Written Answers Nos. 513-521
513. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide in tabular form the number of civil/public servants under the remit of his Department who earn more than €500,000, between €400,000-€500,00, €300,000 - €250,000, €250,000 - €200,000, €200,000 - €150,000, €150,000 - €100,000, €100,000 - €80,000, €80,000 - €60,000, €60,000 - €40,000 and less than €30,000. [18866/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt has not been possible in the time available to compile all the necessary information requested by the Deputy. The information will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
514. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Defence if a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny is entitled to a pension based on the service of their spouse; and if they are due any other financial support following the death of their spouse. [19140/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe contributory pension schemes for the widow(er)s and children of deceased military personnel are essentially the same as those applying elsewhere in the public service. Benefits under the schemes are additional to Widow(er)'s Contributory Pension that may be payable under the Social Welfare Acts in respect of deceased personnel by virtue of their social insurance (PRSI) contributions. Provision for the payment of pensions by my Department to the spouses and children of deceased Enlisted Personnel of the Permanent Defence Force was first made in 1978 when a Contributory Pension Scheme for those dependants was introduced. Personnel serving at the time were included as members of the scheme unless they made a positive option in writing not to become members. In 1985, Enlisted Personnel were given a second opportunity to make provision for their dependants when all those who had opted out of the original scheme in 1978 were invited to reconsider their decision and to join a revised scheme. The deceased spouse of the person in question therefore had two opportunities to join the scheme, but he opted not to do so. In the circumstances, I regret that the person in question is not eligible for a pension from my Department. However, she should contact the Department of Social Protection, as she may be entitled to a pension or other benefits from that Department.
515. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment of the 2012 disadvantaged area scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18221/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the holdings of eligible applicants were required to have met a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of six consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the 12 months of the scheme year. As the applicant has not as yet demonstrated that the holding satisfies the scheme minimum stocking density requirements, as of now, no payment is due in respect of the 2012 Scheme.
516. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the supports and guidance currently available within his Department to assist farmers in their bid to eliminate BVD from their farms; if his Department will provide any financial support in terms of compensation to the suckler farming industry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18233/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraBVD is a notifiable disease as and from 1 January 2013. All calves born on or after this date must be compulsory tested for the BVD virus. A BVD helpline operates to assist farmers who have queries in relation to the scheme. Further information is available on www.animalhealthireland.ie. It has been estimated that the overall benefit for the eradication of this disease is hugely beneficial to farmers. The provision of compensation has to be placed in the context of the economic benefits accruing to farmers arising from the eradication of this disease and, particularly, the short payback time involved for individual farmers as well as the scarce budgetary resources available to my Department. The strategy of my Department is to concentrate its scarce resources in continuing to support Animal Health Ireland in its ongoing work to enhance the value for beef and dairy farmers through superior animal health and in establishing control programmes for non-regulated diseases of livestock in Ireland.
517. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Q3 agreements are in place in respect of turbary rights for persons (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18243/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department cannot locate Q3 turbary sale agreements in respect of the persons named from a perusal of former Irish Land Commission records for the bog concerned. The persons named should make contact with the Lands Branch of my Department’s Legal Services Division which is based in Farnham Street, Cavan, Telephone 049 4368200, in order to pursue the matter further.
518. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when are turbary rights extinguished on a bog under normal circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18244/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have no jurisdiction to adjudicate on a private dispute between a fee simple owner and any turbary users. Where there is a dispute, resolution can be sought either by agreement between the parties concerned or by resolution through the courts.
519. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a final decision on an early retirement scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18246/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis matter was under appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office. The decision of Agricultural Appeals Office was issued to the person named on 13 March 2013. The Agricultural Appeals Office upheld the decision of my Department.
520. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a forestry grant payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [18256/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraOutstanding forestry premium payments in respect of this contract were made on 22 January 2013.
521. Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the concerns of an organisation (details supplied); if he will outline his views on the ownership of Coillte; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18266/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have noted the concerns of the Donegal Woodland Owners Society Limited, as conveyed by the Deputy and a number of other Oireachtas Members. By way of update on the matter, further to the Government’s decision that a concession for the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests be considered for sale, NewERA, Coillte, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and my Department have worked to examine the financial and other implications of developing the potential of Coillte’s forest assets. 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. These include, inter alia, the possible impact on the timber industry, public access to recreational land, environmental and social impacts and consequential implications for the company. I note that these are also the issues raised by the Donegal Woodland Owners Society Limited.
The Government is fully conscious of such concerns in relation to the Coillte sale proposal. A number of these issues were also discussed in the Dáil debate on the proposal on 26 and 27 February last. While the consideration process is at an advanced stage, no decision has yet been taken. The outcome of the overall analysis will be considered by the Government upon its conclusion. In relation to the ownership of the company, Coillte was established as a private company in accordance with the Forestry Act 1988, which also provided for the issue of shares to the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. It is therefore a State owned company. I wish to reiterate that it is the sale of the harvesting rights to Coillte’s forests that is under consideration and not the sale of the land or the company.
