Written Answers Nos. 93-104
93. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their single farm payment and their disadvantaged area payment; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39032/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas' scheme application on 25 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. Initial processing of this inspection identified a requirement to verify the eligibility of a number of parcels by means of a field inspection.
On completion of this inspection the results will be processed with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
94. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a disadvantaged area scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39044/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas' scheme application on 29 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed. Processing will now be finalised and I expect that payment will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
95. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on a single farm payment and disadvantaged area scheme payment in respect of person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39144/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment /Disadvantaged Areas' scheme application on 12 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue. The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection has been completed and the results are now being finalised with the intention of issuing any payment due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
96. Deputy Robert Dowds asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has a fund of money to finance urban horse projects; and the way such funds may be accessed. [39145/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Control of Horses Act, 1996 my Department assists in the funding of local authorities in the seizure of straying horses. Currently my Department is exploring the possibility of providing funding for horse projects in conjunction with Local Authorities throughout the country. It is anticipated that such projects will have an educational element and also address issues related to compliance with equine related legislation including identification, premises registration and control of horses. I will be glad to keep the Deputy informed of further developments as they arise.
97. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their area-based compensation payment; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39166/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayments under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme began issuing, on target, on 24 September. Payment has not yet issued to the person named as, at this stage, the holding concerned has not yet satisfied the Scheme minimum stocking density requirements. Immediately the holding concerned is confirmed as having met these requirements, the case will be further processed with a view to payment issuing to the person named at the earliest possible date thereafter, provided all other Scheme requirements have been satisfied.
98. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding a debt; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39181/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named planted lands in 2009 but did not record this until 2012 on his Area Aid Application. As a consequence, not only was he overpaid on Area Aid, he also received payment on this land under both FEPS and REPS for 2009, 2010, and 2011. In accordance with the EU rules governing the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS), a person cannot receive REPS and FEPS simultaneously on the same land. Consequently recoupment of REPS monies received in respect of the land in question must be sought.
The Area Aid correction was processed first, while recoupment of the REPS monies received is now part of an end-of-contract review process.
99. Deputy Dinny McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons for the delay in paying a disadvantaged areas payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; the steps he will take to expedite the payment; when it is expected the actual payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39188/14]
Amharc ar fhreagra102. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason an application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal has not been fully processed; when it will be processed and payment made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39198/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 102 together.
The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas' scheme application on 21 April 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Remote Sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection is currently being finalised with the intention of issuing any payments due as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
100. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if all outstanding payments under herd number (details supplied) have been paid to the estate of the now deceased herd owner; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39191/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll payments under both the Single Farm Payment and Disadvantaged Areas Schemes due have issued to the estate of the deceased.
101. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application to plant land in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39197/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application by the person named was refused on 8 November 2011 because the site proposed for afforestation was considered likely to have an adverse impact on existing landscape values. The person named submitted a further application which has since been approved, subject to conditions, on a reduced area. This site is within an area of high archaeological and landscape significance. In considering applications to afforest in such areas, the Department must have regard to the impact of the scale of the proposed planting on, inter alia, the landscape, the archaeological features on site, and to the observations of the relevant statutory authorities including Inland Fisheries Ireland, National Monuments Service and the local authority.
Having completed this analysis the Department decided to approve, subject to conditions, the second application for a reduced area having taken account of the views of the statutory bodies and the likely impact that the scale of the proposed planting would have on the environment.
103. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will publish the raw milk study, which was carried out by his Department in conjunction with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland in 2013. [39202/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the report of the study on raw milk is being prepared by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland and will be published when finalised, later this year. The findings are expected to confirm that raw milk contains traces of pathogens at comparable levels to those found in previous studies and in other countries. For this reason, the Scientific Committee of the Food Safety Authority recommends that consumers should only drink pasteurised milk, as pasteurisation continues to be an effective measure to ensure the safety of milk.
104. Deputy Michael McNamara asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount his Department expended on testing a food producer (details supplied) in County Clare in 2013. [39203/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraAt the request of my Department, a number of tests were carried out during 2013 by the Public Health Laboratory (PHL) in Limerick on samples of product manufactured by this food business operator. Where positives were identified, cultures were sent by the PHL Limerick to PHL Cherry Orchard and Colindale in England for further typing. Costs associated with these tests were borne by the HSE. My Department did not incur any expenditure in this regard.
