Written Answers Nos. 131 to 148
131. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35586/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 23 April 2015. Processing of the application is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
132. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35587/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment /Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 28 May 2015. 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 processed with the intention of issuing any payment due under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
Advance payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence issuing from 16 October 2015 to eligible applicants whose applications are fully processed.
133. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a single payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35592/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2015. Processing of the application under the ANC Scheme is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the ANC application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date. In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments will commence in Ireland on 16 October 2015, which is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment is set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors. Payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence in respect of applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors from 16 October 2015.
134. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department has approved afforestation for lands in the townland of Breanletter and the district electoral division of Ballyfermoyle in County Roscommon, formerly in the ownership of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35625/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application to afforest lands included in the Folio in question has been received by my Department and is currently being processed.
135. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on amending the existing regime pertaining to fishing boat licences that restrict inshore fishermen from engaging in marine tourism activities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35634/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Licensing Authority for Sea Fishing Boats that fishing boat licence conditions do not restrict inshore fishermen from engaging in marine tourism activities. The Marine Survey Office (MSO), Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has full responsibility for the issue of Passenger Boat Licences (e.g. vessels which offer angling/charter trips). MSO rules do not permit vessels that are entered on the Register of Fishing Boats to be licensed as Passenger Vessels.
Therefore it is an MSO requirement that a vessel must be removed from the Register of Fishing Boats before it can be licensed as a passenger vessel.
137. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35644/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 29 May 2015. Processing of the application has recently been finalised. Payment will issue shortly directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
138. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the amount of funding allocated under the disadvantaged areas scheme for counties Longford and Westmeath, for each of the years from 2008 and 2015. [35657/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe payments issued in Longford and Westmeath under the Disadvantaged Areas / Less Favoured Areas Scheme are set out in the table below for the years 2008 to 2014:
|
Year |
Longford |
Westmeath |
|
2014 |
€4,655,987.46 |
€4,664,392.10 |
|
2013 |
€4,684,711.44 |
€4,690,681.09 |
|
2012 |
€5,046,568.27 |
€5,118,905.56 |
|
2011 |
€5,161,816.91 |
€5,417,831.65 |
|
2010 |
€5,149,352.99 |
€5,388,575.98 |
|
2009 |
€5,193,452.19 |
€5,371,823.83 |
|
2008 |
€5,811,336.76 |
€6,164,291.34 |
Payments under the new Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme commenced in September, 2015. While all payments have not yet issued, some €3.7m in respect of Longford and €3.8m in respect of Westmeath ha ve issued to date.
139. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payments under the single farm payment scheme and the disadvantaged areas scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Cork have been delayed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35670/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments / Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 19 May 2015. Processing of the ANC application has recently been finalised. Payment will issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named. In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments will commence in Ireland on 16 October 2015, which is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment is set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors. Payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence in respect of applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors from 16 October 2015.
140. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payments for 2015 under the single payment scheme and the disadvantaged areas scheme; the difficulty with regard to this application in relation to his Department's information and technology system; if necessary, if he will make arrangements for a manual payment in this instance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35671/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was received from the person named on 27 April 2015. Processing of the application under the ANC Scheme is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the ANC application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date. In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments will commence in Ireland on 16 October 2015, which is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment is set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors. Payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence in respect of all applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors from 16 October 2015. The application of the person named currently has no outstanding errors and is clear for payment on 16 October.
142. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the schemes and supports available to farmers who are interested in growing crops to supply as fuel to biomass electricity generating plants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35716/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraA new Bio- Energy Scheme was introduced by my Department for 2015, which focused exclusively on the growing of willow and provided establishment grants to farmers of up to 40% of the crop establishment costs subject to a maximum grant of €1,040 per hectare. The maximum area for planting was increased under the new scheme from 30 hectares to 50 hectares in response to submissions from the sector. Applicants wishing to avail of the grant had to submit evidence of linkages with end-users to use the biomass crop as a source of bioenergy. Despite the package of supports available and the changes made, take-up of the new scheme has been very low and the scheme is now being reviewed once more in my Department. There are no direct links in place currently for the output of the scheme to supply fuel to biomass electricity generating plants, but this is an aspect that will be considered in the review.
143. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the body responsible for the compensation to a farmer under the beef data and genomics scheme, where the farmer, in good faith, purchases a non-genotyped four or five star heifer on the replacement index in a mart, which is subsequently genotyped at a lower star rating at an accuracy of up to 45%, and deemed ineligible under the scheme; the reason such non-genotyped heifers are treated differently to non-genotyped cows in such circumstances; if the heifer requirement or the cow requirement applies to a non-genotyped four or five star heifer, which is sold as a cow soon after the birth of her first calf; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35753/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe intention behind the BDGP is to bring about fundamental and strategic improvements to the beef breeding sector by substantially improving the overall genetic quality of the Irish beef herd. An essential element required to achieve this overall goal is a robust and reliable replacement index built to suit Irish animals and production systems on which farmers can make informed breeding decisions. In order to achieve this, it is imperative that the index is developed using the most accurate information available to us and that is why genotyping is such a major part of the BDGP. The genotyping requirement within the BDGP reflects the need to genotype a high percentage of female calves at birth within scheme herds and to genotype female animals introduced from non-scheme herds so that sufficient 4 and 5 star animals can be identified. Genotyping greatly improves the reliability of the breeding indexes and of course ensures the identification of sufficient numbers of 4 & 5 star females required by BDGP herds.
Inevitably while improving the index there will be minor fluctuations in some individual animals’ ratings due to the addition of new information on that animal. This of course will further improve the reliability of that animal’s rating. Similarly, the collection of additional information across the entire herd, including the genomic data, will result in more accurate €uro-Star evaluations. Some animals will end up moving to lower star ratings while others will increase their rating reciprocally, but with these changes the index becomes more accurate and a more useful tool for suckler farmers across the country. The cattle breeding industry in Ireland is very accustomed to genetic evaluations moving over time, as more data accumulates.
As the Deputy is aware, the female replacement requirements that must be fulf illed by a farmer under the BDGP are focused on ensuring that a percentage of their heifers/eligible suckler cows (rounded to the nearest animal), in the years 2018 and 2020 are genotyped animals that are:
(i) 4 or 5 stars on the replacement index;
(ii) at least 16 months old and;
(iii) born in 2013 or later.
I have subsequently clarified to the scheme participants on point (iii) above that a female animal born before 2013 will be considered eligible if it was present in the herd before 5th June 2015 and also meets the requirements of parts (i) and (ii) above. In addition the scheme also allows animals to count as eligible even if their rating is subsequently downgraded from 4 and 5 stars provided that the animal is genotyped 4 or 5 star at the time of purchase.
The focus now on the BDGP has moved to engagement with scheme participants. My priority now is to work closely with ICBF and individual scheme participants to ensuring that implementation of the BDGP continues to deliver for Irish suckler farmers.
144. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence if he will ensure a disability army pension is granted and paid to a person (details supplied) without further delay. [35606/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Army Pensions Board is an independent statutory body established to investigate applications for disability pensions, allowances and gratuities under the Army Pensions Acts and report their findings to the Minister. In this case the Board’s finding was that the applicant had a degree of disablement which did not reach the minimum required for the grant of a disability pension under the Army Pensions Acts, but was eligible for consideration for the award of a gratuity under the Acts. On foot of this a gratuity of €28,050 was awarded in April 2013. The applicant appealed this award and the Board agreed to reopen its consideration of his case. My Department received a revised report from the Army Pensions Board following on from the appeal but required clarification on a number of matters. Clarification was received recently from the Board and my Department is considering this and will be writing to the applicant in the near future. I should say that in the event that a disability pension were to be awarded in this case the amount of the gratuity paid previously will be taken into account in setting the commencement date of the disability pension.
145. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the policies, procedures and agreements in place in the event of rogue, unidentified, non-communicating, non-transcending or foreign military aircraft operating without diplomatic clearance entering Irish sovereign airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35662/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra146. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the position regarding the agreed respective roles of his Department, the Defence Forces, the Irish Aviation Authority and any other national or foreign agencies which have a defined and agreed role relating to the surveillance, security and defence of Irish sovereign airspace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35663/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra147. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the agency ultimately responsible for co-ordinating the inter-agency effort to provide sovereign airspace security, including responsibility for civil and military de-confliction, in the event of an airspace incursion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35664/15]
Amharc ar fhreagra148. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence if he is satisfied that the arrangements for sovereign airspace security, including the respective roles of the different domestic and foreign agencies, are compatible with Article 15(6) of Bunreacht na hÉireann; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35665/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 145 to 148, inclusive, together.
In accordance with the legislative requirements of the Air Navigation (Foreign Military Aircraft) Order 1952, all foreign military aircraft wishing to overfly or land in the State require the permission of the Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Air Corps is not tasked or equipped to monitor and communicate with aircraft overflying Irish airspace, military or otherwise and irrespective of whether the transponder is switched on or not. However, on a routine basis the Air Corps monitors and communicates with foreign military aircraft where such aircraft are flying in the airspace in the vicinity of Casement Aerodrome, Baldonnel, where air traffic control is provided by the Defence Forces.
The White Paper on Defence (2015) provides that should additional funding beyond that required to maintain existing Air Corps capabilities become available, the development of a radar surveillance capability is a priority for the Air Corps. The Air Corps’ existing Pilatus PC9 aircraft provide a very limited air to air and air to ground capacity. The development of a more capable air combat intercept capability will be considered over the lifetime of the White Paper update.
Separately, an inter-agency agreement between my Department, the Air Corps, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport, and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) defines how coordination is organised between civil and military authorities at the strategic, pre-tactical and tactical levels of airspace management. Coordination is achieved through the establishment of agreements and procedures in order to increase safety, airspace capacity, and to improve the efficiency and flexibility of aircraft operations. Actions in the event of an unauthorised penetration of airspace by unidentified aircraft are defined by international convention and outlined comprehensively in documentation from the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). These ICAO provisions are replicated in the relevant unit procedures and manuals of Air Traffic Services at Stations of the Irish Aviation Authority.
All of the Departments and Agencies referred to above, as well as the Department of Justice and Equality and An Garda Síochána who have primary responsibility for the internal security of the State, work closely together to ensure coordination in areas of mutual interest. In this regard, the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport has overall responsibility for the development and formulation of national policy in the field of aviation security, and for aviation security obligations under all national and international legislation. The National Aviation Security Committee meets regularly, under the chairmanship of the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport.
As part of its role, the IAA exercises Air Traffic Control responsibilities for an airspace of some 450,000 sq. kms comprising of both sovereign airspace and also airspace over the high seas, largely off the western seaboard. All air traffic, both civil and military, is monitored and controlled by the IAA in respect of this airspace and in line with ICAO rules it is normal practice for the IAA to be informed by the relevant State of any military flights operating in Irish controlled airspace.
More broadly, the Government is briefed, as appropriate, by relevant Ministers and decisions sought as necessary on a range of issues relating to national security and this includes aviation security. In addition, the National Security Committee considers threats in a confidential manner on an ongoing basis.
I am satisfied that no Constitutional issues arise from the arrangements that are in place in accordance with our domestic requirements and international obligations.
