Written Answers Nos. 335-353
335. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments of agri-environment options scheme moneys and hardship grant regarding TB restrictions will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4613/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application was received from the herd owner concerned under the TB Hardship Grant Scheme (which applies in the period 1 November to 30 April) following the restriction of his holding on 13 November 2014. This grant is payable in monthly tranches in arrears where the period of restriction exceeds two months (i.e. the initial two-month period of the restriction is not eligible). Accordingly, in this case, the initial reckonable period for the Hardship Grant is 13 January to 12 February 2015. An assessment of the applicant’s eligibility, in terms of income and compliance with the restriction in the relevant period, will take place at that stage and, if eligible, payment will be made as soon as possible thereafter. In relation to AEOS, the person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 September 2010 and payment has issued in respect of the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. 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 the 2014 Scheme year and 75% payment issued on 9 December 2014 and the balancing 25% payment issued on the 30 January 2015.
336. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide, in tabular form, the details of agency staff costs incurred by his Department or its aegis in 2012, 2013 and 2014, including the breakdown of the staff roles involved and the area within his Department's aegis where they are contracted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4745/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not engage agency staff. It does however, from time to time, engage external services providers when such proves to be more cost effective and Department staff are not available. Such expenditure is based on competitive tendering with extensive use of Central Government and Department specific frameworks which continue to drive costs down.
337. Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to implement the Scottish derogation so that young farmers who farmed actively pre-2010 will qualify for the national reserve scheme and young farmers' scheme. [4779/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with relevant EU Regulations, priority under the National Reserve will be given to farmers meeting the definition of Young Farmer and New Entrant in the first instance. The Regulations also include an optional provision whereby Member States may use the National Reserve to allocate new entitlements or give a top-up on the value of existing entitlements for persons who suffer from a ‘Specific Disadvantage’. The application of this optional use of the Reserve for non-priority categories will be dependent on the availability of funds within the National Reserve once the two priority categories have been allocated. My Department is aware of the particular category of farmer referred to by the Deputy. In this regard, my Department is engaging with the EU Commission to examine the possibility of including this category of farmer under the “Specific Disadvantage” provision.
The Scottish Derogation would allow for the allocation of entitlements to persons who never held entitlements, either owned or leased, but who actively farmed in 2013. My Department is currently engaged with the EU Commission in examining how this provision may be applied in Ireland.
338. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2014 AEOS 3 payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4808/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013 and full payment has issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year. 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. The application of the person named was also selected for an on-farm inspection which took place on 30 October 2014. During this inspection issues arose in respect of the Commonage and Natura land parcels declared which required digitisation. This is being dealt with by my Department at present and once all issues have been resolved, the application will be processed in respect of 2014 at the earliest opportunity.
339. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste don bhliain 2014 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. [4845/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuarthas iarratas faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Mhíbhuntáiste don bhliain 2014 ón duine ainmnithe ar an 15 Aibreán 2014. Tar éis an t-iarratas sin a phróiseáil, sainaithníodh saincheisteanna maidir le fíorú i leith chomhlíonadh an dlúis íosta stocála. Rinne an duine ainmnithe pasanna eachaí i leith dhá asal a rugadh sa bhliain 2010 a thíolacadh. Faoi Rialachán AE 505/2008, ceanglaítear, de bhreis ar phas eachaí a fháil, micrishlis a ionphlandú i ngach eachaí a rugadh tar éis an 1 Meitheamh 2009 agus sin a dhéanamh laistigh de shé mhí ón dáta breithe nó faoi dheireadh bhliain na breithe, cibé acu is déanaí. Níor chuir an duine ainmnithe faoi deara micrishlis a ionphlandú sa dá asal lena mbaineann go dtí an 11 Bealtaine 2014, agus, dá bhrí sin, mainníodh cloí le Rialachán AE 504/2008. Dá bhrí sin, níl na hainmhithe sin cáilithe lena gcur san áireamh sa ríomhaireacht don dlús stocála.
340. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a sheep technology adoption programme payment will issue in of persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4848/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraInitial payments under the 2014 Sheep Technology Adoption Programme issued in late December. Validations have been ongoing and a further payment run is planned for later this week which will include the person named.
341. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the 2014 disadvantaged areas based scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4863/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2014. 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.
342. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the 2014 disadvantaged areas scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4864/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2014, processing of which has recently been completed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is due to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
343. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the AEOS1 scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4865/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved for participation in the 2010 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 1) with effect from 1 September 2010 and payment has issued in respect of the 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013 Scheme years. 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. The application of the person named was also selected for an on-farm inspection which took place on 19 August 2014. During this inspection non-compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the Traditional Stone Wall Maintenance action which resulted in a penalty being incurred. The application will now be processed on the basis of the inspection findings and payment in respect of the 2014 Scheme year, less penalty, will issue at the earliest opportunity.
344. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive their AEOS payments; the reason for the delay in payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4866/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is an applicant under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme 2010. A Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants was undertaken in 2014. This review shows irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation is now underway into this matter and further payments to any AEOS participants included in this review are being held for the time being. A decision on any future payment cannot be determined until the findings of the investigation are to hand. My Department has written to each of the people concerned on 28 January to explain the situation.
346. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be receiving their REPS payment. [4944/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in August 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. Following an on-farm inspection in August 2011 penalties were applied for non-compliance with the terms and conditions governing the REP scheme. A review of this case has now been finalised by my Department and following receipt of further documentation, the original penalties have been reduced by 50% . All outstanding REPS payments are now being processed and will issue at the earliest opportunity.
347. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the beef data genomics scheme will be issued in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4955/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named registered 51 animals under the 2014 Beef Genomics Scheme. The terms and conditions of this scheme require applicants to take BVD (Bovine Viral Diarrhoea) samples for each calf and have them sent to the laboratory within 27 days of birth. BVD samples have only been received for 15 of the applicant's 51 registered animals.
As the person named has not complied with the scheme terms and conditions no payment is due.
348. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an AEOS payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [4998/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is an applicant under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme 2010. A Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants was undertaken in 2014. This review shows irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation is now underway into this matter and further payments to any AEOS participants included in this review are being held for the time being. A decision on any future payment cannot be determined until the findings of the investigation are to hand. My Department has written to each of the people concerned on 28 January to explain the situation.
349. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged aresa payment for 2014 will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry who met their stocking requirement on 24 December 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5001/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2014, processing of which has recently been completed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is due to issue directly to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
350. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a list of all bonus payments to chief executives of commercial semi-State agencies paid in each year from 2011 to 2014 under the remit of his Department; if bonuses were withheld by commercial semi-States during the period; the reasons for withholding of bonuses; the current policy regarding the payment of bonuses in the commercial semi-State sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5199/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are currently 12 State bodies under the remit of my Department. Of these, eight are non-commercial entities and four are commercial entities.
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Non-Commercial Bodies |
Commercial Bodies |
|
Aqua licensing Appeals Board |
Bord na gCon |
|
Bord Bia |
Coillte |
|
Bord Iascaigh Mhara |
Horse Racing Ireland |
|
Marine Institute |
Irish National Stud |
|
National Milk Agency |
|
|
Sea Fisheries Protection Agency |
|
|
Teagasc |
|
|
Veterinary Council of Ireland |
The pay arrangements, including bonuses and performance related pay, for chief executives of semi State companies is a matter for the State Bodies themselves within the context of Government Public Sector Pay Policies.
In April 2009 the Department of Finance requested the suspension of performance-related schemes in non-commercial State Bodies and again in February 2010 following the report of the Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector. In relation to the commercial State Bodies, the Government agreed in 2012 to the continuation of the current policy requesting Commercial State Bodies not to award bonus payments in recognition of the serious state of the public finances. No performance related awards were paid to the Chief Executives of the 12 State Bodies under the aegis of my Department in the years in question.
In relation to Coillte, while performance related pay awards were not made to the Chief Executive for the years in question on the basis of the Government pay policy outlined above, the High Court decided last week that bonuses in respect of the period 2008 to 2013 inclusive are payable to the former Chief Executive Officer of the company.
351. Deputy Sandra McLellan asked the Minister for Defence the options available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork to rejoin the Army; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4480/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have been advised by the military authorities that the individual concerned can make an application to join the Defence Forces in any competition in which he is eligible to apply for. If he meets the eligibility criteria, he will then enter the selection process and compete with all other eligible applicants for recruitment into the Defence Forces. The selection process consists of psychometric tests, fitness test, interview, medical and security clearance. From the information provided, it appears that the individual’s age, he is currently 26 years old, would be a limiting factor. He is not eligible to join the Army as a General Service Recruit as he will not be under the age of 25 years of age on the closing date for applications in any future competition. However, he may be eligible on age grounds for other Defence Forces recruitment streams.
Plans for recruitment competitions in 2015 have not yet been finalised. Therefore a definitive answer regarding his age vis-à-vis the closing date for applications, the key date in determining eligibility on age grounds, cannot be provided at this stage.
However, he may be eligible on age grounds to apply for a cadetship in 2015, as he will be under 28 years of age on the likely closing date for applications, and he would be eligible to apply to become a Recruit in the Naval Service, as he is likely to be under 27 years of age on the likely closing date for applications. However, as he will turn 27 years of age in October 2015, if the closing date for Naval Service Recruits is after this date, he would be ineligible to apply.
352. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, for the years 2007 to 2010 the total photography costs in his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4490/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra353. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Defence if he will provide, in tabular form, for the years 1997 to 2007 the total photography costs in his Department, including a list of which photographers were booked, the photographers used and breakdown of costs associated with each occasion that a photographer was used; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4506/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together.
The total costs for photography paid by the Department for the years 2006 to 2010 are set out in the following table. The information with regards to the cost of photography to the Department prior to 2006 is not readily available.
|
Date |
Company |
Cost (Including VAT) |
|
10/02/06 |
Frank Gavin Photography |
€510.75 |
|
02/03/06 |
Frank Gavin Photography |
€192.95 |
|
07/03/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€526.07 |
|
05/04/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€3178.00 |
|
10/04/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€206.29 |
|
20/04/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€511.64 |
|
07/06/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€554.45 |
|
28/06/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€800.11 |
|
28/06/06 |
Buzzword Photography |
€405.98 |
|
11/08/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€3925.16 |
|
22/08/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€719.02 |
|
23/08/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€649.22 |
|
30/08/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€320.80 |
|
03/10/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€789.11 |
|
12/10/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€490.04 |
|
18/12/06 |
Maxwell Photography |
€809.82 |
|
2006 |
Totals |
€14,589.41 |
|
Date |
Company |
Cost (Including VAT) |
|
22/01/07 |
Frank Gavin Photography |
€794.50 |
|
22/03/07 |
Buzzword Photography |
€437.00 |
|
12/04/07 |
Maxwell Photography |
€3929.27 |
|
24/05/07 |
Maxwell Photography |
€896.65 |
|
21/06/07 |
Maxwell Photography |
€866.57 |
|
11/07/07 |
Maxwell Photography |
€376.54 |
|
22/08/07 |
Maxwell Photography |
€1305.25 |
|
07/09/07 |
Maxwell Photography |
€526.07 |
|
08/11/07 |
Maxwell Photography €3929.27 |
€626.52 |
|
15/11/07 |
Maxwell Photography €3929.27 |
€3915.75 |
|
07/12/07 |
Maxwell Photography €3929.27 |
€980.07 |
|
2007 |
Totals |
€14,654.19 |
|
Date |
Company |
Cost (Including VAT) |
|
10/01/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€590.48 |
|
17/01/08 |
Frank Gavin Photography |
€726.40 |
|
24/01/08 |
Frank Gavin Photography |
€374.55 |
|
09/04/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€582.82 |
|
09/04/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€1305.25 |
|
12/05/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€4109.11 |
|
09/06/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€819.17 |
|
13/06/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€728.42 |
|
17/06/08 |
Aidan Crawley Photography |
€623.15 |
|
18/08/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€968.00 |
|
20/08/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€4546.74 |
|
08/09/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€621.34 |
|
03/11/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€470.09 |
|
11/11/08 |
Maxwell Photography |
€582.82 |
|
2008 |
Totals |
€17,048.34 |
|
Date |
Company |
Cost (Including VAT) |
|
07/01/09 |
Maxwell Photography |
€988.87 |
|
04/02/09 |
Buzzword Photography |
€561.83 |
|
04/02/09 |
Maxwell Photography |
€810.70 |
|
03/06/09 |
Maxwell photography |
€698.63 |
|
2009 |
Totals |
€3060.03 |
|
Date |
Company |
Cost (Including VAT) |
|
09/03/10 |
Tom Conachy |
€283.75 |
|
25/05/10 |
Maxwell Photography |
€250.17 |
|
24/06/10 |
Maxwell Photography |
€30.25 |
|
18/08/10 |
Maxwell Photography |
€48.40 |
|
18/08/10 |
Maxwell Photography |
€453.75 |
|
2010 |
Totals |
€1066.32 |
