Written Answers Nos. 486 - 509
486. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5314/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. The 85% advance payment for 2016 has been processed and payment has issued to the person named. The 15% balancing payment will be processed in due course.
487. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5315/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
The first payment due to the person named is in respect of the 2016 scheme year. The 85% advance payment for 2016 has been processed and payment has now issued to the person named. The 15% balancing payment will be processed in due course.
488. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5316/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
The application has not successfully completed the prepayment checking process for the 2016 scheme year due to issues found during the cross checks with the Basic Payment Scheme application of the person named. Department officials are examining these issues with a view to resolving and further processing the application for payment at the earliest opportunity.
489. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5317/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of the 1 January 2016.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified in relation to crosschecks with other Department databases and a further issue was also identified with the Commonage action. Department officials are examining these issues with a view to resolving and further processing the application for the 2016 payment at the earliest opportunity.
490. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5318/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department has no record of a GLAS application being submitted by the person named for any of the three tranches of GLAS. A GLAS 1 Draft Online Application was recorded for the person named but that application was never submitted to my Department. Therefore, as the person named is not approved into the Scheme, the question of payment does not arise.
491. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5319/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of the 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process issues were identified in relation to the Commonage action. Department officials are actively working to resolve these issues with a view to further processing the application for the 2016 payment as soon as possible.
492. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5320/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of the 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified with the Commonage action. Department Officials are actively working to resolve this issue with a view to further processing the application for 2016 payment as soon as possible.
493. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5321/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of the 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process issues were identified with the Low Input Permanent Pasture, Planting New Hedgerows and Traditional Dry Stone Wall Maintenance actions. Department officials are examining these issues with a view to resolving them and further processing the application for 2016 payment at the earliest opportunity.
494. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5322/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of the 1 January 2016.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process issues were identified with the Commonage action. Department officials are actively working to resolve these issues with a view to further processing the application for payment as soon as possible.
495. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5323/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
The 85% advance payment for 2016 has been processed and payment has issued to the person named. The balancing 15% payment for 2016 will be processed in due course.
496. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5324/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received 85% payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2015 balancing prepayment checking process issues were identified with the Protection of Watercourses from Bovines and Commonage actions which require further examination. Department officials are actively working to resolve these issues with a view to further processing the application for the 2015 balancing payment as soon as possible.
Following the issue of payment in respect of the 2015 scheme year, the application will be processed in respect of the 2016 scheme year.
497. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5325/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of the 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue was identified with the Commonage action. Department Officials are actively working to resolve this issue with a view to further processing the application for 2016 payment as soon as possible.
498. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5326/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of the 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process issues were identified with the Low Emission Slurry Spreading action. Department officials are examining these issues with a view to resolving and further processing the application for 2016 payment at the earliest opportunity.
499. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5327/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of the 1 October 2015 and has received a first payment instalment of 85% in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2015 balancing prepayment checking process an issue was identified in relation to the Low Input Permanent Pasture action. Department officials have examined this issue and the application will now be further processed for the 2015 balancing payment.
Following the issue of payment in respect of the 2015 Scheme year, the application of the person named will be processed in respect of the 2016 Scheme year.
500. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5328/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of the 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process issues were identified with the Natura and Protection of Watercourses from Bovines actions. Department officials have examined these issues, addressed them and the application will now be further processed for the 2016 scheme year payment.
501. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5329/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of the 1 October 2015 and has received full entitlements in respect of the 2015 scheme year.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process issues were identified with Low Input Permanent Pasture action. Department officials have examined this issue, addressed it and the application will now be further processed for the 2016 balancing payment.
502. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5330/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraA GLAS 2 application for the person named was received on the GLAS online system on the 29 November 2015. The Low Input Permanent Pasture (part parcel) and Traditional Hay Meadow (part parcel) actions were not in accordance with the scheme Terms and Conditions and were deemed ineligible. Without these actions the application failed to meet the minimum qualifying score of 16.5 and was therefore not selected for the Scheme.
My Department received an application for the person named, for the third Tranche of GLAS and the person named has been approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017.
The first payment due to GLAS 3 participants is in respect of the 2017 scheme year and these payments will commence towards the end of the year.
503. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment under the forestry premium will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5360/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application for payment under the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme. However, in respect of one of the plots the subject of the application, there are constraints on ownership due to the existence of turbary rights in favour of a third party. Under the Scheme, payment cannot issue until satisfactory documentary evidence of the relinquishing of such rights is received or the area the subject of those rights is removed from the claim. Such documentary evidence was requested from the person named and in response he submitted an Indemnity from his Solicitor. This Indemnity is currently with the Departments' Legal Services for consideration and advice regarding its acceptability for the purposes of the Scheme. Once this is received, the person named will be advised of the position.
504. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will request coupled payments on suckler cows and breeding sheep in the next round of CAP reforms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5379/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland has supported the greater market orientation of the CAP over recent reforms, including the decoupling of payments from production. This has provided farmers a measure of income stability from the Basic Payments Scheme while allowing them to adjust production in response to market demand. I do not feel that a move away from such an approach to direct payments would be in the best long term interest of farmers.
The introduction of a €200 suckler cow payment as has been proposed elsewhere would involve a redistribution of funds allocated to farmers under Pillar I. This would necessitate a linear cut across payment to all BPS beneficiaries. The estimated annual cost of such a measure could exceed €200 million.
Similarly the introduction of a coupled payment for breeding ewes would also involve a redistribution of funds allocated to farmers under Pillar I.
In relation to funding under Pillar II of the CAP, the Beef Data and Genomics Programme is the current main support for the suckler sector and provides farmers with some €300 million of funding over the next six years. The BDGP builds on the substantial investment in data recording and genomics which has been made in recent years and will continue to drive further developments and improvements in this area. I have recently introduced a Sheep Welfare Scheme which provides targeted support for breeding ewes which concentrates on areas which can make a positive contribution to the welfare of sheep flocks. Many of these welfare actions will also have a positive consequence on the productivity and efficiency of these flocks.
The BDGP and the Sheep Welfare Scheme were agreed with the European Commission as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Plan (2014-2020) alongside a number of other schemes such as ANCs, GLAS and TAMS, which also benefit suckler farmers. I am very conscious of the positive effect that the BDGP programme is having on the Irish suckler herd and the positive effect the Sheep Welfare Scheme will have on the national breeding flock. Both schemes will help to improve productivity and profitability in these enterprises.
I am of course conscious of the challenges faced by suckler and sheep farmers currently and am strongly of the view that the BDGP and the Sheep Welfare Scheme are the most appropriate means of providing targeted support to these farmers.
The current model of funding for farmers in both these sectors provides support to enable farmers to improve efficiency and profitability by improving the overall genetic merit of their beef herd as well as improve the welfare of breeding flocks in Ireland. I firmly believe that these schemes will deliver tangible long-term and cumulative positive effects for both farmers participating in these schemes, and for farmers who buy the progeny of farmers in these schemes be that weanlings or store cattle for further finishing or store lambs for further feeding also. These schemes will also make a significant contributor to Ireland’s well-established reputation as a producer of sustainable, high-quality beef and sheep meat.
In relation to any possible reopening of the BDGP, this is currently being considered in the context of an assessment of budgetary priorities, the operation of the Rural Development Programme and the potential impact both upon the scheme itself and other schemes. Increasing the BDGP payment to €200 per animal, even just for existing applicants, would require a doubling of the Budget under the BDGP, with at least €350m additional expenditure required over the lifetime of the scheme.
It should also be noted that support under RDP schemes can only be provided on the basis of costs incurred or income foregone. Even if it were possible to reallocate resources from within the RDP, any increase in the level of payment to participants in the BDGP would require the Department to submit an amendment of the RDP to the EU Commission, and an evaluation and approval by the relevant Directorates General. Even if a revised scheme were approved, any increase in the level of payment would inevitably result in additional actions being required to be carried out by farmers.
The Department will, of course continue to keep all expenditure under the Rural Development Programme under review on an ongoing basis. As with all such programmes, there are inevitably issues of timing around the scheduling of payments. Savings in one year do not necessarily imply savings over the lifetime of the programme.
Both these sectors are a vital component of Ireland’s rural economy and the provision of support for farmers in each sector is critically important. The range of supports as currently configured represents a balance between direct income support for the sector and rural development measures designed to improve its competitiveness and sustainability. I believe that it is entirely appropriate to maintain this balance of developmental and income supports into the future.
There will be many challenges faced in the context of the next round of CAP reforms and I will ensure that the interests of all Irish farmers including beef and sheep farmers will be front and centre of Ireland's position during these negotiations.
505. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when he will introduce a €200 payment to maintain the suckler cow herd to help maintain incomes on farms in the west of Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5380/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe introduction of a €200 suckler cow payment would involve a redistribution of funds allocated to farmers under Pillar I. This would necessitate a linear cut across payment to all BPS beneficiaries. The estimated annual cost of such a measure could exceed €200 million.
Ireland has supported the greater market orientation of the CAP over recent reforms, including the decoupling of payments from production. This has provided farmers a measure of income stability from the Basic Payments Scheme while allowing them to adjust production in response to market demand.
In relation to funding under Pillar II of the CAP, the Beef Data and Genomics Programme is the current main support for the suckler sector and provides farmers with some €300 million of funding over the next six years. The BDGP builds on the substantial investment in data recording and genomics which has been made in recent years and will continue to drive further developments and improvements in this area.
The BDGP was agreed with the European Commission as part of Ireland’s Rural Development Plan (2014-2020) alongside a number of other schemes such as ANCs, GLAS and TAMS, which also benefit suckler farmers. I am very conscious of the positive effect that the programme is having on the Irish suckler herd. It will help to improve productivity, profitability and carbon efficiency in the national herd.
I am of course conscious of the challenges faced by suckler farmers currently and am strongly of the view that the BDGP is the most appropriate means of providing targeted support to suckler farmers currently.
The current model of funding via the BDGP provides support to enable suckler farmers to improve efficiency and profitability by improving the overall genetic merit of their beef herd. I firmly believe that the scheme will deliver tangible long-term and cumulative positive effects for both suckler farmers participating in the scheme, and for farmers who buy the progeny of suckler cows for further finishing. It is also a significant contributor to Ireland’s well-established reputation as a producer of sustainable, high-quality beef.
In relation to any possible reopening of the scheme, this is currently being considered in the context of an assessment of budgetary priorities, the operation of the Rural Development Programme and the potential impact both upon the scheme itself and other schemes. Increasing the BDGP payment to €200 per animal, even just for existing applicants, would require a doubling of the Budget under the BDGP, with at least €350m additional expenditure required over the lifetime of the scheme.
It should also be noted that support under RDP schemes can only be provided on the basis of costs incurred or income foregone. Even if it were possible to reallocate resources from within the RDP, any increase in the level of payment to participants in the BDGP would require to the Department to submit an amendment of the RDP to the EU Commission, and an evaluation and approval by the relevant Directorates General. Even if a revised scheme were approved, any increase in the level of payment would inevitably result in additional actions being required to be carried out by farmers.
The Department will of course continue to keep expenditure under the Rural Development Programme under review on an ongoing basis. As with all such programmes, there are inevitably issues of timing around the scheduling of payments. Savings in one year do not necessarily imply savings over the lifetime of the programme.
The suckler sector is a vital component of Ireland’s rural economy and the provision of support for the suckler sector is critically important. The range of supports as currently configured represents a balance between direct income support for the sector and rural development measures designed to improve its competitiveness and sustainability. I believe that it is entirely appropriate to maintain this balance of developmental and income supports into the future.
506. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5440/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of the 1 January 2016.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process issues were identified with the Commonage action. Department officials are actively working to resolve these issues with a view to further processing the application for payment as soon as possible.
507. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department will have its information technology systems upgraded to process the GLAS applications that were refused in error; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5458/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the context of the Rural Development Programme 2015 - 2020 the Department has delivered over twenty new schemes that were supported by IT capability in the last two years. In the first two years of the current RDP programme my Department has already implemented substantially more RDP schemes than were implemented over the entire ten year lifetime of the previous RDP programme. This rate of delivery would not have been possible without the availability of high quality complex IT software systems to support the business units in operating these schemes. Since 2014 my Department has adopted a policy of implementing fully digital end-to-end support for all but the smallest of schemes.
In relation to the GLAS scheme, a number of instances have been brought to the Department’s attention where applicants could not apply for particular GLAS actions. Separately there are a number of applications where actions were refused by the Department and this decision was subsequently successfully appealed by the applicant. The matter of addressing these applications is now being considered in the context of the overall work plan for the year.
The primary objective at present is to ensure that all outstanding GLAS payments are issued without delay and the effort of my Department is focused on this in the first instance. In this regard, to date, 2016 payments totalling just under €103m have issued to just under 29,000 farmers. Weekly payment runs going forward will clear further cases on an ongoing basis.
508. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when his Department's TAMS information technology systems will be upgraded to allow the deletion of over claims; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5461/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraWork is underway to update the TAMS II payments system to allow for the processing of over claims and it is anticipated that this functionality will be available in a matter of weeks.
509. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a practice has been adopted whereby felling licences issued by the Forest Service have been written, as was the case at a location (details supplied) with the conditions recommended by prescribed consultative bodies; and the measures he is taking to address this maladministration. [5469/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Forestry Act 1946 prescribes the functions of the Minister and details the requirements, rights and obligations in relation to Felling Licences. A Felling Licence granted by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine provides authority under the Forestry Act 1946 to fell or otherwise remove a tree or trees and to thin a forest in accordance with good forest practice. There are limitations on what can be included as a condition on a general felling licence under the Forestry Act 1946, which results in some conditions being included in the cover note as an instruction from the Department. This sometimes includes conditions relating to recommendations from other bodies. While failure to comply with cover note conditions may not be a prosecutable offence under the Forestry Act 1946 it is within the power of the Minister to revoke a licence at any time if such a situation arises. It is regrettable that, in the situation indicated, there was a contradiction between the cover note and the felling licence conditions and clearly this should not have happened.
When the new Forestry Act is commenced, there are provisions in place to allow greater scope in what may be incorporated as a felling licence condition. Furthermore, with the introduction of new IT functionality the processing of licence applications will be streamlined. In the meantime, personnel have been reminded of the correct procedures to be adhered to when finalising licences and cover notes to ensure such conflicts are avoided.
