Tuesday, 20 Oct 2015

Written Answers Nos. 322-342

Farm Inspections

Ceisteanna (322)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

322. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 142 of 26 March 2015, 366 of 21 April 2015 and 558 of 22 September 2015, the way landowners who are not applicants to a scheme can refuse to allow an inspector onto their lands, where his Department's inspectors have entered the lands without any notice, as was the case during the commonage review of 2010 and the land parcel identification system review of 2013; his views that his Department's inspectors must notify all commonage landowners prior to conducting an inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36402/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In relation to the Single Payment Scheme and other applications for payment under the acts of the institution of the European Union listed in the schedule to S.I. 115 of 2012, authorised officers have the statutory power to enter any premises, including lands, which the officer has reasonable grounds for believing are relevant to an application.

Farm Inspections

Ceisteanna (323)

Michael Fitzmaurice

Ceist:

323. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department obtains the prior consent of all landowners, not just those landowners who are applicants for schemes, before entering lands for the purposes of completing an inspection; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36403/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In relation to the Single Payment Scheme and other applications for payment under the acts of the institution of the European Union listed in the schedule to S.I. 115 of 2012, authorised officers have the statutory power to enter any premises, including lands, which the officer has reasonable grounds for believing are relevant to an application.

Basic Payment Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (324)

Seán Kyne

Ceist:

324. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme will be made to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36410/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints 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.

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 2015 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 decision on 16 October 2015.

Any payments due, on the basis set out above, under both the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme and ANC Scheme will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (325)

Brendan Smith

Ceist:

325. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers who obtain the certificate in agriculture in Northern Ireland have the same entitlements in the participation in schemes and tax exemptions as farmers who have a green certificate; if there are any particular differences in relation to the status and validation of these courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36412/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Both the Young Farmer Scheme under the Basic Payment Scheme and the new investment schemes under the Rural Development Programme provide for higher payments for certain qualified young farmers. The eligible qualifications are published as part of the relevant schemes.

Currently farmers can avail of Agricultural Relief from Capital Acquisition Tax and stamp duty relief on land transfers if they meet certain criteria, which include agricultural qualifications. Young farmers can avail of enhanced stock relief and a stamp duty exemption on land transfers if they meet certain criteria, which include agricultural qualifications. The eligible qualifications are published as part of the relevant taxation legislation.

Teagasc can certify that a qualification awarded in Northern Ireland is deemed equivalent to the published qualifications. Farmers with equivalent qualifications are eligible for schemes and taxation measures as qualified farmers.

Agriculture Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (326)

Seán Kyne

Ceist:

326. Deputy Seán Kyne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine with regard to the terms and conditions of the areas of natural constraint scheme if he will consider in the case of breeding Conamara ponies, relaxing the requirement for horses to foal every second year in order for the animals to be eligible for inclusion in the stocking rate calculation; if he acknowledges, the importance of the Conamara pony as an indigenous animal, the difficulties in the Conamara pony market, and how this measure impacts on same; if he acknowledges that to ensure a Conamara pony foals every second year, it may be necessary to cover her every year to ensure she becomes eligible, thereby adding to the costs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36423/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Following the implementation of the new Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, an Area of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme was introduced. This scheme replaces the former Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Less Favoured Areas Scheme. The ANC Scheme is worth €195 million annually to some 100,000 farmers and in excess of €1.3 billion over the life time of the Programme. The annual budget of €195 million is in line with previous years funding and is focused on those farmers who are most actively pursuing a farming activity and contributing to the economic life of the rural areas where they farm.

While horses are not eligible for the stocking density calculation under the ANC Scheme, the terms and conditions of the scheme do recognise the important contribution and role of horse breeding enterprises and accordingly set out that equine breeders who have met certain conditions are eligible for support.

Given the importance of breeds such as the Connemara Pony, and the challenges faced by breeders in ensuring their continued role in maintaining Ireland’s biological diversity, I have also sought to ensure that certain breeds are eligible for support under the Department’s agri-environment Schemes. This was the case in both REPS and AEOS, and in securing agreement for GLAS under Ireland’s new RDP, 2014-2020. I can confirm that targeted support is also included for Connemara ponies in the new programming period. The support rate available under GLAS is €200 per livestock unit, up to a maximum of ten units.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (327)

Noel Harrington

Ceist:

327. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36429/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 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.

TAMS Payments

Ceisteanna (328)

Áine Collins

Ceist:

328. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in paying the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II. [36434/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A series of new Targeted Agricultural Modernisations Schemes was launched by my Department under TAMS II earlier this year. These schemes were all opened for on-line application and in some cases the period for applications under the first tranche has not yet closed.

The closing date for receipt of applications under the first tranche for the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme was the 25th September 2015 and the closing date for the Dairy Equipment Scheme was the 16th October 2015. All applications received are being examined and approvals will commence when all of the required checks have been undertaken. However, no payments will be made until after approvals have issued and all works are completed in accordance with the terms and conditions of the various schemes.

Basic Payment Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (329)

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

329. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme has not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; when this payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36459/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme application on 13 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.

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 2015 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 decision on 16 October 2015.

Any payments due, on the basis set out above, under both the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme and ANC Scheme will issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (330)

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

330. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine why a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received a payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme; the reason for the delay; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36460/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 27 May 2015. Processing of the application 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.

Agriculture Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (331)

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

331. Deputy Paul J. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the areas of natural constraint scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in Courtney Galway; the reason for the delay; when this case will be processed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36462/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 26 May 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.

TAMS Applications Data

Ceisteanna (332)

Michael Creed

Ceist:

332. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II for improvements to dairy facilities, including bulk tank augers, parlours, etc; when applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications; the status of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36475/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

A total of 778 applications have been received to date for the Dairy Equipment Scheme in TAMS II.

The first tranche of this scheme closed on 16th October 2015 and all applications received will be examined and approvals will commence when all of the required checks have been undertaken.

The company named submitted an application on the 5th of August 2015 and this application will be examined along with all others received before the closing date.

GLAS Administration

Ceisteanna (333)

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

333. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department liaises with the horticultural industry on proposals or changes it makes to environmental schemes that require a change to the supply of plants and hedgerows; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36497/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The new GLAS agri-environmental scheme includes a number of actions that relate to the planting of trees or hedgerows. In advance of the decision to include these actions, my Department consulted in the first instance with the Forest Service to secure best advice for planting and to ensure that appropriate conditions in relation to species and provenance are applied.

The first tranche of GLAS proved hugely successful attracting nearly 27,000 applications in all. On the basis of the commitments provided in the plans submitted with each of those applications, it is clear that we have met or exceeded our targets for the full RDP period in a number of areas. These include the planting of new hedgerows and traditional orchards. Given that these targets have been met in full it is proposed to suspend both actions for Tranche 2 of GLAS. In taking that decision, my Department has again consulted with the Forest Service on the availability of stock, and has also spoken directly with several suppliers. On foot of applications received under Tranche 1 alone, some 1,300 km of new hedgerows will be planted over the coming year or so, requiring the provision of 8 million plants, which will be a major boost to the sector.

I should point out that these actions have simply been suspended for Tranche 2, not discontinued. I will review the position again for Tranche 3 in the light of uptake of remaining GLAS actions.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (334)

Seán Fleming

Ceist:

334. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36510/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 1 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.

TAMS Eligibility

Ceisteanna (335)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

335. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person who has a herd number since May 2010 will be entitled to 60% under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36560/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

Among the eligibility criteria to qualify for the 60% grant rate in the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme in TAMS II is that an applicant must meet the requirements of set-up for the first time within five years of the date of receipt of an application under this scheme. The eligibility of a person who has their herd-number since May 2010 would therefore depend on the date of receipt of any application submitted, amongst other things. If no application was submitted, then such a person would now be outside the period of eligibility.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (336)

Michelle Mulherin

Ceist:

336. Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in issuing payments under the disadvantaged areas scheme for 2014-2015 to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; if it will be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36645/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An application under the 2015 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.

Forestry Grants

Ceisteanna (337)

John Perry

Ceist:

337. Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application for planting from a person (details supplied) in County Sligo, who has received preliminary clearance for 9.17 ha of land in Gleann in County Sligo on 14 April 2015 (CN: 70702), will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35995/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I understand that objections were received to the granting of approval to plant in this case. The matter is currently under review by my Department and the person named will be notified of the outcome of the review as soon as possible.

Agriculture Schemes

Ceisteanna (338)

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

338. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of money clawed back from farmers in disallowances and penalties arising from the land parcel identification system reviews from 2008 to 2013; if this money was a saving to the Exchequer; if it will now be offset against the penalty of €69 imposed on Ireland for over-claims under the system for the same period; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35993/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The Deputy will be aware that on 24 July 2015 the EU Commission advised my Department of their intention to exclude a total of approximately €67.6 million from EU funding of various agricultural Direct Payment schemes for the seven year period from 2008 to 2014. This represents 0.6% of the €12 billion in EU funding for these schemes in this seven year period.

  The proposal consists of two elements - €64 million exclusion for the period 2008-2012 and €3.6 million for the period 2013-2014. It must be noted that there is a decrease of almost 86% in the average annual level of correction for the 2013-2014 period relative to the correction for the 2008-2012 period.

This proposal, which concludes the Clearance of Accounts process for the complete Single Payment Scheme, comes further to a prolonged process of intensive communication and effort by my Department and is a significant reduction from the original proposed exclusion of €181 million. This outcome reflects positively on the work done in my Department and the very detailed case presented to the Commission in strong opposition to the original proposal, including the examination of over 900,000 land parcels throughout the country. 

This outcome clearly illustrates the very positive impact of the 2013 LPIS review carried out by my Department, which identified ineligible lands and features incorrectly claimed by farmers during the scheme period 2008-2012. To date, this has resulted in the collection of €1 million in disallowances in 2013 and €3 million in disallowances in 2014.

The Commission proposal will now go forward to the Committee on the Agricultural Funds for consultation before the Commission makes a final decision, which is expected by mid to late November. The proposal, which is a complex and detailed document, is being scrutinised by my Department and discussions are currently ongoing in relation to the necessary funding with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (339)

Tom Fleming

Ceist:

339. Deputy Tom Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry at an early date under the disadvantaged areas scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36018/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme application on 25 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.

Basic Payment Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (340)

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

340. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive payments under the single payment scheme and the area aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36023/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

The person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment Scheme/Areas of Natural Constraints scheme application on 14 April 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Ground Eligibility inspections, be completed before any payments issue.

The application of the person named was selected for a Ground Eligibility inspection. The outcome of this inspection is currently being finalised 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 have commenced issuing from 16 October 2015 to eligible applicants whose applications are fully processed.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (341)

Timmy Dooley

Ceist:

341. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive a payment under the agri-environment options scheme 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36038/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department is currently examining approximately 400 cases that submitted invoices from one particular company to verify and support claims under the non-productive capital investment action of AEOS. It is known that in some cases the invoices submitted were for greater amounts than actually paid by the participants.

Funding provided under the scheme comes partly from the EU and partly from the National Exchequer. There is a requirement and obligation to ensure that the expenditure claimed by scheme participants reflects the reality of what took place. For that reason my Department wrote to participants requesting alternative proof that the amounts claimed were in fact the amounts paid.

The person named was written to on 11 June 2015 regarding the non-productive capital investment claim that he had submitted. This letter requested the submission of alternative verifiable proof to support one of the invoices that was included in the claim. A reply to this letter was received on 10 July last.

Department officials are now examining this case and a decision will issue to the person-named very soon.

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (342)

Patrick O'Donovan

Ceist:

342. Deputy Patrick O'Donovan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 1 April 2015, when the digitisation process will be completed on a parcel of land for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36027/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My reply to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 1st April 2015 stated that the person named was contacted requesting the necessary additional information to complete the processing of the case in question. The required amendment form for this purpose was received from the person named on 11th August 2015.

The required work will soon be completed. An Official from my Department will contact the person named to explain the position.