Written Answers Nos. 771-787
771. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Question No. 236 of 14 July 2016, the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26474/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe appeal by the person named under the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme is still under consideration. Appeals are dealt with in sequence and he will be notified of the outcome as soon as the appeal is determined.
772. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Question No. 491 of 28 June 2016, when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26476/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI can confirm that my Department received an application from the herd owner to which the deputy refers. This application has now been processed and payment issued to the individual concerned on 16th September 2016.
773. Deputy John McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action his Department will take to assist in resolving the health of animals on the farm of a person (details supplied) as all efforts by his Department and the person to date have failed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26480/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has had extensive correspondence with the named person, who has made consistent and repeated claims about his experience of poor athletic performance and impaired health status of the horses on his farm since the 1990's. Extensive testing of samples submitted by a number of different veterinary practices over that time identified no specific cause of the claimed poor performance of the horses. In 2014/2015, following further queries and requests from the animal keeper, my Department committed significant resources to an intensive multidisciplinary investigation co-ordinated by a senior manager in my Department’s veterinary laboratory service with significant expert participation and support from the UCD Veterinary School, the Irish Equine Centre, the Department’s Laboratory Service and the Department’s local Regional Veterinary Office. Repeated field visits, clinical examinations of all of the horses on the farm and repeated testing of a suite of samples from the animals and the farm were conducted over a full season. This exhaustive investigation identified only two minor and well-understood health issues affecting the horses, which were reported and explained in full to the animal keeper and referred to his professional advisers for resolution.
The findings of that multi-agency report give no substantive cause for concern regarding the overall health and welfare of the horses on the holding. I understand that minor issues were identified and are being addressed by the animal keeper & his advisers. No investigations to date have found any evidence of any significant disease process or any exotic infection in these animals. Therefore, there is no appropriate role for my Department to involve itself further in this case nor is there any indication for further investigations or interventions at this time.
774. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if farmers with a commonage will receive a payment in 2016 under GLAS plus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26492/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe GLAS scheme provides for maximum basic payment of €5,000 per annum to applicants on the basis of the range and quantity of environmental actions they deliver as part of their GLAS plan. In addition, GLAS applicants who are managing high priority environmental assets, known as Priority Environmental Assets (PEAs),may receive an additional payment of up to €2,000, called GLAS Plus.
To qualify for GLAS Plus applicants must have more than one PEA, unless the PEA is a farmland bird which alone confers eligibility for GLAS Plus. The annual cost of addressing these PEAs must exceed €5,000 up to a maximum of €7,000.
As Commonage is categorised as a PEA under GLAS, applicants delivering on Commonage and another PEA with a combined value in excess of €5,000 will be eligible to receive a GLAS plus payment of up to €2,000, subject to a maximum payment for each individual PEA of €5,000.
It is intended that all applications which pass the regulatory checks in respect of 2016 GLAS payments will be processed before the end of 2016.
775. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association's call for further funding for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26529/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am fully aware of the pressures on farmers right now and I have committed to working with all the stakeholders, both at national and EU level, to address these issues and ensure that we continue to have a sustainable and resilient sector. In order to address the ongoing difficulties in the Dairy markets at EU and international level, the Commission presented a further package of measures at the Agri-Fish Council on 18 July 2016. The main component of the package is a fund of €500 million, which in turn comprises two elements:
- The first is a €150 million EU-wide measure to compensate farmers for reducing their milk output in the final quarter of 2016 compared to the same period in 2015 (at a rate of 14c/kg). The detailed rules regarding this measure were agreed at EU level on August 25 and the Commission provided the legal provisions to give effect to this measure earlier this month. The Scheme is currently being implemented in Ireland and some 4,400 milk producers have applied, indicating that they propose to reduce milk production by 72m litres in the Oct – Dec 2016 period over the same period last year.
- The second element of the EU July 2016 package, to which the Deputy refers, is a €350 million fund that will be allocated to Member States in the form of national envelopes, which each Member State can use in accordance with their domestic circumstances. Whilst eligibility criteria will apply, Member States are afforded a large degree of flexibility in terms of the measures they might adopt. Ireland’s allocation from the fund will be €11.09 million. Member States will be required to notify the Commission by 1 November 2016 of the measures to be adopted.
I will consider the question of additional national funding in the context of the overall budgetary process and taking into account the finite resources available and the demands from across the agri food sector.
776. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Question No. 676 of 12 July 2016, when payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26543/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II and was approved on the 25 August 2016. When the works are completed it is open to the person named to submit an online claim for payment.
777. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26552/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme of TAMS II. This application was approved on 1 June 2016. When the work is completed it will be open to the applicant to lodge a claim online for payment.
778. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Question No. 505 of 14 June 2016, the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26554/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2015 National Reserve to my Department. This application was not successful as the applicant exceeded the off-farm income limit required for acceptance under the scheme. The applicant was notified in writing of this decision and was offered the opportunity to submit an appeal.
The person named subsequently submitted an appeal of my Department’s decision. Following consideration of the information provided in support of the appeal the original decision was upheld and the person named was notified in writing of the outcome on 25th July 2016. The person named was offered the opportunity for a further appeal and was provided with the relevant form to use for such an appeal. There is no record of such further appeal having been submitted to my Department.
779. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Question No. 266 of 13 July 2016, the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the agri-environment options scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26556/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agriculture Appeals Office provides an independent appeals service in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 and Agriculture Appeals Regulations. The Agriculture Appeals Office has confirmed that the person named lodged an appeal on 5 May 2016 in relation to an Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). On 21 July 2016 a decision letter was issued by the Appeals Officer to the person named notifying him that the appeal was disallowed. The Agriculture Appeals legislation, which is available on the Appeals Office website, provides that an appeal decision may only be reviewed in certain limited circumstances. If the person named believes there are such circumstances arising he may wish to consider contacting the independent Agriculture Appeals Office directly, setting out in detail the grounds on which a review of the decision is sought. The appellant has already been advised in the appeal decision letter that he may raise any issue regarding the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman.
780. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine , further to Parliamentary Question No. 728 of 19 July 2016, the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26559/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agriculture Appeals Office provides an independent appeals service in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture Appeals Act 2001 and Agriculture Appeals Regulations. The Agriculture Appeals Office has confirmed that the person named lodged an appeal on 23 February 2016 in relation to an Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS). On 22 July 2016 a decision letter was issued by the Appeals Officer to the person named notifying him that the appeal was disallowed. The Agriculture Appeals legislation, which is available on the Appeals Office website, provides that an appeal decision may only be reviewed in certain limited circumstances. If the person named believes there are such circumstances arising he may wish to consider contacting the independent Agriculture Appeals Office directly, setting out in detail the grounds on which a review of the decision is sought. The appellant has already been advised in the appeal decision letter that he may raise any issue regarding the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman.
781. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an agri-environment options scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26594/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced their AEOS 2 contract on 1 September 2011. Payment issued in respect of the 2011-2014 Scheme years. Following the death of the applicant on 11 March 2015, payments were held until it was established if the contract was to be transferred to an eligible survivor as detailed in the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
The Department was informed by letter dated 8 August 2016 that the lands had been divided and the contract terminated.
Any outstanding payments will be issued to the Representatives of the deceased shortly.
782. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the first shipment of animals from Ireland to Turkey will take place; the time of the shipment; and the locations from which will they depart. [26623/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA shipment of cattle to Turkey took place on the morning of Tuesday, 20 September 2016. The shipment departed from Greenore Port, Co. Louth.
783. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of cases of ash dieback that have been identified on an annual basis since it was originally discovered in 2006 here; the number of cases by county for the relevant years; the work that has been completed to curtail and eradicate the disease on a national basis; the financial support available for those growing ash on a commercial basis, as a sideline or as a tree of choice to provide shelter on farm land or in gardens, to remove diseased trees once discovered; his plans to eradicate this disease; his views on whether it is possible to overcome the problem; his views on whether the recent discussions on the replacement of ash by plastic for hurley making are necessary in the context of the serious situation with the increase in ash dieback nationally; and his views on whether it is the end of ash as the material of choice for the production of hurleys. [26627/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe first confirmed finding of Ash Dieback in Ireland was made on 12th October 2012 at a forestry plantation site in County Leitrim which had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe. Following this finding the Department initiated a programme of targeted and systematic surveys for the disease. As the periods of these surveys initially crossed calendar years the results up until December 2015 were not collated on an annualised basis but rather in terms of the increase in confirmed findings from one survey period to another. These figures can be obtained, if the Deputy so wishes, however is not possible to do so in the time available. I would advise the Deputy to consult the Department’s website where there is a dedicated section on Ash Dieback and where the findings from each of the surveys undertaken is outlined in detail.
The data generated by the initial programme of targeted and systematic surveys for the disease was collated primarily on the basis of the location type rather than the number of confirmed findings by county year on year. These figures too can be obtained, if the Deputy so wishes, however it is not possible to do so in the time available. A national distribution map of all confirmed findings up to the 30th June this year is accessible on the dedicated section of the Department’s website.
In November 2012, legislation was put in place to restrict the movement of ash seeds, plants, or wood into or within the country with a view to preventing the establishment of the disease on the island. In March 2013 the Department introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from or which were associated with plants affected by disease. To date the Department has supported the uprooting and deep burial of an estimated 2 million plus ash trees. In addition to these measures the removal and destruction of several thousand ash trees has been undertaken in roadside/motorway landscaping plantings, farm landscaping/agri-environment scheme plantings, and commercial nurseries/garden centres.
In December 2012 the Department delisted ash as a tree species approved under the afforestation grant schemes and shortly thereafter delisted ash from the trees species approved under the agri-environment options scheme (AEOS, now GLAS). The National Roads Authority also agreed in 2013 to suspend the use of ash in any roadside/motorway plantings and since then it uses alternative species. Coillte also made a policy decision not to replant with ash.
An all-Ireland approach to dealing with Chalara has been maintained under the North-South Ministerial Council (NSMC) with ongoing close co-operation in all areas. This included the publication jointly by the then Minister of State with responsibility for forestry Mr. Tom Hayes TD and the then Northern Ireland Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms. Michelle O’Neill MLA, in July 2013 of an All-Ireland Chalara Control Strategy.
At this point in time and pending the outcome of national and international research projects to identify ash trees that show strong tolerance to the disease, the Department is not actively supporting the planting of ash trees. Farmers and other landowners should also be aware that there are regulations in place restricting the movement of ash seeds, plants, or ash wood into or within the country with a view to preventing the spread of the disease. This legislation is in the form of Order (S.I. No. 479 of 2015) made under the Destructive Insects and Pest Acts 1958 and 1991. Similar legislation is in also place in Northern Ireland.
As noted above the Department operates a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from or which were associated with plants affected by disease. The scheme provides financial support in the form of grant aid based on costs incurred up to a maximum of €1,500 per hectare for site clearance, up to a maximum of €2,500 per hectare for replanting with conifer and up to a maximum of €3,800 per hectare for replanting with broadleaves, and up to a maximum of €800 and €1,200 per hectare respectively for maintenance of these replanted areas. The Department also operates a Woodland Improvement Scheme to provide financial support in the form of grant aid at a rate of €750 per hectare aimed at encouraging forest owners who have not yet done so to thin their forests with a view to increasing the growth of the better trees in the plantation. Both schemes are open to forest owners who planted under one of the grant aided afforestation schemes since 1980.
In addition to the scheme based measures which have resulted in the uprooting of over 2 million trees and replanting of over 755 hectares of forest plantations affected by the disease, the removal and destruction of several thousand ash trees has been undertaken in roadside/motorway landscaping plantings, farm landscaping/agri-environment scheme plantings, and commercial nurseries/garden centres. Advice continues to be provided by the Department’s Inspectors to foresters in the public and private sectors on the biology of the disease and recognition of symptoms as well as on the procedures around the clearance of affected forest plantations and infected nursery stock. Inspectors also regularly provide briefings for or attend information meetings for landowners and other relevant stakeholders and representative groups such as the IFA, the GAA, and the Ash Society.
To assist with the Department’s efforts forest owners, forest nursery staff, and members of the public are asked to be vigilant for the disease and report (with photographs, if possible) any sites where there are concerns about unusual ill health in ash. To assist with this reporting an All Ireland smartphone ‘App’, called TreeCheck, is available which allows members of the public to report suspected cases of disease or insect attack of any tree species. Using a GPS-enabled smartphone the location of the suspect tree may also be recorded by the app to allow a follow-up inspection by Inspectors in the relevant jurisdiction if required. It is hoped that this App will help not only with regard to the early detection of new occurrences of Ash Dieback disease, but also other possible pest and disease outbreaks.
Initially the findings were in imported ash trees. Later we found the disease in native hedgerows beside infected imported ash trees. We are now finding the disease in native hedgerows where there is no obvious introduced source of infection nearby. In addition over half the recent findings in forest plantations are in ash trees of native Irish origin. There was a large increase in ash dieback findings in 2016. When these developments are coupled with the evidence from Great Britain, where the disease has spread quickly and widely in the natural environment over the same time period, it all paints an unwelcome and unfavourable picture for us in terms of dealing with the spread of this airborne fungal disease.
The Department is actively supporting a number of research projects into the control and management of the disease, in particular projects with a key long-term focus of developing an ash tree breeding programme to identify trees that show strong tolerance and or resistance to the disease and the genetic basis for tolerance. It is through such programmes that a long term strategy for ash can be identified and supported. More detail of the research actions the Department has participated in and/or is supporting financially either wholly or in part can be accessed on the dedicated section of the Department’s website.
The Department is aware of the importance of the ash to the hurley making business. Analysis undertaken by the Department indicates the basic resource to supply ash for hurley production is still secure for the foreseeable future as there are around 19,000 ha of existing ash plantations in the country. Hurley production supports approximately 400 jobs in rural Ireland through the production of 400,000 hurleys annually. This makes ash hurley production an important and viable industry in creating employment in rural Ireland. As the supply of ash for hurley production both from local sources and from abroad is secure the future of ash hurleys will ultimately depend on the individual choice of those playing the game of hurling.
The Department will continue to support and invest in research and technologies to breed ash for resistance to the disease so as to seek to ensure the long term availability of ash for hurley production. The aim is to develop Irish ash trees with a strong tolerance to the Ash Dieback disease and to get back to planting ash.
784. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a 2015 basic payment scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26657/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 18 April 2016. While this application was originally processed as 100%late, following the submission of a successful appeal the late penalty has now been waived in this case.
In light of the successful outcome of this appeal, the position with regard to Basic Payment Scheme entitlements can now be established and payment under the 2015 Basic Payment Scheme will issue as soon as possible.
785. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the threat response plan in view of concerns of farmers whose land is designated under preservation of the hen harrier and who are still awaiting results of the threat response that was established; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26665/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Hen Harrier Threat Response Plan is being developed by the Department of Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs (DAHRRGA) with other key Departments. In July 2014 the Minister for Arts, Heritage, Regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs established an inter-Departmental Steering Group, incorporating representatives from key Departments to assist in the development of the Plan. A Stakeholder Consultative Committee has also been established to assist in drafting the Threat Response Plan; this group is chaired by the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and includes representatives from the forestry, agriculture and wind farm sectors. The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine is represented on both the Steering Group and the Stakeholder Consultative Committee.
The Inter-Departmental Steering Group has now met on eight occasions. The main issues regarding land uses (Wind farming, Forestry and Agriculture) and the recovery of the Hen Harrier population have been investigated and discussed by the Steering Group and with the Stakeholder Consultative Committee.
We understand from DAHRRGA that officials at that Department will meet bilaterally and as a group with the key Departments over the coming weeks to finalise a draft of the Threat Response Plan, which will then undergo a public consultation and screening for Strategic Environmental Assessment and Appropriate Assessment. We understand that this draft will be ready by year end.
786. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26675/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Health and Safety Authority, under the responsibility of my colleague, Minister Mitchell O'Connor are the competent agency for safety in the workplace and this proposal regarding safety training should be addressed to that agency.
My Department supports the work of the HSA and have a number of on-going initiatives promoting farm safety. By way of example, all farmers can avail of supports in respect of farm safety measures under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme funded under the Rural Development Programme.
Applicants must also attend safety training to receive funding under the scheme. In recent years, we have also targeted farm safety promotion through the distribution of safety leaflets to over 130,000 farmer annually.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is also an active member of the Farm Safety Partnership Advisory Committee and works constructively with the Health and Safety Authority in its operation. This committee consist of members from a wide range of bodies within agriculture and looks at how to promote and develop farm safety.
787. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the independent review group to look into the entire area of aquaculture licensing will be established, take submissions and report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26687/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s first National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development was published by my Department in December 2015. That Plan proposes 24 actions to drive the sustainable development of the aquaculture sector and sustainably grow production in the sector by 45,000 tonnes.
Action number 22 of the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development commits my Department to a review and revision of the aquaculture licence process, including the applicable legal framework. This Review is echoed by the recommendations of FoodWise 2025.
Aquaculture licences are determined by my Department having regard to the requirements of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997, the Foreshore Acts 1993-2011, the EU Habitats and Birds Directives, the Aarhus Convention, requirements relating to underwater archaeology and certain other regulatory requirements.
Thus, the process around aquaculture licensing is extremely complex and demanding. Nevertheless, my Department made 104 aquaculture licence determinations in 2015, some 53 licence determinations have been made so far this year and in the order of 150 determinations are expected for the year as a whole.
The National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development recognised the complexity of the present process and related legal framework. It committed to a review of the licensing process, including the legal framework. I am presently considering this commitment and the many other actions proposed in the National Strategic Plan for Sustainable Aquaculture Development and expect to progress the issue in 2016.
