Written Answers Nos. 291-308
291. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the disadvantaged areas scheme and the agri-environmental options scheme for 2014 to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5823/15]
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.
The person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013 and 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. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and 75% payment will issue shortly. The balancing 25% payment will follow shortly.
292. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment under the agri-environment options scheme and the grassland sheep scheme. [5828/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2014 Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on 16 April 2014. Payment under this Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 17 December 2014.
The person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013 and 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. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and 75% payment issued on 24 December 2014. The balancing 25% payment will follow shortly.
293. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the Scottish derogation rules will be finalised for farmers who were farming in 2013, but have no entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5833/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFarmers who did not receive a direct payment in 2013 under the Single Payment Scheme, the Grassland Sheep Scheme, the Burren Farming for Conservation Scheme or the Beef Data Programme do not hold an automatic allocation right to receive entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015.
The “Scottish Derogation” allows for the allocation of payment entitlements to persons who never held Single Payment Scheme entitlements, either owned or leased, but who can produce verifiable evidence that they actively farmed in 2013. The terms and conditions of this provision and its application in Member states is currently the subject of discussion with the EU Commission and the outcome is expected very shortly.
294. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if any grant provision exists for re-planting private forests which have experienced storm damage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5876/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe frequency and ferocity of storm events last winter, compounded by waterlogged soils on many forest sites, led to extensive damage on private and State owned forest lands. In order to establish the most appropriate response for forest owners and the forest industry a taskforce, chaired by Mr Tom Hayes TD, Minister of State, and comprising relevant forestry stakeholders was put in place to assess the damage nationally and to identify the various issues arising. The taskforce issued a guidance note for forest owners, laying down the steps to consider in safely harvesting and selling the fallen trees and giving advice on a range of other associated issues. Teagasc, in association with Coillte and my Department held two very successful events on managing storm damage in farm forests. These events were attended by over 400 forest owners. Teagasc forestry advisers continue to be available to discuss the issue with forest owners affected. Forest owners are also urged to get professional advice from qualified foresters to guide them through this process.
295. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be issued with the result of their appeal under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5885/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 27 March 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 . The inspection identified discrepancies between the areas declared and the area found resulting in an over-declaration in area of between 3% and 20%. Under the Terms and Conditions of these schemes, this resulted in the 2014 payments being based on the found area having been reduced by double the difference between the area found and the area declared. The person named was notified of this outcome on 29 November 2014.
A request for a review of this decision has been received by my Department. This review request is currently being examined and the person named will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible. In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
Payment, on the basis set out above, under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 26 November 2014.
Payment, on the basis set out above, of the advance and balancing payments under the Single Payment Scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 4 November and 1 December 2014, respectively.
296. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will review the circumstances (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the loss of 15 entitlements on a 2014 single farm payment, when compared to the previous year, and if, in view of these circumstances, the landowner can appeal the surrender of these entitlements to the national reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5923/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a copy of a 2014 Consolidation Application on 23rd January 2015. Upon review my officials established that the supporting certificate of postage was in respect of the 2014 Single Payment Scheme application, received in my Department on 24th April 2014. As my Department has no record of having received a 2014 Consolidation application on or prior to the closing date of 15th May 2014, a letter issued informing the person named of the rejection of this application.
As the person named did not renew a lease of land he consequently did not draw down full payment on all of his 43.28 entitlements under the 2014 scheme year. This land reduction did not, however, give rise to a loss of entitlements to the National Reserve and has no impact on the calculation of his entitlements under the new scheme.
The calculation of a person’s entitlements under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme is based on the entitlements owned by the herd owner under the 2014 scheme year, as well as any payment received under the Grassland Sheep Scheme. Therefore while the person named held 43.28 entitlements and only claimed 33.60 hectares my Department will establish his value (going forward) based on the 43.28 entitlements.
297. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive payment under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5943/15]
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 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. These checks have been successfully completed in respect of the 2014 Scheme year and 75% payment will issue shortly. The balancing 25% payment will follow thereafter.
298. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his view on whether it is fair and equitable to apply a figure for gross income of €40,000 in considering applications under the national reserve and young farmers schemes, and that no consideration is given to income tax, universal social charge, pay related social insurance, mortgage payments, health insurance, the cost of travel to and from employment and married or single status; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5949/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the relevant EU Regulation governing the National Reserve, Member States have the option of applying objective criteria in the allocation of entitlements. The application of an off farm income limit has been included as objective criteria since the introduction of the National Reserve in 2005.
The process of deciding objective criteria for the National Reserve is carried out in consultation with the Direct Payments Advisory Committee which includes members of the main farming bodies and advisory services. After consultation with this Committee in recent months and in the context of the limited funding available to the National Reserve, it was decided that an off farm income limit of €40,000 would be applied to all applicants. The corresponding off farm income limit under the previous National Reserve was €30,000. Applicants under the 2015 National Reserve also have the flexibility of choosing either the 2013 or 2014 tax year, whichever is more advantageous.
Applicants must comply with all eligibility criteria including off farm income criteria in order to be deemed eligible to qualify for an allocation of entitlements under the National Reserve. The EU Regulations governing the Young Farmer Scheme do not provide for the inclusion of off farm income as eligibility criteria.
299. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update regarding legislation for fur farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5969/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn Ireland farming mink requires a licence under the Musk Rats Act 1933 and the Musk Rats Act 1933 (Application to Mink) Order 1965.
Licences, which are time-bound, are issued under this legislation only if the applicant, following an inspection by officers from my Department, is found to be compliant with a number of conditions. There are currently 3 fur farmers licensed.
I established a Review Group in November 2012 to review fur farming in Ireland. The Group examined all aspects of fur farming in great detail and also took account of submissions received in response to public consultation.
The Group recommended that fur farming be allowed continue under licence and subject to official control and noted the extensive powers available to the Minister in legislation for revoking of licences in cases of non-compliance with a licence condition and where welfare conditions are not met.
My Department has statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals under the European Communities (Welfare of Farmed Animals) Regulations, 2010 (Statutory Instrument No 311/2010) and the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013. Irish fur farmers are subject to the same animal welfare legislation as any other livestock farmer.
300. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Laois, whose herd number is dormant, is required to meet the requirements for holding tanks within that person's property, for farm gullies and existing agriculture buildings as per the requirements of the European Communities Regulations 2009 (Good Agriculture Practice for Protection of Waters); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5994/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAccording to the Department’s records, the person named has no bovines or land area attached to this herd number.
If the person named is engaged in agricultural activity then he is required to comply with the European Union (Good Agricultural Practice For Protection Of Waters) Regulations 2014, Statutory Instrument No. 31 of 2014. Agriculture is defined in these Regulations as including the breeding, keeping and sale of livestock (including cattle, horses, pigs, poultry, sheep and any creature kept for the production of food, wool, skins or fur), the making and storage of silage, the cultivation of land, and the growing of crops (including forestry and horticultural crops).
The person named should contact their local Agricultural Advisor (FAS approved) for further advice specific to any implications under the regulations for the holding.
301. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if hen harrier farmers are required to undertake specified environmental actions based on a plan prepared by an approved planner to receive a payment under the proposed green low-carbon agri-environment scheme. [6023/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll farmers require the services of an approved GLAS advisor to prepare and submit a GLAS application on their behalf. The farming prescription set out in the Agri Environment Specifications must be applied on all Hen Harrier habitats, and a Sustainable Management Plan must be drawn up by the advisor if the area is designated Natura land.
302. Deputy Pat Deering asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will receive forestry payments for 2013 and 2014. [6029/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing an inspection in respect of the second instalment of the establishment grant in April 2014, the Department inspector listed a number of remedial works to be completed. A letter issued to the applicant detailing the works that are required to bring the plantation up to standard. The inspector specified that the remedial works should be completed before 30 April 2015.
It is the Department policy not to pay more than six annual premiums until the second instalment of the establishment grant is paid. In this case the 6th premium was paid in May 2012. Consequently, the premiums for 2013 and 2014 must be withheld until the plantation is up to Forest Service standard, passed by the inspector and the second instalment of the grant is paid. As the onus is on the applicant to manage his plantation, he is advised to contact his forester to discuss the progress of the remedial works to ensure the site is brought up to Forest Service standard as soon as possible.
303. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Galway will automatically be allocated entitlements under the Scottish derogation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6030/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe “Scottish Derogation” allows for the allocation of payment entitlements to persons who never held Single Payment Scheme entitlements, either owned or leased, but who can produce verifiable evidence that they actively farmed in 2013.
The person named was allocated Single Payment Scheme entitlements in 2005 and does not meet the conditions of “Scottish Derogation” as provided for in the Regulation governing the Basic Payment Scheme.
304. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funds that will be allocated this year for the continuing programme of storm damage remediation and prevention work in 2015; the amount of this that relates to work sanctioned in 2014 but not completed; if he will provide details of these projects; when details of the projects to be approved in 2015 will be announced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6034/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Local Authority element of the 2015 Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme is currently under consideration. No Local Authority funding has been allocated for 2015 to date.
305. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to ensure that individual farmers in commonages do not put too much stock on the commonage to the detriment of other shareholders' interests, in the absence of commonage framework plans; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6037/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGLAS ( the Green Low-Carbon Agri-environment Scheme) as proposed under the new Rural Development Programme ) specifically addresses the question of the sustainable management of commonages. A key component of managing a commonage is the implementation of an appropriate grazing regime. To this end a Management Plan for the commonage must be drawn up by an approved agricultural adviser and within that Plan those farmers participating in GLAS will be assigned individual minimum stocking densities. Within the Plan there will also be flexibility to exceed the individual minimums, but the maximum livestock density for the entire commonage may never be exceeded.
306. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on a penalty appeal under the rural environment protection scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6038/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in November 2009 and received payments for the first five 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. During these administrative checks an area-discrepancy was discovered between the Single Farm Payment application for 2014 and the REPS agri-environmental plan which required further clarification. This issue is currently being investigated with the intention of achieving a speedy resolution.
307. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a payment under the rural environment protection scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6039/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and received payments for the first five 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. Following an on-farm inspection carried out in August 2014 issues were identified in relation to the maintenance and conservation of Natura /Commonage sites and the upkeep of farm and environmental records as set out in the REPS agri-environmental plan specification, and these require further investigation. A letter issued to the person named on 19th August 2014 outlining these issues, with a request to furnish the records which, to date, have not been provided. The Inspector concerned has been in contact with the person named as well as his agricultural adviser concerned on a number of occasions in an effort to bring this situation to a satisfactory conclusion.
308. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who own or work land designated as sanctuaries for hen harriers and who are on an agri-environment options scheme, will move directly to the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme when it commences, or if they will have to wait for the agri-environment options scheme to be completed first. [6053/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs is the case under AEOS the protection of hen harrier habitats is a key objective of GLAS and farmers in these areas will be given priority access to the scheme. The transitional arrangements for farmers already receiving support under AEOS are under consideration in the context of the detailed rules applying to GLAS and my primary concern in this regard is to ensure that farmers continue to conserve and maintain these valuable habitats.
