Written Answers Nos. 151-6
151. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the actions he will take in order to reduce the cost of identification process for those involved in the equine business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16943/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra152. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he accepts that the burden of registering and chipping horses is a very considerable expense for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16951/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 151 and 152 together.
The identification of horses (and all other equines) is governed by EU Council Directives 90/426/EEC and 90/427/EEC and Commission Regulation (EC) No 504/2008 of 6 June 2008, which have been transposed into national legislation via S.I. No. 357 of 2011 – European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2001 (as amended). This legislation imposes an obligation and, as a corollary, any associated cost, on the owners and keepers of equines to ensure that equine animals in their possession are identified in accordance with the legislation.
The fees charged by veterinarians and Passport Issuing Organisations to individuals for identifying horses are commercial matters agreed between the relevant parties and my Department has no function in the matter. The reality is that ownership of property, including horses, involves certain costs and responsibilities and it would be entirely inappropriate to ask the taxpayer to subsidise this cost.
153. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projected annual spend, broken down by year and by sub-programme, of the Common Agricultural Policy rural development programme 2014-2020, for example, ANC payments, agri-environmenal schemes, genomics, etc.; a similar breakdown of the projected final spend under the CAP programme 2007-2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16998/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Rural Development Programme, 2014-2020 (RDP) will be co-funded from the National Exchequer and the EU’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). The agreement reached on the Multiannual Financial Framework provides for a total allocation of EU funding of €2.19 billion (€313m per annum over 7 years) to Ireland for a new RDP. €2.037 billion of the EU funding is allocated to measures to be delivered via the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, with the remainder allocated to LEADER funding which is administered by the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government.
The Government has shown its commitment to a strategic investment in Rural Ireland and the agri-food sector by providing matching National Exchequer funding at the rate of 46% to supplement the €2.037 billion EU allocation. In addition to this money, there is also an additional allocation from the current RDP 2007-2013 to be spent in 2014 and 2015. When taken in conjunction with the allocation of funding for LEADER measures, this represents a fund of over €4 billion for investment in rural development measures in the period to 2020.
While the final decisions have yet been made on the measures to be included in the new Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020, the new RDP will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas.
I have recently published a consultation document on the new RDP, which sets out a range of proposed measures for inclusion.
The main areas proposed for support in the new RDP are:
- a substantial new agri-environment/climate scheme (GLAS), which will build on the progress made under REPS and AEOS. This will provide for a maximum payment of €5,000 for up to 50,000 farmers, and a further payment of up to €2,000 for a limited number of farmers who take on particularly challenging actions,
- continued strong support for disadvantaged areas (now Areas of Natural Constraint), to the tune of about €195 million per year,
- incentives for on-farm capital investment,
- knowledge transfer and innovation measures, aimed at underpinning farm viability, sustainability and growth through the adoption of best practice and innovative solutions, including in the beef and sheep sectors,
- a beef data and genomics measure worth up to €52 million per year aimed at improving the genetic quality of the beef herd, and
- other supports aimed at collaborative farming, artisan producers, organic farming, etc.
The annual expenditure for each proposed measure over the lifetime of the new RDP will be subject to the normal annual budgetary procedure.
With regards to the 2007-2013 programming period, the following table sets out the measures co-funded under the Rural Development Programme 2007 – 2013 [RDP], including EAFRD funding and the corresponding national funding. The expenditure information is based on my Department’s quarterly returns to the European Commission and the table reflects the spend up to the end of 2013 (the last quarter for which figures are finalised). The table does not include funds already committed but not as yet claimed, and the final expenditure totals at the end of 2015 will be dependant on the successful completion of works by the applicant within the specified timelines. However, in managing the final years of expenditure under these Schemes, it is a priority for my Department to ensure that all of the remaining available EU funds under the RDP 2007-2013 will be fully drawn down by the end of 2015.
|
Axis / measure |
RDP Allocation based on 8th Amendment of RDP € |
Total Expenditure 2007 - end 2013 € |
|
AXIS 1 – Competitiveness |
- |
- |
|
Vocational training [REPs] |
- |
7,314,707 |
|
Installation Aid |
12,942,430 |
12,892,430 |
|
Early Retirement |
225,858,724 |
226,011,197 |
|
Farm Modernisation |
122,391,229 |
90,162,411 |
|
TOTAL AXIS 1 |
368,607,103 |
336,380,745 |
|
Axis 2 – Environment and land management |
- |
- |
|
Less Favoured Areas |
1,440,572,861 |
1,441,459,189 |
|
Natura 2000 |
95,738,297 |
95,038,737 |
|
Agri-environment |
2,067,950,808 |
1,974,015,339 |
|
Non productive investment |
15,982,800 |
12,490,996 |
|
TOTAL AXIS 2 |
3,620,244,766 |
3,523,004,261 |
|
Axis 3 |
- |
- |
|
Broadband |
0 |
0 |
|
TOTAL AXIS 3 |
0 |
0 |
|
Axis 4 |
- |
- |
|
Competitiveness |
- |
- |
|
Food Projects. |
5,000,000 |
374,338 |
|
Implementing Local Development Strategies - quality of Life |
266,458,746 |
177,119,933 |
|
Co-operation Projects |
7,878,000 |
3,205,975 |
|
Running of LAGS |
62,464,000 |
62,802,749 |
|
TOTAL AXIS 4 |
341,800,746 |
243,502,995 |
|
Axis 5 – |
- |
- |
|
Technical Assistance |
4,320,000 |
1,822,364 |
|
OVERALL RDP |
4,334,972,615 |
4,104,710,365 |
It should be noted that the expenditure figures for agri-environment, and consequently of Axis 2 and the overall RDP, in the table have been revised downward by €12m following further examination, since PQ No. 34 of the 26 March 2014.
154. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of fishermen who have applied for grants for loss of lobster pots and shrimp pots, respectively, due to the storms this winter; the number who have received payment to date; the total payment made under this scheme to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16999/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraEarlier this year, in response to the exceptional loss of pots reported by fishermen as a result of the severe storms experienced in January and February, I introduced a Shellfish Pot Replacement Scheme to assist pot fishermen with the cost of replacing lobster, crab and shrimp pots. The Scheme is to provide 40% of the cost of replacing these lost pots through fixed payments of €24 per lobster/crab pot and €12 per shrimp pot.
The Scheme is being administered by Bord Iascaigh Mhara. By the closing date of 28 March 2014, BIM had received 151 applications. These applications are being examined by BIM, so I am unable at this point in time to provide further details of the breakdown of the applications. BIM has advised me that it hopes to have all applications processed and paid by end May.
155. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a change in the rules relating to joint herd numbers; if so, the details of the changes; the reason for the changes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17003/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere have been no recent changes to the administrative arrangements governing the allocation of herd-numbers, including cases of more than one person registering an interest in a herd. Relevant application forms are available from my Department’s local offices.
156. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if interim compensation will be paid by his Department to sheep farmers in the Twelve Bens-Maam Turk area of Connemara, who left the REP scheme in December 2013 and will not be able to join the new GLAS scheme until 2015 due to the delay in approving Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy; if not, the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17004/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the situation outlined by the Deputy and the matter is being considered.
