Written Answers Nos. 233 - 255
233. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his Department's use of external public relations firms since he came into office by year in tabular form; the uses of these firms and the policy regarding employing them; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43640/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not employ External Public Relations firms. Public Relations advice is provided by my Department’s Press Office.
234. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reports he commissioned from external consultants since March 2011, by year, title, cost, date published and company in tabular form. [43656/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following tables. Some of the reports outlined are mandatory in the context of EU obligations.
2011: March- December
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Date or Expected Date of Publication |
Costs € |
|
University College Dublin |
Evaluation of the EU School Fruit Scheme/Food Dude Programme in Ireland 2011 - Commission Regulation 288 of 2009 |
10 January 2012 |
4,500 |
|
University College Dublin |
EU School Fruit Scheme/Food Dude Programme in Ireland – A review of evaluations completed to date - Commission Regulation 288 of 2009 |
6 February 2012 |
6,388 |
|
Drima Marketing Ltd |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2010 Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2010 Market Report for Ireland for the Timber Committee 2010 |
Completed May 2011 January 2012 Completed Sept 2011 |
12,792 |
|
Rockwell Automation |
Hazard and Operability Study |
13 December 2011 |
3,740 |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates |
Interm Evaluation, of 2007-2013 SDP |
3 June 2011 |
39,325 |
|
Brendan Riordan, Research Economist |
The Net Contribution of the Agri-Food Sector to the Inflow of Funds into Ireland: a New Estimate |
23 July 2012 |
6,000 |
|
Accenture |
An analysis of an internal review of procurement. |
Not for publication. |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
Accenture |
An examination of the opportunities and capacity for further shared services between the Department and its non-commercial state agencies. |
Not for publication. |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
Accenture |
A review of the Department’s role in regulating meat plants |
Not for publication. |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
KPMG |
An examination of the administration of the Single Payment Scheme. |
13 October 2011 |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
Fitzmaurice Tingle Ltd. |
Refrigeration Consultancy on 6 Fishery Harbour Centre Sites |
Not for external Publication |
3,505 |
|
Brian Scott |
Port Security Assessment Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre |
Not for external Publication |
4,680 |
|
Deloitte Ireland |
To examine recommendations of the Report of the Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities as applicable to be this Department to value the assets referred to and to make a series of recommendations. For internal Departmental information |
Not for publication |
Work done on a pro-bono basis |
|
Michael Dowling |
Beef 2020 Activation Group: Growing the Beef Sector |
June 2011 – for input into FH 2020 Committee |
10,000 |
|
Stiofán Nutty |
Report on the Development of Ireland’s Organic Industry and an Organic and an Irish Organic Trade Board. |
For internal Departmental information Not for publication |
29,040 |
|
Briggs Environmental Services |
Oil Spill Contingency Plans |
Not for external Publication |
4,424 |
|
Deloitte Ireland |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Annual Accounts Certification. Required by EU Legislation. |
Not for publication. |
509,830 |
2012: January- December
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Date or Expected Date of Publication |
Costs € |
|
Drima Marketing Ltd |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2011 Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2011 Market Report for Ireland for the Timber Committee 2011) |
Completed May 2012, 3 July 2012 Completed Sept 2012 |
12,792 |
|
Irish Equine Centre |
Demographic study on the unwanted horse population in Ireland |
March 2012 |
10,000 |
|
Indecon |
Review of certain aspects of the Irish Horse Racing Industry |
20 July 2012 |
59,225 |
|
CMG Crime Management Ltd |
ISPS Port Security Plan Castletownbere Fishery Harbour Centre |
Not for external Publication |
3,198 |
|
Philip Farrelly & Co. Ltd |
Food Harvest 2020 – Environmental Analysis Report |
January 2014 |
229,610 |
|
Team BDS |
Lean Review of the Meat Inspection Service |
16 December 2013 |
98,597 |
|
Compass Informatics Ltd |
Independent specialist review of all Geographical Information based computer systems in the Department, carried out as part of the effective and efficient administration of the Department’s EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) based payment schemes. |
Not for external publication. |
16,254 |
|
Deloitte Ireland |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine – Annual Accounts Certification. Requirement of EU Legislation. |
Not for publication |
514,169 |
2013: January- December
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Date or Expected Date of Publication |
Costs € |
|
Norfolk Marine |
Survey works report to Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre |
Not for external Publication |
10,828 |
|
Brian Scott |
Port Facility Review, Killybegs |
Not for external Publication |
1,200 |
|
Drima Marketing Ltd |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2012 Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2012 Market Report for Ireland for the UNECE Timber Committee 2012) |
Completed May 2013 July 2013 Completed in October 2013 |
11,400 |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates Economic Consultants |
Ex Ante Evaluation, Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment of the 2014 – 2020 Rural Development Programme |
July 2015 |
48,401 |
|
Judith A Annett Countryside Consultancy |
Irish Deer Management Policy Vision |
Has not been published, was circulated to stakeholders |
2,500 |
|
Forest Solutions |
NPV and IRR analysis for New afforestation scheme |
Was not specifically published but formed part of the deliberative and consultative process on the new Forestry programme |
1,968 |
|
Deloitte Ireland |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Annual Accounts Certification. Requirement of EU legislation |
Not for publication |
468,277 |
2014: January- December
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Date or expected Date of Publication |
Cost |
|
Indecon |
Review of certain matters relating to Bord na gCon |
7 July 2014 |
60,885 |
|
Deloitte |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine -Annual Accounts Certification as required by EU legislation |
Not for publication |
452,699 |
|
RSM McClure Watters |
Ex Ante Evaluation, SEA and AA of Seafood Development Programme 2014-2020 |
24 June 2015 |
64,083 |
|
NTA Monitor Ltd |
Independent assessments of the Department’s IT security measures and security review of the Department’s infrastructure. Required for EU accreditation purposes. |
Not for external publication. |
18,382 |
|
Drima Marketing Ltd |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2013 Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2013 Market Report for Ireland for the Timber Committee 2013 |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire- completed and submitted to the EUROSTAT/FAO Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2013 published as part of COFORD Woodflow 2013 UNECE report - was completed for submission to the UNECE Committee on Forests and the Forest industry. |
11,780 |
|
RSM McClure Watters (Consulting) |
Ex Ante Evaluation Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment of 2014-2020 Forestry |
Published in 2014 as part of the consultative process on the new Forestry programme |
97,508 |
|
Forest Solutions |
NPV and IRR analysis for new forestry for Fibre scheme |
Was not specifically published but formed part of the deliberative and consultative process on the new Forestry programme |
2,214 |
|
Forest Solutions |
Cost Benefit Analysis- Forest Roads Programme 2014-2020 |
Was not specifically published but formed part of the deliberative and consultative process on the new Forestry programme |
2,952 |
|
Freshwater Bivalve Investigations Freshwater Bivalve Investigations |
Site Assessment of the River Lickey Site Assessment of the River Lickey |
Not for publication Not for publication |
5,040 2,769 |
|
Occupational Physiotherapy Solutions |
To conduct an ergonomic assessment of tasks in Cork Blood Testing Laboratory. Internal use only. |
Not for publication |
1,347 |
|
Crime Management Services Ltd |
ISPS Port Security Assessment: Castletownbere FHC |
Not for external Publication |
4,735 |
|
Crime Management Services Ltd |
ISPS Port Security Assessment: Killybegs FHC |
Not for external Publication |
4,735 |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates |
RDP 2014-2020 Ex Ante. Evaluation Strategic Environmental Assessment & Appropriate Assessment |
2015 |
48,401 |
2015: January to Date
|
Company |
Title of Report |
Date or expected Date of Publication |
Cost € To date |
|
Philip Farrelly & Co |
Agri-Food Strategy 2025. Environmental Analysis Report (Provisional Title) |
December 2015 |
89,790 |
|
Deloitte |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Annual Accounts Certification as required by EU legislation |
Not for publication |
137,111 |
|
BDO |
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine Annual Accounts Certification. |
Not for publication. Report is a requirement of EU Legislation. |
179,035 |
|
NTA Monitor Ltd |
Independent assessments of the Department’s IT security measures and security review of the Department’s infrastructure. Required for EU accreditation purposes |
Not for external publication. |
16,279 |
|
Fitzpatrick Associates |
RDP 2014-2020 Ex Ante. Evaluation Strategic Environmental Assessment & Appropriate Assessment |
July 2015 |
50,130 |
|
Drima Marketing Ltd |
Joint Forest Sector Questionnaire (JSFO) 2014 Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2014 Market Report for Ireland for the Timber Committee 2013 |
Completed May 2015 Joint Wood Energy Enquiry (JWEE) 2014- published as part of COFORD Woodflow note. Completed Sept/Oct 2015 |
12,398 |
|
Bearing Point |
Technical code review of the Animal Health and Welfare System |
Q1 2016 Not for external publication. |
216,198 |
|
Deloitte |
Technical code review of the Integrated Fisheries System |
Q1 2016 Not for external publication. |
79,827 |
|
NTA Monitor Ltd |
Independent assessments of the Department’s IT security measures and security review of the Department’s infrastructure. Required for EU accreditation purposes |
Not for external publication. |
35,611 |
|
Capt. Alan Coghlan |
Draft Report on the use of Tugs and Associated Pilotage at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre |
Not for publication |
4,800 |
|
CMG Crime Management Ltd |
ISPS Port Security Plan: Killybegs FHC |
Not for external Publication |
4,245 |
|
CMG Crime Management Ltd |
Port Security Plan: Killybegs FHC |
Not for external Publication |
4,362 |
|
Martin Heraghty |
Confidential Report to Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Commercial Mushroom Producers (CMP) participation as a Producer Organisation in the Fruit and Vegetable Producer Organisation Scheme |
21 September 2015 |
2,000 |
|
Dr. Claire Sansford, Independent Plant Health Consultant, York, UK. |
Revised assessment of the risk of spread of Hymenoscyphus fraxineus on untreated wood of ash (Fraxinus spp., particularly Fraxinus excelsior). |
4 September 2015 (no immediate plans to publish) |
18,691 |
|
McCarthy Keville O’Sullivan |
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and Appropriate Assessment (AA) of Freshwater Pearl Mussel Plan for Ireland |
27 May 2016 |
54,710 |
|
ADAS UK LTD |
An Evaluation of the Green Low–Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) |
2021 |
1,500,000 |
235. Deputy Robert Troy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of special advisers on his staff and their yearly salary from 2011 to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43672/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraDetails in relation to Special Advisers appointed by me since taking office are set out in the following table. In respect of two of the appointments, the salary cap was exceeded, given the substantially higher salaries earned in the private sector. The salary increases were approved by the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.
|
Name |
Dates |
Salary € |
||||
|
2011 |
2012 |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
||
|
Fergal Leamy |
11/4/2011 to 9/9/2011 |
130,000 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
|
Ross MacMathúna |
16/1/2012 to 7/8/2014 1 July 2013* |
N/A |
€110,000 |
€110,000 €103,200 |
€103,200 |
N/A |
|
Aine Kilroy |
18/04/2011 to date 1 July 2013* |
€80,051 |
€83,337 |
€86,604 €84,706 |
€84,706 |
€87,258 |
|
Catriona Fitzpatrick |
07/08/2014 to date |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
€75,647 |
€78,670 |
* Salary reduced in line with Haddington Road Agreement
236. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cen uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoi Scéim na Limistéar faoi Shriantacht Nádúrtha le feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí tugtha); cén fáth go bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [43704/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraFuarthas iarratas faoi Scéim na Limistéar Srianta Nádúrtha 2015 ón duine a ainmnítear an 8 Bealtaine 2015. Tugadh próiseáil an iarratais seo chun críche le déanaí agus eiseofar íocaíocht go luath, go díreach do chuntas bainc ainmnithe an duine a ainmnítear.
237. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application under the single payment scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43713/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department received a Private Contract Clause application from the person named. This application has been processed and payment will issue under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme in the coming days. The person named has also submitted a Review of Entitlements application to have the number and/or value of his Basic Payment Scheme entitlements reviewed. This review will be carried out shortly and the person named will be notified in writing thereafter.
238. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the remaining 30% balance will be paid under the 2015 basic payment scheme and the greening payment scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43716/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment and Greening Schemes was received from the person named on 28 May 2015. This application has been processed and both the advance (70%) and balancing (27%) payments have issued to the nominated bank account of the person named. A final balancing payment representing 3% of the overall payment is due to issue in 2016 following the finalisation of the allocation of entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme.
239. Deputy Áine Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a payment under the single payment scheme. [43774/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named purchased entitlements during the 2014 scheme year but he did not submit a Single Payment Scheme application in 2013, therefore he did not establish an automatic right to receive new entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. My Department will contact the person named to obtain further information to establish what options are available to him to activate his entitlements under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme.
240. Deputy Joe Carey asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a person (details supplied) in County Clare under the young farmers capital investment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43776/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicant in this case has been farming for longer than five years and is not eligible for grant aid under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme. He has been advised of the position. However he can apply under the other TAMS II Schemes and be eligible for grant aid at the standard rate of 40%. Younger farmers who are ineligible under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme receive priority under the other TAMS II Schemes.
241. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43777/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an Areas of Natural Constraint application to my Department on 26 May, 2015. This application has been fully processed and payments issued on 21 October 2015 to the nominated bank account of the person named. My Department also received a Transfer of Entitlement Allocation Right application from the person named. At the time the application was received, the application form was incomplete and it was necessary for the form to be returned to the person named for completion. An official from my Department has been in contact with the person named in recent days in relation to this application as the completed form was never returned to my Department. This form has now been returned and the application has been processed. Payment under the Basic Payment Scheme will issue in the coming days.
242. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43778/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application to my Department on 26 May, 2015. This application has been fully processed, and payment has issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
243. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will bring to the attention of the European Commission how unfair and detrimental its proposal to ban bass fishing entirely in the first six months of 2016 will be to local tourism (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43785/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe most recent scientific advice for seabass suggests that the stock is in rapid decline and that fishing mortality levels for this stock are four times higher than the level that would ensure Maximum Sustainable Yield (MSY). In January 2015, the EU Commission introduced emergency measures to reduce the fishing mortality in commercial fisheries (pelagic trawling) of this stock. The EU has since adopted a new Regulation that introduces a comprehensive prohibition on commercial fishing for seabass by all EU Member States fishing vessels in the Irish and Celtic Seas. This underpins the conservation actions already taken by Ireland for over 20 years with regard to this vulnerable stock. The EU has also increased the minimum landing size for seabass and again Ireland supported this measure.
Ireland welcomes further conservation measures for this stock but we have a concern that the proposal as it stands, while aimed at protecting the stock, may inadvertently harm the highly regulated recreational angling sector in Ireland. The current proposal would ban all angling activity for seabass for the first six months of the year and a one fish per day rule for the rest of the year. Currently Ireland operates a 2 fish per day rule and the rest of the EU applies a 3 fish per day rule. I fully support the one fish per day limit suggested, however as I agree with the Deputy on the potential harm to our tourism sector, I do not support a complete ban on angling for the first six months of the year. Irish anglers are not the reason that seabass is continuing to decline and Ireland has been at the forefront of conservation measures for this stock for decades. It would in my view be unfair to take such a severe approach to the recreational sector in Ireland given their ongoing efforts to protect the stock. Consequently, I will endeavour, at December Council, to persuade the Commission that a catch and release recreational fishery be permitted to continue during the first six months of the year.
244. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the schedule for payments under the green low-carbon agri-environment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43818/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraGLAS applicants approved under Tranche 1 who have a GLAS contract start date of 1 October 2015 are entitled to a 2015 part-year payment in respect of 2015 eligible actions and covering the three month period 1 October 2015-31 December 2015. It is intended that these 2015 part-year payments will commence later this month. From 2016 onwards GLAS payments will be made on an annual basis as contracts complete the required checks.
245. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue under the young farmers scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo, the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43819/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of having received an application under the Young Farmers Scheme from the person named. Department records indicate that the person named commenced his agricultural activity in 2008. Under EU Regulations governing the Young Farmers scheme an eligible applicant must have commenced their farming activity since 1 January 2010. On this basis the person named does not meet the eligibility criteria under the Young Farmers Scheme.
246. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the disadvantaged areas scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43829/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received from the person named on 14 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.
247. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he authorised the National Parks and Wildlife Service to negotiate on the proposed new locally led agri-environment schemes, when the scheme for the Shannon Callows will become operational; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43833/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposed new Locally-led Measure is an initiative of my Department which is being discussed at present with the European Commission, following which I hope to see it added to the Irish Rural Development Programme by way of formal amendment. The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) are advising on different aspects of the new measure but I should point out that they are not part of my Department and nor have I ‘authorised’ them to negotiate in any way on behalf of my Department in relation to the locally-led schemes initiative. The first of these schemes to be rolled out will be the Burren Programme, for which applications have already been sought, and work is progressing on other schemes which will be included under the Locally-Led umbrella later in 2016 and 2017. Freshwater pearl mussel catchments, hen harrier habitats and peat uplands have all been identified as candidates for support. Other candidates will emerge from a competitive process which will be announced in 2016, and a scheme for the Shannon Callows may well emerge from that process.
248. Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an older young farmers top-up will be approved for payment and when payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43841/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted applications for the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme to my Department. Processing of National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme applications is at an advanced stage and payments to successful applicants will commence in the week beginning 14 December 2015.
249. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the process for grant-aid for tillage facilities to be included in the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43850/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of a specific scheme of investments for Tillage farmers is included in a formal amendment to the Rural Development Programme proposed by my Department. The detail of this proposal is currently under negotiation with the European Commission. The Terms and Conditions of the Scheme will be finalised on receipt of the approval from the Commission and arrangements made for online applications. Grant aid is already available to assist tillage farmers under the existing TAMS II schemes with regard to, for example, the construction of nutrient storage facilities and storage facilities for other farmyard manures, soiled water and related facilities as well as farm-safety investments such as sliding/rolling doors and farmyard lighting.
250. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine what tillage facilities under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II will be eligible for arable under this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43851/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of a specific scheme of investments for Tillage farmers is included in a formal amendment to the Rural Development Programme proposed by my Department. The detail of this proposal is currently under negotiation with the European Commission. The Terms and Conditions of the Scheme will be finalised on receipt of the approval from the Commission and arrangements made for online applications. The investment items that have been considered for approval by the Commission include precision farming equipment, grain stores and grain storage equipment, low disturbance tillage equipment and rainwater harvesting and storage. Grant aid is already available to assist tillage farmers under the existing TAMS II schemes in respect of, for example, the construction of nutrient storage facilities and storage facilities for other farmyard manures, soiled water and related facilities as well as farm-safety investments such as sliding/rolling doors and farmyard lighting.
251. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when arable farmers will be able to apply for grant aid for tillage facilities under targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II, the moneys that have been allocated to this scheme, when grant aid will be paid out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43852/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of a specific scheme of investments for Tillage farmers is included in a formal amendment to the Rural Development Programme proposed by my Department. The detail of this proposal is currently under negotiation with the European Commission. The Terms and Conditions of the Scheme will be finalised on receipt of the approval from the Commission and arrangements will be made for online applications as soon as possible thereafter. Grant aid is already available to assist tillage farmers under the existing TAMS II schemes in respect of, for example, the construction of nutrient storage facilities and storage facilities for other farmyard manures, soiled water and related facilities as well as farm-safety investments such as sliding/rolling doors and farmyard lighting.
252. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of trees which were levelled in the storm of February 2014, if a replanting grant is available, the parameters involved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43858/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am aware of the difficulties that have been created for many forest owners as a result of the storms of 2014. The frequency and ferocity of these storm events, compounded by waterlogged soils on many forest sites, led to extensive damage on both private and State owned forest lands. While estimates indicate that less than 1% of the national forest area (approximately 8,000 hectares) has been blown down, the damage has been extensive at a local level, especially in the south and parts of the midlands where substantial quantities of timber have been blown down. Financial support for a replanting grant for privately owned forests affected by the winter storms of 2013/2014 is currently being considered by the Department. A final decision on this matter can be expected shortly.
253. Deputy Timmy Dooley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive farm payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43860/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes was received from the person named on 20 April, 2015. Processing of the application under both schemes 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.
254. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a proper compensation scheme is needed for landowners who farm in line with restrictions due to Hen Harrier designation, if he will assess and implement such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43911/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have made possession of Hen Harrier land a Tier One Priority Environmental Asset under GLAS, guaranteeing that any farmer with an identified habitat will secure priority access to the scheme. The payment rate for Hen Harrier is €370 per hectare. This payment applies to all lands notified to my Department by the National Parks & Wildlife Service as Hen Harrier Lands, whether these are formally designated or otherwise identified as important for the preservation of the bird. Under the Birds Directive, Ireland is obliged to protect the Hen Harrier wherever it occurs and for this reason I was anxious to ensure that farmers could be properly supported for additional effort and income foregone, and that this would not be restricted to designated Natura sites. I have also provided that farmers with Hen Harrier habitat will automatically qualify for GLAS Plus, offering an increased payment of up to €7,000 per annum provided they manage sufficient area of habitat. For farmers who manage very large tracts of hen harrier habitat, I have already announced my intention to introduce a special scheme under the proposed new Locally Led measure of the Rural Development Programme. This will be drawn up and negotiated with the EU Commission in the first half of next year.
255. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will amend the stipulation of €370 per hectare up to a maximum of 18.92 hectares under the green low agri-carbon scheme to introduce an equivalent Hen Harrier rate supplement per hectare in excess of 18.9 hectares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43913/15]
Amharc ar fhreagraI have made possession of Hen Harrier land a Tier One Priority Environmental Asset under GLAS, guaranteeing that any farmer with an identified habitat will secure priority access to the scheme. The payment rate for Hen Harrier is €370 per hectare. This payment applies to all lands notified to my Department by the National Parks & Wildlife Service as Hen Harrier Lands, whether these are formally designated or otherwise identified as important for the preservation of the bird. Under the Birds Directive, Ireland is obliged to protect the Hen Harrier wherever it occurs and for this reason I was anxious to ensure that farmers could be properly supported for additional effort and income foregone, and that this would not be restricted to designated Natura sites. I have also provided that farmers with Hen Harrier habitat will automatically qualify for GLAS Plus, offering an increased payment of up to €7,000 per annum provided they manage sufficient area of habitat. For farmers who manage very large tracts of hen harrier habitat, including those with more than 18.92 hectares, I have already announced my intention to introduce a special scheme under the proposed new Locally Led measure of the Rural Development Programme. This will be drawn up and negotiated with the EU Commission in the first half of next year.
