Written Answers Nos 154-172
154. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers who applied under the disadvantaged areas payment scheme for 2012; the number who have received their payments; the number who have had their payments rejected; the number still under consideration, broken down on a county basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14665/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayments under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced, on target, on 26 September and, to date, payments worth in excess of €206 million have issued to some 94,000 farmers. Payments continue to issue twice weekly, as individual cases are confirmed eligible.
Nationally, 127 applications were subject to 100% penalty, as each was received after the final date for receipt of applications. The governing EU regulations require that a 1% cumulative penalty be applied for each working day a given application is received late, with a 100% penalty to be applied where the application is received more than 25 days late. The 127 cases in question were not covered by Force Majeure/exceptional circumstance provisions.
Given the various qualifying criteria under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, particularly in relation to minimum stocking density (both the requirement to achieve a six month average of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectares and also to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectares calculated over the 12 months of the scheme year), as well as the need for those with equines to have their holdings appropriately registered, etc, the position regarding certain applicants will not be finally established for some weeks yet.
The details requested are set out in the table following. However, with appeals ongoing and payments being made twice weekly, the picture continues to evolve.
|
County Name |
Applied |
Paid |
Gross Amount |
|
Carlow |
757 |
705 |
€1,450,494.60 |
|
Cavan |
4,852 |
4,583 |
€9,931,503.78 |
|
Clare |
6,137 |
5,768 |
€13,904,584.07 |
|
Cork |
7,122 |
6,676 |
€15,294,812.57 |
|
Donegal |
8,483 |
7,564 |
€17,537,308.14 |
|
Dublin |
134 |
116 |
€250,656.27 |
|
Galway |
12,181 |
11,084 |
€24,019,852.04 |
|
Kerry |
7,725 |
7,127 |
€17,590,883.30 |
|
Kildare |
523 |
464 |
€825,918.14 |
|
Kilkenny |
1,770 |
1,660 |
€3,482,666.08 |
|
Laois |
1,726 |
1,605 |
€3,181,498.33 |
|
Leitrim |
3,481 |
3,197 |
€7,206,877.81 |
|
Limerick |
2,933 |
2,710 |
€5,362,946.80 |
|
Longford |
2,391 |
2,262 |
€4,970,983.68 |
|
Louth |
757 |
682 |
€1,138,097.39 |
|
Mayo |
11,623 |
10,599 |
€22,678,502.36 |
|
Meath |
1,354 |
1,259 |
€2,296,097.12 |
|
Monaghan |
4,109 |
3,853 |
€7,648,323.36 |
|
Offaly |
2,397 |
2,241 |
€4,480,912.30 |
|
Roscommon |
5,746 |
5,382 |
€11,874,797.35 |
|
Sligo |
4,064 |
3,699 |
€8,051,777.44 |
|
Tipperary |
4,539 |
4,232 |
€9,023,773.62 |
|
Waterford |
1,449 |
1,322 |
€2,709,484.74 |
|
Westmeath |
2,653 |
2,491 |
€5,056,763.47 |
|
Wexford |
1,432 |
1,274 |
€2,344,926.16 |
|
Wicklow |
1,752 |
1,592 |
€3,878,889.29 |
|
TOTALS |
102,090 |
94,147 |
€206,193,330.21 |
155. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the revised commonage plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14661/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraCommonage lands form an important part of the farming enterprises of many farmers, particularly along the West Coast. They also form an important part of the local environment from the point of view of bio-diversity, wildlife, amenities and economic returns e.g. tourism. However, there is a substantial risk of land abandonment as under-grazing become more of a problem.
Under-grazing leads to an increase in ineligible land under Direct Aid and Agri-Environment Schemes and leads to risk of financial corrections being imposed by EU Commission. It is vital, therefore, to maintain the commonages in GAEC, or where there is under-grazing, to return the habitat to GAEC. It is my stated aim that this will be achieved by working with the farmers directly managing the lands, relevant State Agencies, the farming organisations and all other interested stakeholders.
I readily acknowledge that it will not be an easy task, but it is achievable if we all work in a co-operative basis. If action is not taken now, the areas will continue to deteriorate and will lead to more land abandonment. If this is allowed to happen, we will lose a valuable resource from the point of view of farming, rural economy, bio-diversity and wildlife. While grazing is the only method of managing these lands, the task facing us is how to ensure that these grazing levels are appropriate to the individual commonages.
In order to ensure that we achieve this objective, as already stated, we need the input of individual shareholders. Grazing plans, at the level of each commonage, will allow for greater flexibility for shareholders and will enable the active farmers to increase their stock to cater for dormant and inactive persons. It will be matter for agreement between the shareholders – as was always the case – to decide how best to reach the stocking levels. Professional assistance will be required, in particular where the commonage has been damaged by under-grazing.
The Grazing Plan will have to cater the traditional farming methods for the area, with provision made for sheep and other animals, such as cattle, providing that they are appropriate to the habitat. An appropriate time-scale will have to be put in place but the Plan should include the incremental steps to achieve GAEC. The whole concept will be output driven, in that the assessment of the Plans will be based on whether the commonage is in GAEC or not or whether the appropriate progress has been achieved.
Apart from ensuring that the Grazing Plan is valid, there are a number of other complications, including:
- Dormant shareholders – in the majority of cases, these persons are no longer farming;
- Current claimants on the commonages, who do not farm or manage the lands. The issue of whether the latter claimants will continue to be eligible for payment will have to be examined.
There are other issues that will need to be considered. These include the fact that many commonage habitats have been significantly damaged by under-grazing, with resulting problems that must be addressed including land abandonment, spread of scrub and invasive species.
156. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will report on any meetings he has attended concerning the proposed sale of Coillte's harvesting rights; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15003/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs a member of the Government, I have been involved in the Government meetings at which the State Asset Disposal programme, which includes the proposed sale of Coillte harvesting rights, have been considered. The outcome of one such meeting was the Government decision in February 2012 that consideration would be given to the sale of some assets of Coillte (excluding the sale of land). The exclusion of the sale of land from that process was to address the industry and public concerns expressed to me and my colleagues and concurred with the views of Government.
A more recent cabinet meeting resulted in the decision by the Government last summer that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale. Further to this decision, officials of my Department, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and NewERA, in conjunction with Coillte, are examining the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. This work encompasses the identification of the forestry assets involved, the determination of their value and the consideration of a number of issues associated with the proposed sale of the harvesting rights. All of this work is being undertaken to inform the consideration of the Government on the sale of harvesting rights. I have also met with the officials involved in the consideration process and my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform in relation to this matter. No further decision on Coillte will be made until it is discussed at Cabinet.
157. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends to continue with the consideration of the sale of the Coillte forest crop; the current state of play regarding this proposal; the estimated money that will be raised by this sale; the details of any cost-benefit analysis carried out on this proposed sale; his views on the recent Impact and Timber Council reports on this proposal; if he intends to make public the report of the National Treasury Management Agency before a decision is made on this issue in order that the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and Marine can have an input in the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14997/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy is aware, further to the Government’s decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, the National Treasury Management Agency, via its NewERA Unit, engaged with Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department to examine the financial and other implications of a potential transaction. Substantial work has been undertaken to date on the identification of the forestry assets involved, the determination of their value and the consideration of a number of issues associated with the proposed sale of the harvesting rights. This whole process is a very complex one and it is not possible at this stage to pre-empt the outcome of the analysis or to give an estimate of the possible net proceeds. As I have said previously, the Government will proceed with caution in relation to this matter and no final decision has been taken, as yet.
As part of the process, a number of detailed financial, technical and other specialist reports were prepared for Coillte, by external specialist consultancy bodies, in full consultation with the Board of Coillte and its executive management. As Coillte is a commercial company trading in a competitive environment, matters relating to the performance of its various businesses and its portfolio are commercially sensitive, and it is therefore not appropriate, at this point in time, to make public the analysis conducted to date.
NewERA, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department are considering the report by Peter Bacon and Associates, commissioned by IMPACT, containing an “Assessment of the Consequences of the proposed Sale of Coillte’s Timber Harvesting Rights – 10 January 2013” and the report by EPS Consulting commissioned by the Irish Timber Council on “The impacts on the sawmill sector arising from the proposed sale of Coillte’s harvesting rights ”. Both of these reports provide useful background and insight to the concerns of the Coillte Unions and the Irish Timber Council, as expressed at the meetings with the respective groups, and contribute to the consideration process.
The analysis is ongoing as it is essential that any decision is based on the most accurate, comprehensive analysis possible. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion with no further decision to be taken on Coillte until it is discussed at Cabinet.
158. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he intends increasing the number of places on the agri-environment options scheme 3 to cover all eligible applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14666/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDespite the challenging budgetary constraints facing my Department, last year I allocated €20 million annually to fund a new agri-environment scheme and on foot of this I announced the re-opening of the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). I decided on a maximum payment of €4,000 per annum for individual applicants to allow for up to 6,500 new participants to be accepted into the scheme.
I have no plans to allocate additional funding to AEOS 3 in order to extend the number of available places in the Scheme.
159. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will detail the employment levels in the meat processing sector and the value of processed meat exports. [9062/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraEmployment statistics for the meat processing sector are published by the CSO in its Census of Industrial Production (CIP). The CIP is an annual survey and the most recent available data, which relates to 2010, indicates that there are around 12,000 persons employed in 123 enterprises engaged in the processing and preserving of meat and the production of meat products.
A sectoral breakdown of the value of Irish processed meat exports in recent years is presented tabular format below.
|
Sector |
2012 €m |
2011 €m |
|
Beef |
202 |
169 |
|
Poultry |
137 |
125 |
|
Pigmeat |
107 |
80 |
|
Sheepmeat* |
n/a |
n/a |
*Exports of processed sheepmeat are insignificant and are not captured in the above dataset. Source: Bord Bia estimates.
160. Deputy Brian Stanley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of jobs under threat as a result of the recent horse meat/food safety scandal; and the steps being taken to safeguard jobs in the meat processing sector. [9061/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraConsumer confidence and trust is critical to preserving and securing employment throughout the Irish beef supply chain, including the processing stage. My chief concern since the beginning of this controversy has been to fully restore consumer confidence in Irish beef products and thereby limit the potential impact of food fraud on employment levels in the processing industry.
The fact that the official control system in Ireland uncovered the fraudulent mislabelling of certain beef products and the manner in which we have addressed the issue demonstrates that Ireland is at the forefront of control regimes. In time and when the issue is fully addressed at EU level, I am confident that our handling of the matter will ultimately enhance the quality reputation of Irish food products.
We have provided decisive leadership on the issue at European level and taken effective action at national level with a view to reassuring consumers and safeguarding employment in the beef supply chain. These additional measures include:
- A positive release programme for horsemeat destined for the food chain to run for an initial period of one month with a subsequent assessment to inform future policy direction;
- A DNA testing protocol agreed with the industry to check beef authenticity, over and above the EU DNA testing programme. I will pursue this issue in Brussels to ensure that a level playing field exists as regards controls applying to EU food production;
- I also intend to pursue at EU level the introduction of a number of changes in relation to labelling regulations, such as provisions covering intermediate labels and reporting of mislabelling incidences, as well as practical steps on the use of security features and more detail on commercial documentation accompanying consignments of beef.
On overseas markets, I requested Bord Bia to work with the industry in explaining the facts of the situation in our beef markets worldwide. Bord Bia commissioned research in the domestic and important export markets to gauge consumer reaction to beef mislabelling and the likely impact on purchasing behaviour regarding processed beef product. The findings showed a high level of awareness of the issue but, despite a significant decline in UK retail sales of frozen burgers in the latest 4-week period up to 17 February, sales of products in this category are expected to recover because of their affordability, convenience and ease of preparation. The surveys also found that international opinion of Irish beef remains positive with little association between adulteration and Irish beef products in particular. Instead, adulteration was seen as affecting European processed beef generally and consequently no decline in volume sales of Irish product in the fresh beef category is anticipated.
To date, apart from some temporary suspensions of operations, one beef processing plant has ceased operating as a result of the recent horsemeat incident. The Department of Enterprise, Jobs and Innovation, which maintains an early warning system for redundancies, has not received any information to indicate that the meat processing sector is making staff redundant on a temporary or permanent basis.
161. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on the question of front-loading of single farm payments to protect the livelihood of the 70% of farmers who receive less than €10,000 in single farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14674/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI assume that the Deputy is referring to the proposal for a redistributive payment on the first hectares that emerged during recent negotiations between the EU Commission and the EU Council of Ministers on reform of the Common Agricultural Policy. This proposal allows Member States, as an add-on and not an alternative, to flat rate or partial convergence, to use up to 30% of the national ceiling for top-up payments to farmers on hectares up to the national average farm size (32 hectares in Ireland) or up to 30 hectares.
I am open to considering whether it would be of benefit to Ireland to avail of this option. However, I do not believe we should rush a decision on this option. The agreement last week established a Council position for opening negotiations with the European Parliament on this and all other elements of CAP reform. Many elements of that agreement may be changed in the course of these negotiations and we need to see the final outcome on all aspects of the direct payments regime before we can take informed decisions on what is the best course for Ireland. I will of course consult widely before taking any decisions on this matter.
162. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will be supporting as President of the Council of Agriculture Ministers, the abolition of sugar quotas; the current position on this proposal; the attitude of the Commission and the EU Parliament to it; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14648/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI strongly support the abolition of sugar quotas at an early stage. The EU Commission’s proposal was to abandon quotas from September 2015. In discussions at the Council of Agriculture Ministers, it emerged that Member States were deeply divided on the issue between a group of Member States, including Ireland, who favoured early abolition and another group who wished to extend quotas to 2020 and beyond. As President of the Council, I made a compromise proposal, that garnered the support of a large majority of Member States, to extend the quota regime for a further two years until 30 September 2017.
The European Parliament is in favour of extending quotas to 2020. The Council is now well placed to enter into trilogue discussions between the EU Commission and the Parliament on the future of sugar quotas in the EU.
163. Deputy Barry Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of lambs and sheep from Northern Ireland and Britain respectively that have been slaughtered in factories in this jurisdiction in each month since March 2011; the systems in place to record such slaughtering to ensure traceability of all sheep and lambs slaughtered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14734/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails regarding number of sheep from Northern Ireland slaughtered in plants approved by my Department since March 2011 are given in the Table below. These figures are based on weekly returns made by sheep slaughtering plants. Plants are not asked to provide returns in respect of the number of sheep slaughtered that originated in Britain or elsewhere as the numbers involved are negligible.
I wish to reassure the Deputy that all sheep entering a slaughter plant (regardless of origin) are accompanied with a Food Chain Information (FCI) document which, among other details, indicates their origin, who supplied them, number of sheep in the consignment and the sheep individual ear tag identification numbers. Traceability systems in sheep slaughter houses ensure that all carcases of sheep slaughtered can be traced back to this FCI document by attaching a label which has a carcase number or the sheep identification number attached.
Sheep from Northern ireland Slaughtered at DEPARTMENT Approved Premises by month from Mar 2011 to Feb 2013
2011
|
Month |
Lambs & hoggets |
Ewes & Rams |
Total |
|
march |
28,699 |
2,561 |
31,260 |
|
April |
24,524 |
3,322 |
27,846 |
|
may |
24,513 |
2,218 |
26,731 |
|
June |
31,812 |
1,962 |
33,774 |
|
July |
39,813 |
2,134 |
41,947 |
|
August |
46,592 |
4,755 |
51,347 |
|
september |
41,146 |
3,999 |
45,145 |
|
October |
43,723 |
2,914 |
46,637 |
|
november |
42,836 |
3,325 |
46,161 |
|
December |
35,295 |
2,426 |
37,721 |
2012
|
Month |
Lambs & Hoggets |
Ewes & Rams |
Total |
|
January |
33,223 |
2,135 |
35,358 |
|
February |
26,083 |
1,993 |
28,076 |
|
march |
24,012 |
1,380 |
25,392 |
|
April |
20,169 |
1,616 |
21,785 |
|
may |
19,098 |
2,274 |
21,372 |
|
June |
22,960 |
1,604 |
24,564 |
|
July |
28,880 |
1,540 |
30,420 |
|
August |
37,259 |
2,201 |
39,460 |
|
september |
40,387 |
1,654 |
42,041 |
|
October |
46,434 |
3,228 |
49,662 |
|
november |
43,798 |
4,845 |
48,643 |
|
December |
39,147 |
3,073 |
42,220 |
2013
|
Month |
Lambs & Hoggets |
Ewes & Rams |
Total |
|
January |
47,954 |
5,299 |
53,253 |
|
February |
40,661 |
5,629 |
46,290 |
164. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Taoiseach if he discussed the plight of the undocumented Irish in the US with President Obama and senior American politicians during his visit to Washington; if any progress was made; the outcome of these discussions; the persons that attended these meetings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14631/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraDuring my visit to Washington last week, I raised the prospects for comprehensive immigration reform in my engagements with senior political figures including President Obama, Vice President Biden, Speaker Boehner, and Senators McCain, Leahy and Schumer. The Tánaiste, who accompanied me to most of these meetings, also raised this issue in his other political engagements in Washington.
President Obama, Vice-President Biden and the other senior political figures acknowledged the importance of immigration reform including its significance for Ireland and the Irish community, and committed to continuing their efforts to advance progress on the issue. Based on my engagements during my visit to the US, I am hopeful that a resolution can be reached that will favourably address the situation of the undocumented Irish in the United States.
Through our Embassy in Washington and in close liaison with Irish-American community representatives, the Tánaiste and the Government will continue to engage with our contacts in the US Administration and Congress, with a view to ensuring that the interests and concerns of undocumented Irish immigrants are reflected in any future legislative deal in this area that emerges as well as looking to advance the development of suitable mechanisms that could enable future flows of legal migration from Ireland to the United States.
Issues regarding the Irish abroad including the position of undocumented Irish immigrants in the United States are primarily the responsibility of the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, who leads the Government's efforts to resolve the situation for undocumented Irish immigrants in ongoing contacts at both political and diplomatic level with the US Administration and Congress. Therefore specific questions on this topic should be addressed to the Tánaiste in the first instance.
165. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach the progress made within his Department on phasing out the use of LoCall 1890 numbers that can be extremely expensive when dialled from mobile phones and introducing 076 numbers, which are generally included in tariff bundles provided by most mobile network operators and are charged at the same rate as national calls, in view of the fact that the number of mobile phones exceed the number of landlines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14632/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra166. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach if he has considered the use of, or implemented, integrated voice response systems in his Department's phone systems or in the phone systems of agencies within his remit; if the staff and salary cost savings which might arise have been assessed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14633/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra167. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Taoiseach if his Department has given any consideration to the use of telephony switchboard services that are shared with other Department or other public bodies in order to reduce costs and increase call handling capacity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14634/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 165 to 167, inclusive, together.
My Department operates one LoCall 1890 number at present. An upgrade of the telephone technology in my Department is currently underway as part of a shared service agreement with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is expected that the LoCall 1890 number will be changed to an 076 number when the upgrade is completed in due course.
Incoming calls to the National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO), which is the only agency under the aegis of my Department, are dealt with by a “hunt group”, where calls are received by a small number of administrative staff who perform the service as part of their overall duties. I am satisfied that the arrangement provides an efficient service and that the use of an integrated voice response system would not give rise to any additional savings to the considerable savings already achieved by NESDO over the past 5 years.
The nature of telephone calls to my Department are diverse and broad ranging and it is considered that the business needs are such that there is a requirement for suitable on-site switchboard operator services to appropriately manage all calls and enquiries received. This situation will be kept under review and any opportunities for savings will be explored.
168. Deputy Andrew Doyle asked the Taoiseach if he received a copy of the Being Young and Irish – Take Charge of Change report from the Office of the President, Áras an Uachtaráin as part of President Higgins series of seminars with young persons here which took place in Dublin, Galway, Monaghan and Cork in 2012; if he has noted the Take Charge of Change declaration made by the participants; the steps he has taken arising out of the report’s findings in order to achieve young person’s vision for Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14635/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI received a copy of the executive summary of the Being Young and Irish 2012 - Take Charge of Change Report and I have noted its contents with interest. I have also noted with interest the declaration prepared by the participants who attended the seminar in Áras an Uachtaráin in November last. The Minister for Children and Youth Affairs, Ms Frances Fitzgerald T.D., and a number of senior officials from Government Departments were present for the seminar.
Many of the themes identified in the Report are also covered in the Programme for Government and as the Deputy will be aware, the Government recently published a Report on the substantial progress made by the Government since 2011 in implementing the Programme.
169. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Taoiseach if he will provide in tabular form a breakdown of the annual saving to the public sector pay bill if non-commercial State agency pay were capped at €100,000. [15970/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe National Economic and Social Development Office (NESDO) is the only State Agency under the aegis of my Department. The NESDO was established under the NESDO Act 2006 and is the body corporate for the National Economic and Social Council (NESC).
Three staff members have salaries in excess of €100,000. If individual salaries were capped at €100,000, the annual savings to the public sector pay bill would be €53,955.
170. Deputy Jerry Buttimer asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade if he has made representations regarding the detention and treatment of Bahraini nationals by their own Government, in particular the treatment of some Bahraini doctors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14900/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI remain very concerned about the overall political and human rights situation in Bahrain. I have repeatedly called on the Bahraini Government to demonstrate its commitment to upholding human rights and to implement in full the recommendations of the Bahraini International Commission of Inquiry. The Commission has made specific recommendations which set out the way forward for Bahrain in terms of commitments in the areas of political dialogue, rule of law, human rights, and refraining from excessive violence. I am particularly concerned that the Bahraini authorities ensure that fundamental rights in relation to freedom of expression, and peaceful assembly and association, are fully respected. I have made clear in this House on a number of occasions my view that all charges against the medical professionals should have been dropped. Given the great concerns and doubts which have surrounded the case of the medics from the start, and particularly in light of the well-documented reports of ill-treatment to which many of those originally detained were subject, it is my view that the Bahraini Government should consider exercising clemency and releasing the imprisoned medical professionals. This would also be very much in the wider interests of promoting urgently needed reconciliation within Bahrain.
At the same time, I welcome the fact that there has been some progress in relation to political dialogue with the main opposition parties agreeing to meet with the Bahraini government within a process of national dialogue, which re-commenced last month. It is important that all sides engage constructively in this dialogue, with a view to furthering reconciliation and reform within Bahrain.
I have conveyed our concerns on human rights issues at every suitable opportunity with the Bahraini authorities and will continue to do so. Officials in my Department also regularly convey these serious concerns to the Bahraini Ambassador in London; and Ireland’s Ambassador in Riyadh, who is accredited to Bahrain, has raised these issues directly with the authorities there on every appropriate occasion, including most recently with the Foreign Minister while the Ambassador was in Bahrain over the St. Patrick’s Day period.
171. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered the way small to medium traders who rent premises adjacent to or in historic quarters could participate in the Living City Initiative; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14679/13]
Amharc ar fhreagra172. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Finance if he has considered that a broadening of the Living City Initiative to include building types other than those specified could enhance and drive the regeneration process in Counties Limerick and Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14680/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 171 and 172 together.
Finance Bill 2013 includes a section on the Living City Initiative which proposes to introduce a scheme of tax incentives focusing on the regeneration of the historic centres of some of our main cities. The scheme which will be introduced by Ministerial order, will apply in the first instance on a pilot basis to specified regeneration areas in Waterford and Limerick.
My Department has prepared an information note on this incentive which was published on the Department's website on 13 February last. The historic centres of some of our cities have suffered for a long time from gradual depopulation and the relocation of family homes and businesses to the suburbs, particularly during the period of the Celtic Tiger. These centres have also suffered greatly from the general economic downturn of the past few years. While I am not suggesting that this scheme is capable on its own of reversing that trend, I am convinced that it has a part to play.
The particular focus of the scheme is as follows: to encourage people back to the centres of Irish cities to live in historical buildings, in particular Georgian houses; and to encourage the regeneration of the retail heartland of central city business districts.
I indicated in my budget speech in December last year that I would examine proposals for a targeted incentive for already identified regeneration areas. The tax relief that will apply under this scheme will operate for five years from the date of commencement. However, it is my intention that before it begins, the scheme will be subject to an ex ante cost benefit analysis and, subject to a positive outcome from the analysis, I will seek EU approval under State Aid rules for this initiative to be commenced for Limerick and Waterford cities.
There are two strands to the scheme. The first involves a tax relief for the refurbishment or conversion of Georgian houses for residential purposes. The relief will only apply to owner occupiers and not for rented residential accommodation. It is not a section 23 provision, which was relief for investors.
The second strand is a scheme of accelerated industrial buildings allowances for the conversion and refurbishment of retail premises although other business services will also be allowed where the premises is a Georgian building. In such cases the commercial element will be confined to the ground floor or basement with a residential element upstairs. The allowance is at a rate of 15% per annum for six years and 10% in year seven and is subject to the normal balancing charges of allowances if disposed of within that time period. I have not yet decided on the exact boundaries of the regeneration areas in these cities but I will be consulting with my Government colleagues and the relevant local authorities beforehand before I make any final decision.
I hope these reliefs will help to restore some of these inner city areas to their former glory. The prevalence of Georgian houses is a particular characteristic of the built environment of many Irish cities. While some of these Georgian buildings have fallen into a state of disrepair and dereliction, my colleague, the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, and I have been exploring ways in which to promote and support the regeneration of these city centres. This pilot scheme is a targeted initiative which is aimed specifically at Georgian areas and I do not intend to go beyond this at this stage.
The reliefs I am introducing are an attempt to encourage people back into the cities to raise their families and if possible to operate their businesses from there. It will not be possible to revitalise these inner city areas without this happening. Pobal, the State agency that supports local communities, has developed a sophisticated index which measures deprivation in different local areas across Ireland. Taking into account the deprivation statistics from the 2011 census, both Limerick and Waterford scored as the most disadvantaged of our major cities. Furthermore unemployment rates in these cities are also the highest, significantly worse than the national average. Both have their own unique problems regarding unemployment and social problems and for these reasons I have selected them alone for the pilot phase of this initiative.
