Written Answers Nos. 79 - 89
79. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the young farmers scheme; the reason for the delay; the decision date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8844/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted applications to my Department under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve and under the Young Farmers Scheme. The processing of these applications involves administrative and on farm checks and verification of land details submitted under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme application. These checks are required under the EU Regulations pertaining to the scheme. All such checks are currently being finalised and payment under the National Reserve and Young farmer scheme will issue to the person named shortly.
80. Deputy Jim Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive payment under the 2015 basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8848/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person name submitted a Transfer of Entitlements Allocation Right and Reference Value and Private Contract Clause application to my Department. A Basic Payment Scheme application which was required to facilitate these applications was submitted after the closing date along with an appeal to have it accepted on Force Majeure grounds. This appeal has now been considered and has been deemed successful. Payments relating to the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme applications of the person named will issue shortly.
81. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) under the 2015 basic payment scheme. [8899/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 18 November 2015. The late application penalty was not applied in this case as application related correspondence had been received by the Department within the application period.
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 was finalised and payment due under the 2015 Basic Payment scheme issued to the nominated bank account of the person named on 4 February 2016.
Payment due under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme is now being processed and will issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.
82. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to persons (details supplied) under the national reserve scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8952/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe persons named submitted applications under the 2015 National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme. In submitting the applications the persons named applied for both the ‘new entrant’ and ‘young farmer’ categories of the National Reserve. The applications under the ‘young farmer’ category of the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme have not been successful as the applicant does not meet the age criteria for these schemes.
My Department has now examined the application under the ‘new entrant’ category of the National Reserve and deemed it to be successful. This application is being finalised and payment will issue shortly.
83. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive payment under the 2015 agri-environment options scheme 2015; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8954/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced their AEOS contract on 1 September 2011 and was paid for the 2011 to 2014 Scheme years.
Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. The application of the person named was also selected for an on-farm inspection which took place on the 19 August 2015. During this inspection non-compliances with the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were noted in relation to the taking of soil samples. This has resulted in the rejection of the AEOS application. The person named was notified of this by letter dated 19 November 2015. This letter also granted the right of appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office within three months of the date of the letter. The Agriculture Appeals Office have advised that no appeal has been submitted.
84. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason persons (details supplied) were refused a forestry payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8995/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe contract number provided by the Deputy refers to an application for approval to plant under the Afforestation Scheme. This application was refused due to landscape considerations and access to the site. Planting of this land would create unacceptable future road safety issues with regard to site access arrangements and minimum sightlines at the location.
85. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a designation of a pier (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9025/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issue of designation of Renard pier for landings of hake has been under discussion over the past months involving the SFPA which is responsible for operational issues concerning sea fisheries control, the Irish Fish Processors and Exporters Association and the operator concerned. I have now been advised by the SFPA that it can recommend that Renard Pier be designated for landings of Hake greater than 2 tonnes in accordance with the EU Control Regulation and the EU Hake Regulation. The SFPA is also recommending that due account be given to the necessity to complete the construction works at Renard to allow safe access to both fishing vessels and SFPA inspection personnel while monitoring to landings of Hake greater than 2 tonnes into Renard by European Union fishing vessels.
At present Renard Pier is under construction and a safety assessment will have to be made on completion of the works. I plan to designate Renard pier as early as possible after I have received confirmation that the construction work on the pier is completed and a safety assessment confirms that the pier allows safe access to both fishing vessels and SFPA inspection personnel.
86. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason payment is issuing to a herd number that is dormant (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9047/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraRecords in my Department show that in 2015 the person named submitted his Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application under the second herd number cited which is active and assigned to him. The first herd number cited is also assigned to the person named but no 2015 BPS application was submitted under this number.
A GLAS application was subsequently submitted on 12 December 2015 under Tranche 2 and again under the second herd number cited. The person named has been approved into GLAS with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016. Payment under his GLAS contract will issue in the final quarter of the year when all necessary pre-payment checks have been carried out.
87. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) in regard to the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9050/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2015 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme application on 29 April 2015. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases on-farm inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a Ground Eligibility inspection. The inspection identified discrepancies between the areas declared and the area found resulting in an over-declaration in area of greater than 50%. Based on the terms and conditions of the schemes this resulted in no payments being due under the 2015 Direct Payments Scheme and the application of an administrative fine to be offset against any future EU payments.
The person named was notified of the inspection outcome on 16 November 2015 and has appealed this decision. This request is currently being examined and the person named will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
88. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) for a farm improvement grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9054/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicant in question has applied for a race, shed and tank in the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme in the first tranche of TAMS II. The application has passed the administrative checks and approvals will be commencing in a matter of weeks.
89. Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of plans for Howth Harbour in County Dublin; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9058/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraHowth Fishery Harbour Centre is one of the six designated Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned, managed and maintained by my Department under Statute.
While first and foremost a working fishery harbour, Howth, similar to the other five Fishery Harbour Centres, has its own unique features and is home to a broad range of diverse economic and social activities.
My Department is conscious of the importance of both fishing and non-fishing activities in Howth and endeavours to facilitate and develop both. This involves day to day operational support by Harbour staff and management and development and repair of infrastructure subject to available financial resources. I am happy to advise the Deputy that, notwithstanding the prevailing economic environment in which we operate, in excess of €5.9 million has been invested in maintenance, development and upgrading works at Howth FHC as part of my Department’s Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme from 2011 to 2015.
On 11th January I announced funding of €1.45 million for capital projects at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre during 2016; in addition I have set aside €420,000 for safety and maintenance, disability access and contractual commitments accruing from 2015. Significant works in this year’s programme include the continued upgrading of the electrical system, provision of pontoons to west pier for ferry landings and traffic management works. Of importance in the context of a possible future dredging project at Howth is the allocation of €100,000 for the preparation of a Dumping at Sea Licence which will be required before any dredging project could commence.
A draft report from a €150,000 site investigation project which was commissioned in 2015 was received in March 2016. The draft report is being assessed by the Department’s engineers. This report includes vital information on the nature of the material to be dredged in any future dredging project. This information is necessary for the preparation of the Dumping at Sea licence which will be submitted to the EPA in due course. Depending on the outcome of this process Dredging Works will be considered subject to available funding.
As the Deputy is aware, all developments in the six Fishery Harbour Centres, including a possible future dredging project at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre will be considered under future Capital Programmes on the basis of available exchequer funding and competing priorities.
