Written Answers Nos. 510-532
510. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2013 suckler welfare scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20960/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayments to all eligible participants under the 2013 Beef Data Programme will commence in June of this year when all of the required notifications on calves born during the late autumn will be submitted by participants in the Programme and the related verification checks are completed by my Department.
511. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will pay the full AEOS payment in one instalment to farmers in view of the delays in issuing payments for 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20962/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) require that administrative checks must be carried out on all applications and on-the-spot checks must be carried out on at least 5% of beneficiaries.
The regulations further provide that Member States may issue up to 75% of the payment, but no more than that, once all administrative checks have been completed. The balancing 25% may issue only after all on-the-spot checks have been completed. It is not an option to make the full AEOS payment in a single instalment without deferring payment until such time as all checks are complete. It is for that reason that my Department opts to issue payment in two tranches, ensuring that participants receive up to 75% of the entire amount due as soon as possible.
512. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the AEOS 2013 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20964/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 75% payment issued to the person named on 7 May 2014. The balancing 25% payment will follow.
513. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether the use of donkeys in calculations for stocking density for the disadvantaged area scheme is not encouraging active farming; if he will reconsider excluding horses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20965/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraEligibility under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme requirements that applicants, among other obligations, satisfy the minimum stocking density requirements. That means that holdings must (a) meet an average stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for seven consecutive months and (b) maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare calculated over the 12 months of the Scheme year. A variety of livestock are eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation, including cattle, sheep, horses, goats and deer, in addition to donkeys. Among changes introduced in 2012 to the Terms and Conditions governing the Scheme was the requirement that, where any equines were being included in the stocking calculation, the holdings in question were required to be appropriately registered with my Department as equine premises. However, with the advent of the new Rural Development Programme, due to be adopted later this year, the time may be opportune to examine a number of elements of the Scheme. Any such changes will come into effect from the following Scheme-year, 2015.
514. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 466 of 11 March 2014, when area aid and single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20991/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2013 Single Farm Payment /Disadvantaged Area Schemes was received from the person named on 26 June 2013,which was outside the application period. The person named appealed the late submission of the application and following the submission of this appeal the late penalty was waived. Full payment under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme issued to the person named on 20 March 2014. Payment in respect of the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue shortly.
515. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 891 of 25 March 2014, when a decision will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20993/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe matter is still under consideration and it is understood that a report will shortly be submitted to the Appeals Committee following an on-site inspection scheduled for this week. Following receipt of that report the appeal will be considered further and every effort will be made to expedite the decision.
516. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No.193 of 2 April 2014 when an application for a DES grant will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20997/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS Dairy Equipment Scheme and submitted an application in the final tranche which closed on 31 December 2013. My Department has already acknowledged the receipt of the application. It is expected that a decision will be made in the case shortly.
517. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 215 of 3 April 2014, when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20998/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for Single Farm Payment was received from the person named on 5March 2013. On processing the application it was found that one parcel had been dual claimed by the person named and a third party.
The person named was informed on 20 August 2013 of the dual claim. The named person responded to this notification on 23 August stating that he did not have the right to use this parcel in 2013. He stated that he had been informed in early August that the parcel had been leased to another party.
Under the Terms and Conditions of the Single Farm Payment Scheme an applicant can remove an application for a parcel of land, without penalty, if he submits a request to the Single Farm Payment Unit before he is informed that the parcel is in error. As the person named did not request the removal of this parcel before being informed that it was in error it was rejected with subsequent penalty.
The applicant was informed on 19 November that the parcel would be rejected with penalty and was informed of his right to appeal to the Agriculture Appeals office. The person named has made such an appeal and this appeal is ongoing.
518. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on a REP scheme 4 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20999/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the full six years of their contract. However, due to a reduction in the contract area from 22.8 hectares to 16.97 hectares as a result of the disposal of lands in 2012, my Department applied a claw-back of certain monies paid. An appeal was lodged by the person named and following a review of this case, and upon receipt of additional information, it was decided to uphold the appeal and refund the amount recouped. This refund issued to the person named on 26 March 2014. Separately there were other REPS penalties amounting to €1,055 and this amount was deducted so there is no further money due back to the person named. I will forward the Deputy a summary of the payment situation.
519. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2013 rural environment protection scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21063/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the first five years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. A discrepancy was discovered during this process which has resulted in the necessity for further clarification. This issue is currently being investigated with the intention of an early resolution and payment in respect of 2013.
520. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare may expect payment of AEOS2 moneys; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21088/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe persons named were approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2011 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2011 Scheme year.
During a 2012 inspection, the persons named were found to be non-compliant in respect of the Species Rich Grassland and Broadleaf Tree Planting actions. A letter issued to the persons named notifying them of the inspection findings and setting out the appeal option. As no appeal was received my Department processed the file on the basis of the inspection findings. I expect payment in respect of 2012, less penalties due, to issue shortly. Once payment for the 2012 Scheme year issues, payment for the 2013 Scheme year will be processed.
521. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding 2013 payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21167/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, applicants were required to maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the 12 months of the scheme year. Payment under the 2013 Scheme has not issued to the person named as their holding has not satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements. No payment is due to the person named in respect of the 2013 Single Payment Scheme as the person named does not hold any payment entitlements.
No payment is due to the person named in respect of the 2013 Grassland Sheep Scheme as the person named did not submit a Sheep Census return to cover this period.
522. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding disadvantaged area payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21186/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, was received from the person named on 17 April 2013. The application was the subject of a Remote Sensing (i.e. Satellite Inspection) ground eligibility inspection. The results of this inspection indicated over-claims on two land parcels. A ground inspection confirmed a total over-claim of greater than 20%. The person named was informed by letter dated 11 December of the outcome of the inspection process and advised of his right of appeal within the Department.
Following an appeal by the person named and a further farm visit, the penalty was reduced to between 3 and 20%. Any payment still due on foot of the most recently determined position, will issue in the near future.
The applicant has been informed by letter, dated 3 April, of his right to appeal the most recent determination to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
523. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the names of the inspectors from the agricultural appeals office who carried out an inspection on Keelderry commonage in Galway on 23 January 2014; if these inspectors were formerly inspectors with his Department; and whether they are still being paid by his Department. [21190/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agriculture Appeals Office is an independent statutory agency established in 2002 to provide an appeals service to farmers who are dissatisfied with decisions of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine concerning designated schemes operated by the Department. An appeal to the Office does not impinge on any other existing right of appeal. The operating costs of the Office are funded by the Department.The Agriculture Appeals Office was asked by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to review the eligibility decision in relation to the lands known as Keelderry commonage. As part of this review, three officials from the Office visited the commonage on 23 January 2014. None of the officials listed (names provided) were involved in Single Payment Scheme Inspections prior to joining the Agriculture Appeals Office.
All shareholders in the commonage were notified in advance by the Minister of Agriculture, Food and the Marine of the review request and by the Agriculture Appeals Office of the site visit.
524. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the grants and schemes, tax breaks and other matters for which an agricultural qualification is required; the arrangements he has made to ensure that there is an adequate supply of places provided on courses to acquire these qualifications; the current waiting time for such courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21213/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are two taxation measures available exclusively to younger farmers that require a minimum agricultural education standard:
- 100% Stock Relief on Income Tax for Certain Young Trained Farmers
- Stamp Duty Exemption on Transfers of Land to Young Trained Farmers.
By targeting those who have undertaken the necessary training to learn the skills that will maximize the potential of their farm holdings, the inclusion of minimum agricultural education standards as part of the eligibility criteria ensures the allocation of resources to those younger farmers who have shown a clear commitment towards their career in agriculture.
Traditionally an educational qualification was a requirement under the National Reserve measure of the Single Payment scheme and it is likely that it will also be a requirement under the Basic Payment scheme National Reserve. Also I intend to include an educational qualification standard as part of the qualifying criteria under the Young Farmers scheme to be introduced in 2015.
Under the Targeted Agriculture Modernisation Schemes (TAMS) which were in place under the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme, the selection criteria in certain cases gave priority to farmers who had completed a certain level of agricultural training. Under the TAMS Sow Welfare Scheme, it is a requirement that an applicant has a Certificate of Participation in a Teagasc Pig welfare Workshop.
Teagasc, which comes within the remit of my Department, provides integrated research, advisory and training services to the agriculture and food industry and rural communities. The arrangements it has in place to ensure supply of places is an operational matter for that agency.
525. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total financial provision in the draft rural development plan 2014-2020 for the new GLAS scheme and the disadvantaged area scheme-areas of natural constraint scheme respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21214/14]
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 new RDP will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agrifood sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. I have announced today full financial allocations as well as important new details in relation to the support measures to be included in the new RDP.
The total financial provision for the new GLAS will be €1,450 million over the lifetime of the RDP. The total financial provision for the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme will be €1,370 million. This allocation includes a new additional top up to compensate island farmers for the particular challenges they face.
526. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any telephone calls in or out of his Department are being, or ever have been recorded, and if so, if he will provide details of the systems used to record and store such calls, the cost to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21227/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not nor never had a policy of recording telephone calls received in or made from its offices.
527. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer who currently has a land parcel area under appeal and is waiting on the result of the inspection can apply on the reduced area and if the appeal is successful, will receive the increased area retrospectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21245/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that one of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. As the person named applied submitted an application for a review of my Department’s decision, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was necessary to progress the matter. This verification visit was conducted, the file is being processed and person named will be informed of the outcome of his appeal, in writing, as soon as possible. Insofar as the 2014 Single Payment Scheme is concerned, the person named should base his application on the reduced land, on the understanding that, should his appeal be successful, my Department will automatically adjust his application to reflect the decision.
528. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total amount deducted in penalties from farmers for the single farm payment in 2013, broken down by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21302/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled at present and will be forwarded to you directly.
529. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in the rural environment protection scheme 2013 payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if he will expedite the processing of the application and issue the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21346/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in January 2010 and received payments for the first three years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. It is a scheme requirement that all REPS contract lands are declared annually in the Single Payment Scheme (SPS). Five commonage parcels were not included in the 2013 SPS declaration of the person named, and therefore these lands could not be considered for payment under REPS in 2013. An amendment to include these commonage parcels for SPS was submitted to my Department in March 2014 which will make it possible to include them for payment under REPS for 2014. The 2013 payment remains unchanged and my officials are now moving to finalise this and issue payment to the person named.
530. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a decision on their appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21347/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that several of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. As the person named applied submitted an application for a review of my Department’s decision, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was necessary to progress the matter. This verification visit was carried out, the results are being processed and the person named will be informed of the outcome of his appeal, in writing, as soon as possible.
531. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoin Scéim um Chosaint na Timpeallachta Tuaithe 4 (REPS 4) le feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí leis seo), cén fáth go bhfuil moill ar an íocaíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [21357/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraChuaigh an té atá ainmnithe isteach i Scéim REPS 4 i Meitheamh 2008 agus fuair íocaíochtaí maidir leis an gcéad chúig bhliana dá chonradh.
Is beart faoin gClár um Fhorbairt Tuaithe 2007-13 é REPS 4 agus tagann faoi réir Rialacháin AE. Faoi na Rialacháin sin éilítear seiceálacha riaracháin mionsonraithe a thabhairt i gcrích ar gach iarratas sula ndéantar aon íocaíocht.
Tugadh neamhréireacht faoi deara le linn an phróisis sin agus dá bharr bhí tuilleadh soiléireachta de dhíth.
Tá an scéal réitithe anois agus déanfar an íocaíocht faoi Scéim REPS 2013 a phróiseáil le súil is íocaíocht a dhéanamh a luaithe agus is féidir.
532. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when agri-environment options scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21382/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 November 2010 and full payment has issued in respect of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During the checking process in respect of the 2013 Scheme year, an issue was identified relating to the land area claimed. To date, 75% payment in respect of 2013 issued to the person named on 27 November 2013. Officials in my Department are actively working on finalising this issue with the intention of issuing the balancing 25% payment as soon as possible.
