Written Answers Nos. 120-130
120. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 330 of 16 July 2015, if forgotten farmers will have access to the national reserve and to enhanced benefits under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43358/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with the regulations governing the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme, a young farmer is defined as a farmer aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme and who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting that application. This definition applies to all Member States and my Department has no discretion with regard to its implementation in Ireland. The status of ‘young farmer’ introduced under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy is designed specifically to assist young farmers in the initial stages of establishing a farming enterprise.
The farmers in the group commonly referred to as ‘forgotten farmers’ are under 40, established their holdings prior to 2008 and hold low value entitlements. These farmers will benefit from an increase in the value of the entitlements under the convergence process between 2015 and 2019, whereby farmers who hold entitlements with an Initial Unit Value below 90% of the Basic Payment Scheme national average will see the value of their entitlements increase gradually over the five years of the scheme.
With regard to qualification for the enhanced 60% rate of aid under TAMS, the definition of ‘young farmer’ laid down for the purposes of any capital investment schemes is also that farmers must be below 40 years of age at the time of application and have been set up in farming within the previous five years. Unfortunately, this means that some farmers will not qualify for the enhanced rate of aid under TAMS. However, any young farmers who do not qualify for the enhanced rate of aid under the dedicated Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme will be prioritised for aid under the various other new TAMS schemes which offers grants of 40% of investment costs. The following schemes are open for application to all farmers irrespective of age:
- Dairy Equipment Scheme;
- Low emission Slurry Spreading;
- Organic capital investment Scheme;
- Animal welfare safety and nutrient storage Scheme;
- Pig and poultry investment Scheme.
121. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive payment under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme; if it is acceptable that the file is still being digitised given that the inspection was in August 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43385/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 9 April 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 payments due under the Direct Payments Schemes as soon as possible. In the event that any queries arise officials in my Department will be in contact with the person named.
122. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43389/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application under the Basic Payment Scheme on 6 May, 2015. In the application, the person named increased their eligible area on two land parcels on the basis of work carried out after the Department’s inspection on 28 January.
The declared increase in eligible areas has been accepted by my Department, and the processing of this application has been finalised. The advance and balancing payment under the Basic Payment Scheme have now issued, and the payment resulting from the overpayment in the 2013 Single Payment Scheme has been deducted from that payment.
123. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the protocols in place for the procurement of supplies at Army barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43206/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAll procurement undertaken by the Defence Organisation is conducted in accordance with public procurement policy and national and EU legislation.
A wide range of non-capital goods and services are procured directly by the Defence Forces. These include items associated with day-to-day operations such as food, clothing, transport, utilities and the maintenance of equipment. The services of the Office of Government Procurement and centralised framework agreements are also used to acquire items that may be in common demand by a number of Departments.
124. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Defence the security in place to protect supplies and property in Army barracks; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43207/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraSecurity within Defence Force installations is provided by the occupying military personnel. The provision of such security in each location is the responsibility of the installation commander. For security reasons, it would not be appropriate for me to provide further details in relation to this matter.
125. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Defence the appeals process for persons (details supplied) who were not selected to join the Army but who passed all required tests. [43253/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn order to be enlisted as a General Service Recruit, applicants are required to pass all stages of the recruitment process. This includes Physical Fitness Test, Psychometric Test, Interview, Medical Examination and Security Clearance.
In relation to this particular case, the Military Authorities have advised that the individual referred to did not satisfy the requirements for enlistment in the Permanent Defence Force. I am unable to comment any further on this matter, as it is the policy of the Department of Defence to treat all applications for enlistment in the Defence Forces as strictly private and confidential. However, the individual concerned may apply for feedback using the following email address recruitment@defenceforces.ie.
126. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Defence his plans to meet with the members of Action Lariam and those who are campaigning on that issue, as he indicated during Question Time on 24 November 2015. [43313/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can inform the Deputy that a letter has issued from my Department offering a meeting in early January.
127. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the status of applications for visas for family reunification for persons (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43205/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised by the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department that on-line visa applications were made on 28 October, 2015. The necessary application summaries and supporting documentation have not yet been received by any of the Irish Visa Offices.
Guidelines on the visa application process including details of the required supporting documentation can be found on the INIS website (www.inis.gov.ie).
If the applicants are resident in Syria, they will need to submit their applications to the Honorary Consul in Damascus. The documents will then be referred to the Irish Visa Office in Abu Dhabi for decision. If they are unable to submit the documents to Damascus, they may submit them to one of the other Irish Embassies or Consulates in the region or directly to the Irish Visa Office in Abu Dhabi. Further information can be found on the website of the Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi (www.embassyofireland.ae).
Queries in relation to general immigration matters may be made directly to INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
In addition, applicants may themselves e-mail queries directly to INIS (visamail@justice.ie).
128. Deputy Terence Flanagan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will address a matter (details supplied) regarding automatic number plate recognition; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43219/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the detailed allocation of resources, including the deployment of technology, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to determine in accordance with identified operational requirements.
I can advise, however, that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) was introduced into An Garda Síochána in 2008 and, as of 31 October 2015, there are currently 100 ANPR units fitted in official Garda vehicles. ANPR is fitted in official Garda vehicles which are allocated around the country and used on a daily basis to support a wide range of enforcement functions, including detection of stolen and untaxed vehicles, and for crime detection purposes.
129. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on correspondence (details supplied) from the Cooley Peninsula community alert groups; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43232/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts.
The overall number of personnel available to the Garda Commissioner is close to 16,000. This figure comprises 12,866 members, 978 reserve members, and 2,012 civilians as of 31 October.
This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective, visible policing throughout the country. The number of Gardaí is crucial to this but also of importance is ensuring that the overall composition of the Garda workforce achieves the right balance between highly trained Gardaí and professional, skilled civilian staff, and that the Service harnesses the energy and skills of volunteers through the Garda Reserve.
The optimal number of members of An Garda Síochána is a factor of a number of different considerations, including population size and composition, crime trends, the level of civilianisation, etc. Having said that, the Government is committed to on-going seamless recruitment into the future and as the Deputy will be aware, provision has been made in Budget 2016 for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí next year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí that will be recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. So far 295 of those new recruits are fully attested and are on the ground in communities nationwide. It is expected that a further 395 will attest by the end of 2016 which, taking account of projected retirements, will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark. I expect recruitment to continue at or around the current levels for the next number of years having regard to factors such as the level of retirements in any one year.
In relation to civilian staff of An Garda Síochána, they are employed in a wide range of management, administrative, technical and operational roles where they make an invaluable contribution to the delivery of effective policing services throughout the country. The increased budget allocation for An Garda Síochána in 2016, in addition to providing for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí, provides for the recruitment of additional civilian experts, in particular to develop the Garda ICT investment programme. Having regard to international experience, I believe that there is undoubtedly value in exploring the opportunities for increasing the ratio of civilians to Gardaí, and for releasing Gardaí from administrative and other positions to front-line duties. The process which is currently ongoing to civilianise border control functions at Dublin airport and the transfer of these responsibilities from An Garda Síochána to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) of my Department is an excellent example of this. Further work in this area will be progressed in conjunction with the Garda Commissioner in the context of the report of the Garda Inspectorate of its review under the Haddington Road Agreement. The terms of reference of that review include all aspects of the operation and administration of An Garda Síochána including the structure, organisation and staffing of An Garda Síochána and the deployment of members and civilian staff to relevant and appropriate roles.
In relation to the County Louth Division, I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the number of Gardaí on the 31 October 2015, the latest dates for which figures are readily available, is 281 (including 10 newly attested Gardaí) of which 104 are assigned to the Drogheda Garda District. There are also 42 Garda Reserves and 23 Civilians attached to that Division. I have also been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the allocations of Gardaí is continually monitored to ensure optimal use of Garda human resources. This process is periodically reviewed in light of particular incidents of concern or challenges and it is in this context that the Commissioner has directed the allocation of an additional 27 Gardaí, including two Sergeants, to the Louth Division as an interim measure. These Gardaí are being transferred on a temporary basis to support the work of the 283 members of An Garda Síochána assigned to the Louth Division.
I am further informed that the work of local Gardaí in the Louth Division is augmented by a number of Garda national units which are assisting with covert and overt operations targeting prolific criminals and dissidents who reside within and outside this jurisdiction. The Emergency Response Unit is actively deployed in the Division and is providing a presence in the vicinity of checkpoints which are being carried out by uniform personnel. Furthermore there is ongoing liaison between An Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland under the auspices of an agreed Cross-Border Policing Strategy to continue the excellent levels of cooperation between both police services in addressing crime and terrorist activities in all its manifestations.
In addition to investing in renewing An Garda Síochána, the Government has have invested over €34 million in new Garda vehicles since 2012 with over 640 new vehicles coming on stream in 2015, ranging from more Garda patrol cars to high-powered vehicles for armed units. So far this year the Louth Division has been allocated 12 new Garda cars as a result of this increased investment. The Government's Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides for a further €46 million of investment in vehicles as well as an additional €200 million for Information and Communications Technology which will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime. We are also investing in airborne surveillance. Taken together, this step-change in investment in policing will ensure that the Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive, on the roads and in the community.
130. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if An Garda Síochána uses the Eircode system when responding to a call out during its day to day operations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [43247/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda Commissioner and I will write directly to him on receipt.
