Written Answers Nos. 823-839
823. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of TAMS II approval for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27153/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application for grant-aid under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme in TAMS 11 on 25 March 2016. Approval to commence the investment works issued to the applicant on 9 August 2016. It is open to the person named to submit an online payment claim when the approved works have been completed and all the requirements of the Scheme Terms and Conditions have been met.
824. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27154/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under Tranche 1 of GLAS was received in my Department on the 26 May 2015 and the person named was approved into the GLAS 1 with effect from 1 October 2015.
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.
During the GLAS pre-payment validation checks in respect of the 2015 scheme year an issue was identified in relation to a parcel on which the Hen Harrier action was selected. Department Officials are currently reviewing this issue with a view to resolving and further processing the application for the 2015 scheme year payment as soon as possible.
825. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for grant assistance for a slatted unit by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27155/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application for grant-aid under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme in TAMS 11 on 24 March 2016. Approval to commence the investment works issued to the applicant on 10 August 2016. To date the applicant has not submitted a payment claim for the works undertaken.
826. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by a person (details supplied) who was refused joining the GLAS scheme and has appealed this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27156/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for Tranche 2 of the GLAS Scheme was received in this case on the dedicated GLAS online system on the 29 November 2015.
The pre-approval validation checks on the application of the person named, found that the Low Input Permanent Pasture (part parcel) and Traditional Hay Meadow (part parcel) actions were not in accordance with scheme specifications and were therefore excluded as valid actions from the application.
The application was ranked as a Tier 3 application, scoring 7.50 which was below the minimum required pass mark of 16.50 and it was therefore unsuccessful for admission to the scheme. A letter issued to the person named on the 10 March 2016 notifying them of this decision and giving an option of appeal to GLAS Section.
An appeal has been received from the Agricultural Advisor of the person named and is currently being processed by my Department. The person named will be notified in writing shortly of the outcome of this appeal once a decision has been made.
827. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal for area aid by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27157/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraA decision on an appeal concerning the person named was issued on 12 August 2015 by the Agriculture Appeals Office. Further correspondence submitted since that decision is currently being examined by the Agriculture Appeals Office. It is anticipated that the examination will be concluded shortly.
828. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for TAMS II by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27158/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicant named is in a joint venture and they submitted an application for grant-aid under the Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage Scheme on 24 March 2016. Approval to commence the investment works issued on the 11 August 2016.
They also have two applications under the Dairy Equipment Scheme. The first application was submitted on 14 October 2015 and approval to commence the investment works issued on 15 June 2016 and the second application was submitted on 21 March 2016 and approval to commence the works issued on the 15 June 2016. To date no application for payment under either Scheme has been lodged.
829. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for the GLAS scheme by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27159/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under Tranche 1 of GLAS was received in my Department on the 21 May 2015 and the person named was approved into the GLAS 1 with effect from 1 October 2015.
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 successfully completed the GLAS pre-payment validation checks in respect of the 2015 scheme year and the full 2015 entitlement was processed and paid on 29 July 2016.
830. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal by persons (details supplied). [27191/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has reviewed the matter and has allowed the addition of the lands in question to the 2015 Basic Payment application of the persons named. Their application will be re-processed on this basis and monies due, if any, on foot of this decision will issue as soon as possible directly to their nominated bank account.
831. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans in place to tackle the issue of the high amount of forestry farming occurring in County Leitrim, in view of concerns expressed by local communities; his views that the CAP payments for forestry farmers should be withheld or reduced as many do not reside here; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27210/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland's Forestry Programme aims to increase total forest cover in Ireland by 44,000 hectares during the 6 year period up to 2020. This is a national target which means that all farmers have equal access to funds to establish new forests on their land. Forestry benefits society as a whole by creating jobs in rural communities and by contributing to a cleaner environment. It should be noted that one of the largest processors of timber in the country, Masonite, is located in Co. Leitrim. For landowners and farmers in particular, forestry provides a land use option which will generate a stable income for 15 years in the form of forest premiums. The removal of the concession whereby farmers can retain their Basic Payment and draw down forestry premium on newly planted land would make it much less attractive for farmers to plant some of their land.
With regard to new planting, notice of all applications for afforestation are put on the Department’s website showing townland, area of site etc. The Department also publishes notices in local newspapers where applications are made for afforestation in sensitive high-risk areas.
832. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a 2015 GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27215/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under Tranche 1 of GLAS was received in my Department on the 22 May 2015 and the person named was approved into GLAS 1 with effect from 1 October 2015.
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.
Following the checking process on the application of the person named, one parcel of Hen Harrier action (2.56 hectares) was disallowed. The application was processed for payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year on this basis and the 2015 first instalment was paid on 8 March 2016.
Subsequent to the issue of the first instalment of the 2015 payment, Department officials are reviewing the decision to disallow the 2.56 hectares of Hen Harrier. Once this review is complete 2015 balancing payment will be processed.
833. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commit to 100% matching funding to be used as direct payment per dairy farmer as part of the €350 million aid package agreed by the EU Council of agriculture Ministers in July 2016 in which Ireland was allocated €11 million; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27245/16]
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 is in turn comprised of 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 national co-funding on this latter element in the context of deliberations on budgetary matters and taking into account the pressures across the agri food sectors.
834. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position of the 2015 GLAS payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27261/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraSome 38,000 farmers were approved into the first two Tranches of GLAS, which is a record number of entrants to an agri-environment scheme in a single year.
A part-year payment in respect of the final three months of 2015 for certain GLAS actions is due to some 22,000 GLAS tranche 1 applicants.
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, have to be completed before any payment can issue.
A first instalment of this 2015 payment, representing up to 85% of the total 2015 payment due issued to 18,000 applicants in December 2015 and a further 3,000 applicants in March 2016.
The 2015 balancing payments issued to 18,500 applicants in early August 2016 and my Department is continuing to process outstanding 2015 payments subject to the completion of all the required regulatory checks.
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. As a result, my Department is obliged to ensure that individual payments will not issue until all aspects of a farmer’s application are in order, all outstanding documentation provided and all queries resolved.
Outstanding payments under GLAS 1 are due to unresolved queries associated with applications such as data issues, errors identified during the Basic Payment Scheme cross checks, inspection cases that are currently being finalised, changes in Land Parcel Identification System numbers and changes in areas. Officials in my Department are working on all outstanding applications on a case by case basis with the intention of processing payments as soon as possible.
835. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive payment in respect of the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, 1; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27285/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced their AEOS contract on 1September 2010. This contract was in place for 5 years and four months and ended on 31December 2015. Payments have issued for all scheme years, with the final payment in respect of the 2015 Scheme year issuing in two parts: - 85% in the amount of €2433.21 on 11 December 2015 and the remaining 15% in the amount of €429.39 on 16 December 2015.
836. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara an bhfuil sé i gceist aige casadh le hiascairí beaga as cuan Ros an Mhíl, go mór mór na hiascairí ribí róibéis agus gliomach, a bhfuil na hoibreacha atá á ndéanamh ag a Roinn sa chuan sin faoi láthair ag cur as dá slí bheatha; cén fáth ar socraíodh an obair seo a dhéanamh ag an am den bhliain is mó a chuirfeadh as do na hiascairí seo ó thaobh ioncaim de; an mbeidh cúiteamh le fáil as a gcaillteanas ioncaim gearrthéarmach agus fadtéarmach de bharr na n-oibreacha seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [27369/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraLeithdháileadh €1.8m le haghaidh sínidh ar an gcuan d’árthaí beaga ag Lárionad Chuan Iascaigh Ros an Mhíl faoi Chlár Caipitiúil um Chuanta Iascaigh agus Bonneagar Cósta 2016 an Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara 2016.
Bhí sé curtha sa sceideal go dtosnódh oibreacha ar an dtionscadal dé Luain 15ú Lúnasa 2016, agus go dtosnódh an Conraitheoir le hoibreacha dreideála chun cainéil isteach agus báisín sa chuan laistigh a dhoimhniú chun na bpontún snámha agus an píleáil CAB, iolair agus feistis a ghabhann leo a éascú.
Fuarthas gach cead pleanála, cead dumpála ar fharraige agus cead limistéar beag intíre den chalafort a líonadh le roinnt den ábhar dreideála ó na hÚdaráis chuí agus tá siad go léir socraithe. Bhí comhairliúchán poiblí iomlán san áireamh sna Próiséis Comhthoilithe seo.
Críochnaíodh an chéad chéim den Chuan d’Árthaí Beaga ag Ros an Mhíl sa bhliain 2011/2012. Tá 25 bheart ann faoi láthair gur féidir leo spás a thabhairt do suas le 40 árthaí ag brath ar chumraíocht. Leirítear rath na forbartha seo toisc go bhfuil na rátaí lonnaíochta 100% sna míonna is gnóthaí agus go bhfuil an éileamh do spás ag méadú.
Soláthróidh an fhorbairt is deireanaí suas le 92 bheart breise agus meallfaidh sí líon mór cuairteoirí chuig Ros an Mhíl, agus a bheidh éifeacht seachtháirge eacnamaíochta uirthi sa cheantar áitiúil, rud a bhfuil géarghá leis, agus í ag freastal ar árthaí áitiúla ag an am céanna.
Tar éis eachtra ag Ros an Mhíl dé Luain 15ú Lúnasa, socraíodh cruinniú leis na Iascairí a bhfuil baint acu leis don Déardaoin 18ú Lúnasa agus bhí oifigigh ó mo Roinn i láthair.
Thabharfainn comhairle don Teachta go bhfuil tús curtha le hobair ar an bhforbairt agus go bhfuil an conraitheoir i gceannas ar an suíomh. Nuair a bheidh sé críochnaithe ní chuimsíodh an Chuan d’Árthaí Beaga ach limistéar neamhthábhachtach de 0.1% de limistéar dlínsiúil Lárionad Chuan Iascaigh Chuan Chasla. Is é sin le rá nach mbeidh tionchar ag rian an Chuan d’Árthaí Beaga ar 99.9% de Chuan Chasla agus ní cuirfear isteach ar dheiseanna iascaireachta sa cheantar. Tá an limistéar a chuimsíonn rian an Chuan d’Árthaí Beaga nua gar don chladach, éadomhain agus taoide freisin.
Chinn an Tuairisc Scagthastála, a dtugtar faoi de réir Treoir Mhodheolaíoch Choimisiúin na hEorpa faoi forálacha Airteagal 6(3) agus 6(4) den Treoir ‘Gnáthóga’ 92/43/EEC (EC 2001), i measc nithe eile, nach mbeidh caillteanas gnáthóige de bharr na forbartha, nach mbeidh tionchair dhíreacha ar aon speiceas Mhamach Farraige agus go gceaptar go mbeidh aon cleitíní dríodair a dtagann ó na hoibreacha dreideála logánaithe agus sealadach.
Beidh clár monatóireachta cuimsitheach ar siúl i rith na n-oibreacha chun bheith cinnte go gcoinneálfar cáilíocht uisce laistigh de na caighdeáin riachtanacha.
I gcomhréir leis an nós gnáthúil a bhunaíodh thar na blianta agus i gcas ar bith ní éiríonn ceist cúitimh.
837. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications received and approvals issued to date under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27462/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested by the Deputy is contained in the table.
The current fourth tranche of the six measures in the TAMS II Scheme is due to close on the 30th of September. Approvals in respect of the first two tranches are issuing on an ongoing basis. Payment claims submitted in respect of completed works are also being processed on an ongoing basis.
|
Applications Received |
T 1 |
T 2 |
T 3 |
T 4 to date |
Total Received |
Approved |
|
Animal Welfare, Safety and Nutrient Storage |
932 |
601 |
1035 |
323 |
2891 |
1011 |
|
Dairy Scheme |
1069 |
591 |
284 |
81 |
2025 |
1463 |
|
Low Emission Slurry Spreading |
189 |
263 |
70 |
13 |
535 |
417 |
|
Organic Capital Investments |
191 |
99 |
106 |
38 |
434 |
237 |
|
Pigs and Poultry investment |
58 |
33 |
8 |
5 |
104 |
53 |
|
Young Farmer Capital Investment |
513 |
620 |
496 |
121 |
1750 |
812 |
|
2952 |
2207 |
1999 |
581 |
7739 |
3993 |
838. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the level of funding provided under the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme II in his Department's Estimates for 2016; the expenditure incurred to date; the projected expenditure on this scheme by the end of 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27463/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total allocation for the six measures under TAMS II in 2016 is €31.4m.
The online system for payment claim applications has just recently been made available and it is now open to farmers to submit a complete payment claim online as soon as the approved works have been completed and all of the Scheme requirements as set out in the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme have been met. The expenditure to date is €60,000. Approvals are valid for three years from the date of approval and the timing of the completion of the work is a matter for the applicant concerned.
It is expected that the level of online applications for payment will increase over the coming weeks as works are completed and Scheme requirements are met enabling approved participants to submit a valid payment claim application online.
839. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the outcome of the most recent meeting of the beef forum and the issues discussed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27464/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn the 22nd of July I chaired the eighth meeting of the Beef Forum. I view the Forum as an important vehicle for positive engagement between stakeholders in the sector.
At the last meeting stakeholders focused on the current state of the beef sector and the outlook for the remainder of 2016, as well as the potential implications of UK referendum to exit the EU.
There was also a significant discussion on proposals from the European Commission on climate change and the potential implications for agriculture and presentations were made on the updating of ICBF's genomic evaluations and the national Clean Livestock Policy.
I also announced my intention to establish a meat implementation group, made up of sectoral stakeholders, to focus on the meat sector recommendations in Food Wise 2025, and I intend to appoint a chairman for such a group in the coming weeks.
The Roundtable also received updates on a number of other key initiatives since its last meeting:
The roll out of the €300,000 DAFM Mart Modernisation Scheme for the funding of new ringside display screens in order to assist farmers when purchasing animals at livestock marts. The Department launched the scheme in May and almost 70 marts have applied for the grant to upgrade screens in their rings.
The implementation of the BDGP, with almost 20,000 participants now having completed their training under the scheme. So far the scheme has paid out almost €40 million euro to over 22,000 herd owners. I also took the opportunity to remind the participants in the BDGP of the requirement to complete the Carbon Navigator tool by the 31 October deadline.
The recent announcement by the US authorities to extend their approval for Irish beef to include manufacturing beef, and the work underway to extend market access to a range of other third countries.
On the live exports side, the opening of the Turkish and re-opening of the Egyptian markets to live exports provides another outlet for exporters in this sector.
As always every presentation from the Forum was made available on my Department's website the same day in keeping with our commitment for an open and transparent discussion on the relevant issues for the sector.
