Written Answers Nos. 98-106
98. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if scientific reports provided by the Marine Institute on the Galway Bay licence application were rejected by his Department; the scientific basis for their rejection; and if his assessment of this application has been completed. [1916/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oírr in Galway Bay was received by my Department in 2012. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. A determination in respect of the application will be made as soon as possible following completion of the necessary assessment process. This assessment process will take full account of all national and EU legislative requirements and will reflect the full engineering, scientific, environmental, legal and public policy aspects of the application.
The fullest consideration is being given to all submissions received as part of the statutory and public consultation stages of the process.
There is always a strict separation between my Ministerial role as decision maker in respect of aquaculture licence applications and my Ministerial duty to promote the sustainable development of the industry. This separation of duties is strictly observed.
As the application is under active consideration as part of the statutory process it would not be appropriate for me to comment further at this time.
99. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the moneys spent by the Marine Institute in providing advice to Bord Iascaigh Mhara for the Galway Bay licence application and, separately, the moneys spent by the Marine Institute in advice to his Department as part of the application assessment process. [1917/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra100. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the moneys spent by Bord Iascaigh Mhara in preparing its Galway Bay licence application; and the moneys spent by BIM to date in preparing its licence application for the deep sea site application in County Mayo. [1918/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 99 and 100 together.
The detailed allocation of resources by the Marine Institute or Bord Iascaigh Mhara is an operational matter for the respective boards of those Agencies. I will forward the Deputy’s question to the respective Agencies for direct reply.
101. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has taken any action under the Animal Health and Welfare Act to deal with the alleged chainsaw slaughter of a pig in a housing estate in Dunboyne in December 2014, to ensure that no such atrocities are committed again. [1920/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe incident in question is the subject of an investigation by An Garda Síochána. In view of this, it is inappropriate for me to comment on the matter.
102. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a REPS payment has not been paid to persons (details supplied) in County Galway; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1927/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in October 2009 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. During the administrative checks an issue was discovered in relation to the inclusion of an additional name to the herd number which required further clarification. This has now been resolved and the 2014 75% payment will issue shortly. The remaining 25% balancing payment will issue thereafter.
103. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position in relation to a matter (details supplied) regarding testing of calves diagnosed with BVD; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1928/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe farmer named applied under the Beef Genomics Scheme for 2014. The terms and conditions of this Scheme require that all animals with a positive/inconclusive BVD test result must be removed to the knackery within 7 weeks of the date of the initial test in order to be eligible for aid. The person named had an animal bearing tag number IE181788240776 which tested positive for BVD on 15 August 2014 but was not removed until 8 October 2014. As this is outside the required 7 week period as outlined, the person named is not eligible for payment under the Beef Genomics Scheme.
The applicant may seek a review of this decision setting out any reasons why he was unable to comply with the requirements of the Scheme. The appeal should be submitted in writing to the, Beef Schemes Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
104. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payment has not issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway regarding the beef genomic scheme for 2013 and 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1929/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named applied under the Beef Genomics Scheme for 2014. The Terms and Conditions of this Scheme require that all animals with a positive/inconclusive BVD test result must be removed to the knackery within 7 weeks of the date of the initial test in order to be eligible for aid.
The person named had an animal bearing tag number IE181788240776 which showed positive for BVD on 15 August 2014 but was not removed until 8 October 2014. As this is outside the required 7 week period as outlined, the person named is not eligible for payment under the Beef Genomics Scheme.
The applicant may seek a review of this decision setting out any reasons why he was unable to comply with the requirements of the Scheme. The appeal should be submitted in writing to Mr. Pat Preston, Beef Schemes Section, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois.
105. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if donkeys will be included in the stocking rate for disadvantaged area scheme payments for 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1930/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the new Rural Development Plan 2015-2020, it is proposed that under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme 2015, holdings of eligible applicants will be required to maintain a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a minimum retention period of seven consecutive months, in addition to maintaining an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the 2015 scheme year. The Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme replaces the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme in 2015. Up until the end of 2014, donkeys were eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation where the animals in question are appropriately registered in the name of the applicant and maintained on his/her holding in accordance with European Communities (Equine) Regulations 2011(S.I. 357 of 2011) and Equidea (Transfer of Ownership) Regulations 2014 (S.I. 189 of 2014). Discussions are ongoing with the EU Commission on the Draft Rural Development Programme including the proposals on the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme. Therefore, it is not possible at this stage to confirm whether donkeys will be eligible for inclusion in the stocking density calculation in the scheme approved by the Commission.
106. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the works that were carried out in 2014 on a project (details supplied) co-funded by his Department in County Kerry; if further works are anticipated; if so, the plans for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1956/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraBrandon Pier is owned by Kerry County Council and responsibility for the maintenance and development of the pier rests with that local authority in the first instance. My Department, however, provides funding for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways under the annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme subject to available Exchequer funding and overall national priorities.
My Department did receive an application for works at Brandon Pier from Kerry County Council under the 2014 Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. The works included structural evaluation and the completion of infill grouting to the pier core to fill voids.
A claim submitted for Brandon Pier under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme has been processed and I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that a payment in the amount of €57,609.85 has been furnished to Kerry County Council. The funding provided is 75% of the total cost of the project which is in accordance with the terms and conditions of this programme.
In addition to this, as part of the Government's overall co-ordinated response to the damage caused by the winter storms in early 2014, I also approved funding in respect of storm damage at Brandon Pier. The works included repairs to the pier wall.
A claim submitted for Brandon Pier under the Storm Damage Programme has also been processed and I am happy to confirm to the Deputy that a payment in the amount of €2,796.05 has been furnished to Kerry County Council. The funding provided is 90% of the total cost of the project which is in accordance with the terms and conditions of this programme.
At this point no decisions have been made on the issuing of a call to Local Authorities for projects for 2015.
