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Thursday, 8 May 2014

Written Answers Nos. 171 - 180

Defence Forces Training

Ceisteanna (171)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

171. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Defence the degree to which the most modern training methods remain available to the Army, Naval Service and Air Corps; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20817/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Training and education of personnel at all levels are vital activities in any defence force as they enable such personnel to achieve their required standard of operational effectiveness. The Defence Forces conducts training and education under three broad categories namely skills training, career training and education and collective training. Skills training is the medium through which the Defence Forces ensures that its personnel have the requisite individual, specialist, and crew skills to permit the development of organisational capabilities. Career training provides the organisation with the necessary pool of leaders and commanders at all levels from Section Commander to Brigade Commander. Collective Training allows military personnel to use their individual, crew, specialist and career training together. This moulds Sub-Units, Units and Formations into integrated and coherent combat forces. This provides the Defence Forces with the capabilities required to fulfil its roles and missions, both at home and overseas.

External education at University and Institute level, both home and abroad, fulfils Defence Forces requirements by providing education and expertise, which cannot be delivered within the organisation and which ensures that Defence Forces personnel attain the required level of academic and professional qualifications.

Training standards in the Defence Forces are constantly benchmarked against best international practice. Participation in ongoing overseas operations also necessitates multi lateral-training and assessment. This facilitates ongoing review of Defence Forces re-skilling and training methods and standards within an international military context. I am advised that Defence Forces personnel continue to have the requisite modern and effective training methods and equipment and technology for both their training and day-to-day roles.

Defence Forces Deployment

Ceisteanna (172)

Seán Ó Fearghaíl

Ceist:

172. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the number of Defence Forces personnel whose home station was Custume Barracks, Athlone, on 30 November 2012; and the most recent figures for the number of Defence Forces personnel whose home station, not attached, is Custume Barracks, Athlone. [20828/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It was not possible to provide the information sought by the Deputy in the time available. The Department is currently seeking to compile an accurate reply and I will provide the information directly to the Deputy once it comes to hand.

Single Payment Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (173)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

173. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a headage payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20653/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person named submitted an application for the Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Schemes which was received in the Department on 15 May 2013. On examination of the application, a query was raised regarding the herd owners entitlement to the share of a commonage being claimed. On 20 September 2013, my Department requested the herd owner to substantiate his entitlement to claim 9/60 of the commonage in question. Proof of entitlement was received from the herd owner for 6/60 of the commonage. Despite a further request on 18 November 2013, no further proof of entitlement to claim the extra 3/60 portion of this commonage was received by the Department. The applicant’s 2013 payments for both of the schemes will issue shortly with a reduction penalty under the Single Payment Scheme for the over claim on the aforementioned commonage. The herd owner has the right to appeal this over claim penalty.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (174)

Pat Breen

Ceist:

174. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who did not reach the entire stocking density in 2011 and thereafter increased their stocking density will receive payment for 2012, 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20660/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The requirement that an applicant’s holding had to have achieved a minimum stocking density in 2011 of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare in order to be considered under the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, also applied to the 2013 Scheme and again applies to the 2014 Scheme. This change to the Terms & Conditions was one of a number introduced in 2012, designed to make the Scheme more focused and, in doing so, contribute the necessary savings to the Scheme budget. This reduction in the overall Scheme budget was necessitated by the national budgetary position. However, rather than applying an across-the-board rate cut, a more targeted approach was adopted, designed to minimise the impact on those contributing most to achieving the aims of the Scheme. It will be recalled that a robust appeals mechanism was put in place to allow those who wished the opportunity to challenge their ineligibility, following the changes. Some 12,000 farmers availed of this process.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (175)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

175. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an agri-environment options scheme payment. [20705/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of 2013 and payment will issue shortly.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (176)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

176. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their agri-environment options scheme payment. [20706/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of 2013 and payment will issue shortly.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (177)

Michelle Mulherin

Ceist:

177. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the agri-environment option scheme payment to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been delayed; when they may expect payment to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20717/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 November 2010 and has received full payment in respect of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. There were some issues in finalising the 2013 Scheme year payment which have now been resolved. The application has now successfully completed the prepayment validation checks for 2013 and 75% payment will issue shortly. The balancing 25% payment will follow.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (178)

Michelle Mulherin

Ceist:

178. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an agri-environment options scheme payment to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been delayed; when the person may expect payment to be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20718/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department has no record of having received an Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) application from the person named or in respect of the herd number quoted for AEOS I, AEOS II or AEOS III.

Animal Welfare

Ceisteanna (179)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

179. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the extent to which all non-sporting horses have been registered electronically or otherwise; the extent to which the welfare of such animals continues to be monitored by his Department; the number of instances of mistreatment identified since the passage of animal welfare legislation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20594/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The identification of all horses including non-sporting 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 came into effect on 1 July 2009. The legislation requires all keepers of equines to identify horses in accordance with the legislation. The process of identification includes completion of a marking sheet by a private veterinary practitioner and since 1 July 2009, in accordance with the Commission Regulation, the insertion of a transponder, which creates a link between the animal and the passport. Accordingly the micro-chipping of equines for identification purposes was not a mandatory requirement prior to July 2009.

The Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 which I commenced recently, strengthens considerably the powers in relation to horse welfare matters and places clear obligations on owners to ensure the welfare of horses in their ownership and/or their care and to dispose of them appropriately. The Act provides the legal basis for the notification of transfer of ownership of horses and legislation is currently being prepared to provide for this. Also new regulations on the registration of horse premises, which I introduced in 2012, require an owner/person in charge of any premises on which horses are kept to register the premises with my Department. My Department will, in conjunction with the local authorities and An Garda Siochana, continue to adopt a pro-active approach in relation to horse welfare and will remove at-risk animals and, where appropriate, institute prosecution relating to any maltreatment of these animals.

My Department has been operating an Animal Welfare Helpline for some time with a view to enabling persons who are concerned about the welfare of horses or indeed any animal to contact my Department. Officials continue to monitor calls including those received since the commencement of the Animal Health and Welfare Act and are following up on calls as appropriate.

Animal Identification Schemes

Ceisteanna (180)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

180. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of non-sporting horses registered at present; the extent to which such numbers have fluctuated; the estimated number of any such animals not registered; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20595/14]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

It is assumed that the Deputy is referring to ‘sport horses’ in his query rather than ‘non-sporting horses’. In 2012, a study commissioned by Horse Sport Ireland (HSI) and carried out by UCD entitled "Economic Contribution of the Sport Horse Industry to the Irish Economy", estimated the total population of sport horses in Ireland to be 124,368 equines across the breeding, competition and leisure sectors. Regarding equine registrations, trends over the last six years have shown a significant decrease in the numbers of sport horse foals being registered. In 2008, 14,389 sport horse foals were registered by Irish Passport Issuing Organisations whereas in 2013 this figure had reduced to 9,111 registrations. It is not possible to provide any reasonable estimate of the number of unregistered horses in the country.

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