Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 November 2013
9. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and name, in tabular form, of each commonage inspected in County Galway in 2013; the pre-inspection digitised area of each; and the pre-inspection and post-inspection reference area, that is, forage area, of each. [48145/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraI asked that the Minister would provide in tabular form the names and townlands of each commonage inspected in County Galway in 2013; the pre-inspection digitised area of each and the pre- and post-inspection reference area, that is, the forage area. I am concerned about inconsistencies in forage values of commonage throughout the county and perhaps the country and I await the figures.
The Deputy will be aware that in excess of €1.7 billion is paid annually to farmers in Ireland under the various area-based schemes including the single farm payment and disadvantaged areas scheme. Payments under these schemes may be made only in respect of eligible land and applicants under the scheme are obliged annually to declare the land parcels available to them. Details of the eligible area of the land parcels are recorded on the Department's land parcel identification system. Details of the use and area claimed for each of the 1 million parcels on the LPIS system are registered and continually monitored by our Department.
Commonage 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 biodiversity, wildlife, amenities and economic returns like tourism. Over 16,000 farmers claim in excess of 300,000 hectares of commonage as part of their land to draw down direct payments administered by the Department.
As part of the eligibility verification process, eligibility checks, including checks on commonages, must be carried out on at least 5% of applications. These checks are carried out to verify that the actual area claimed in the application form corresponds to the area farmed by the farmer and to ensure that any ineligible land or features are not included for aid purposes. In respect of each hectare declared, the eligible land excludes any area under roads, paths, buildings, farmyards, woods, scrub, rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, sand, areas of bare rock, boglands unfit for grazing, sand pits, areas used for quarrying, inaccessible areas and areas used as sports fields, golf courses and pitch and putt courses. The list is endless. Furthermore, there must be evidence of sufficient agricultural activity being conducted throughout the parcel. Unused or fenced-off parts of a parcel may be ineligible.
Additional information not given on the floor of the House
Commonages inspected in 2013 are made up of those declared by farmers and are selected as part of the risk assessment process operated by the Department. In total, 83 commonage parcels in Galway were selected for inspection and the work on these inspections is ongoing. I will, however, forward directly to the Deputy the requested details of the commonage parcels where the inspection has been completed.
|
Townland |
Digitised Area (Pre-inspection) |
Reference Area (Pre-Inspection) |
Digitised Area (Post-inspection) |
Reference Area (Post Inspection) |
|
KNOCKAVALLY |
14.58 |
14.41 |
14.58 |
14.27 |
|
LECKNAVARNA |
19.4 |
15.46 |
19.4 |
15.46 |
|
CLOONNACARTAN |
0.17 |
0.17 |
0.25 |
0 |
|
CLOONNACARTAN |
1.96 |
1.96 |
2.47 |
2.42 |
|
CLOONNACARTAN |
0.68 |
0.68 |
0.74 |
0.71 |
|
TONLEGEE |
10.04 |
9.54 |
10.04 |
9.54 |
|
KEERAUNBEG |
8.38 |
6.55 |
8.38 |
6.55 |
|
KEERAUNBEG |
15.14 |
13.12 |
15.14 |
13.12 |
|
KEERAUNBEG |
3.75 |
3.1 |
3.75 |
3.1 |
|
BALLYNAHOWN NORTH |
18.4 |
17.48 |
18.4 |
17.48 |
|
INVERAN |
6.09 |
6.03 |
6.09 |
6.03 |
|
KNOCKAUNRANNY |
13.95 |
2.79 |
13.95 |
0 |
|
KNOCKAUNRANNY |
9.36 |
8.03 |
9.21 |
0 |
|
KNOCKAUNRANNY |
7.57 |
7.29 |
7.57 |
0 |
|
DERREENMEEL |
10.52 |
10.52 |
10.52 |
0 |
|
LARRAGAN |
6.54 |
6.54 |
6.54 |
4.06 |
|
LISHEENANORAN |
8.67 |
7 |
8.4 |
7.79 |
|
GARDENHAM OR GARRYMORE |
6.55 |
6.55 |
6.55 |
6.55 |
|
CAHERGAL |
9.44 |
2.19 |
9.44 |
3.1 |
|
CAHERGAL |
2.1 |
0.84 |
2.1 |
0.84 |
|
CAHERGAL |
0.95 |
0.95 |
0.95 |
0.84 |
|
Cloontooa |
1.76 |
1.32 |
1.7 |
1.37 |
|
Cloontooa |
19.89 |
4.93 |
19.57 |
6.89 |
|
Cloontooa |
4.77 |
2.82 |
4.62 |
4.53 |
|
Cloontooa |
8.43 |
3.37 |
8.41 |
7.98 |
|
Cloontooa |
10.33 |
2.71 |
10.32 |
4.42 |
|
Cloontooa |
2.91 |
1.76 |
2.91 |
1.96 |
|
Cloontooa |
8.54 |
0.78 |
8.57 |
0 |
|
CORLISKEA |
5.82 |
2.46 |
5.82 |
2.71 |
|
CORLISKEA |
11.68 |
8.74 |
11.54 |
9.04 |
|
BALLYBOGGAN |
2.95 |
2.83 |
2.95 |
2.83 |
|
KILLACLOGHER |
17.94 |
7.14 |
17.94 |
7.14 |
|
ABBERT DEMESNE |
4.6 |
4.21 |
4.6 |
4.21 |
|
DERREW |
4.42 |
4.42 |
4.29 |
0.9 |
|
AGGARD MORE |
2.17 |
2.11 |
2.17 |
2.11 |
|
CAHERALOGGY WEST |
2.08 |
1.93 |
2.24 |
2.12 |
|
CARRIGEEN EAST |
16.6 |
16.43 |
16.6 |
16.43 |
|
CARRIGEEN WEST |
13.87 |
13.35 |
13.87 |
13.35 |
|
GARRAUN |
4.27 |
3.84 |
4.27 |
3.84 |
|
RAHASANE |
9.54 |
9.54 |
9.54 |
9.54 |
|
BALLYNAGRAN |
3.78 |
3.59 |
3.52 |
3.39 |
|
CAHERADINE |
15.36 |
14.71 |
15.36 |
14.71 |
|
CAHERFURVAUS |
2.95 |
2.48 |
2.95 |
2.48 |
|
CARHEENADIVEANE |
4.95 |
4.71 |
4.95 |
4.71 |
|
CARHEENADIVEANE |
1.36 |
1.23 |
1.36 |
1.23 |
|
FAHYMACTIBBOT |
0.74 |
0.51 |
0.74 |
0.57 |
|
KILLEENEEN BEG |
8.74 |
8.35 |
8.92 |
7.68 |
|
RINN |
10.05 |
9.37 |
10.05 |
9.37 |
|
RINN |
7.08 |
6.85 |
7.08 |
6.85 |
|
SHANBALLY |
14.57 |
12.54 |
14.57 |
12.54 |
|
TOOREEN NORTH |
17.92 |
14.79 |
17.6 |
15.89 |
|
TOOREEN SOUTH |
3.09 |
2.48 |
3.09 |
2.94 |
|
TARRAMUD |
2.54 |
1.75 |
2.54 |
1.78 |
I thank the Minister of State for the reply. I am not blaming him because he has simply been given the information, but where is the tabular form with the commonages? Has it been provided? My direct question was to ask the Minister to provide in tabular form each commonage and the pre- and post-inspection details.
I have spoken to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Deputy Coveney, previously, during the CAP negotiations, with regard to the coefficient and I expressed my concern about the downgrading of commonage forage areas vis-à-vis other lands. He has assured me, and I accept his bona fides, that commonage areas will be treated equally to other areas. However, I am concerned about certain cases. Certain cases have been highlighted in Galway and the Minister has received a communication from the European Parliament Committee on Petitions with regard to the downgrading of the Keelderry commonage in south Galway. I am concerned about Keelderry but also about the implications of these inspections on commonage throughout the country. That is the reason I requested the information in tabular form. It has not been provided, which is disappointing. I appreciate the Minister of State may not be familiar with the matter because I was dealing with the Minister, Deputy Coveney, on this issue, but I would appreciate receipt of the information I asked for in tabular form.
I will refer the matter to the officials. Deputy Kyne referred to Keelderry commonage. I understand Deputy Kyne has been in communication with the Minister in this regard. A review process is in place and Deputy Kyne will be notified and given the exact details. I understand that process is in place and I trust Deputy Kyne will be happy with the situation at that stage.
Question No. 10 in the name of Deputy Pringle is next. Deputy Pringle is not present so we will go on to Question No. 11.
