examination of equine passports is the means of verification in this case. Scheme participants can submit original documentation which will be returned by the Department but arrangements are now being made to accept copies certified by Teagasc, REPS planners or local offices of the Department.
196. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 550 of 13 November 2012, when payment of a disadvantaged area aid payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [51829/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs processing of the 2012 Single Payment Scheme and 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application has recently been finalised (issues relating to two land parcels having now been resolved), payments will shortly issue, to the nominated bank account.
