Written Answers Nos. 536-561
536. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will commission extra staff to deal with backlog of GLAS 2 payments for persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5734/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOutstanding payments under GLAS 2 are largely due to unresolved queries associated with individual applications. All GLAS applications must pass regulatory controls and validations as is the case with all EU co-funded schemes.
Within my Department there are twenty-six staff assigned to administering the operation of the GLAS scheme which includes processing of all GLAS applications and payments, all policy matters associated with the Scheme and financial control and management of the Scheme.
Department officials are working through all outstanding cases, including those in counties Cavan and Monaghan, on an individual basis with the intention of processing payments which meet all required regulatory requirements as soon as possible.
I would like to emphasise that every effort is being made in order to ensure that outstanding payments are issued without delay.
537. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the allocation under each of the measures of the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020; the expenditure under each measure for each of the years 2014 to 2016; the provision in the Estimates for the expenditure per measure in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5839/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIreland’s Rural Development Programme 2014 - 2020 is co-funded by the EU’s European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and the national exchequer. EU support for the RDP via the EAFRD amounts to an aggregate sum of €2.19 billion over the 7-year Programme lifespan. This EU funding will be supplemented by exchequer funding bringing the total allocation to some €4 billion.
The financial allocations for the RDP 2014-2020 period measures are set out in Table 1
Table 1: Financial Allocation by Measure for Ireland's 2014 -2020 RDP
|
Measure |
Total Allocation 2014-2020 |
|
Measure 1 - Knowledge transfer and information actions |
125,800,000 |
|
Measure 2 - Advisory services, farm management and farm relief services |
8,300,000 |
|
Measure 4 - Investments in physical assets |
425,000,000 |
|
Measure 7 - Basic services and village renewal in rural areas |
6,000,000 |
|
Measure 10 - Agri-environment-climate |
1,531,005,630 |
|
Measure 11 - Organic farming |
56,000,000 |
|
Measure 12 Natura 2000 & WFD (Transitional) |
73,250,000 |
|
Measure 13 - Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints |
1,370,000,000 |
|
Measure 14 – Animal Welfare Scheme |
100,000,000 |
|
Measure 16 - Co-operation |
62,000,000 |
|
Measure 19 - Support for LEADER local development |
250,000,000 |
|
Measure 20 Total - Technical Assistance |
8,145,000 |
|
ERS (Transitional) |
9,207,547 |
Table 2 shows the annual expenditure for 2014, 2015 and 2016. It also shows indicative measure level allocations for 2017 based on the allocations to the sub-heads covering the schemes for 2017. The table does not include information for Measure 19 which is not operated by my Department.
The RDP Regulation is structured according to measures while for the purpose of financial management of national expenditures, we run and implement the RDP measures as schemes. These schemes may extend over more than one RDP measure - for example, the organic farming schemes draw funding from measure 10 and measure 11.
|
Table 2 RDP 2014-2020 Expenditure Calendar Year 2016 and indicative allocations for 2017 |
Outturn 2014 |
Outturn 2015 |
Provisional Outturn 2016 |
Allocations 2017 |
|
Measure |
||||
|
M01 Knowledge Transfer and Information Actions |
48,881 |
9,667 |
8,471,884 |
36,500,000 |
|
M02 Advisory Services |
301,481 |
1,200,000 |
||
|
M04 Investments |
4,616,074 |
14,774,478 |
10,085,797 |
50,900,000 |
|
M07 Basic services and village renewal in rural areas (Traditional Farm Buildings) |
725,488 |
1,000,000 |
||
|
M10 Agri-environment-climate |
170,820,857 |
132,805,931 |
183,012,809 |
270,000,000 |
|
M11 Organic farming |
1,844,024 |
3,999,971 |
6,000,000 |
|
|
M12 Natura 2000 and Water Framework Directive payments |
25,729,388 |
11,550,542 |
4,401,779 |
1,300,000 |
|
M13 Payments to areas facing natural or other specific constraints |
195,655,247 |
206,525,116 |
206,527,774 |
202,000,000 |
|
M14 Animal Welfare |
25,000,000 |
|||
|
M16 Co-operation |
79,717 |
334,717 |
3,400,000 |
|
|
M20 Technical Assistance |
65,182 |
799,663 |
1,000,000 |
|
|
Early Retirement |
4,248,250 |
3,100,000 |
538. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a review of the case of a person (details supplied); the timeframe for its completion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5845/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agriculture Appeals Office has confirmed that the person named lodged an appeal in relation to the Areas of Natural Constraint scheme. A decision letter was issued on 14 September 2016 by an Appeals Officer to the person named notifying him of the outcome of the appeal. A request for a review of the appeal decision by the Director of the Agriculture Appeals Office was received from the person named in October 2016. Under the Act only the Director may perform such reviews which must be undertaken in full compliance with the legal requirements and following a detailed assessment of the case to be reviewed. Currently there are a considerable number of requests for reviews being dealt with by the Director. Every effort is being made to finalise the review submitted by the person named as a matter of urgency.
540. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his position on possible changes to the Common Fisheries Policy during Brexit negotiations; the role he will have in protecting Irish fisheries in those negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5873/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIf and when Article 50 is invoked next month, as indicated by Prime Minister May, then the UK will cease to be a Member State of the EU from March 2019, unless an extension is sought and granted. By 2019, the UK will be a Coastal State in fisheries terms with all the rights and responsibilities as set down in the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.
The negotiations that will take place over the next few years are not a renegotiation of the Common Fisheries Policy. The CFP remains in place and will be reviewed in the normal way from 2019 and is due to be concluded by 2022. By the time that process begins, the UK will, in all probability, have left the EU and so will not be party to the negotiations on a new CFP.
The most serious issue facing the fishing and seafood sector is the kind of relationship the UK wants with the EU in terms of fisheries post exit. When we do know what the UK want, we will work closely with our EU partners in trying to seek a new relationship with the UK.
My Department, together with its agencies and stakeholders, has been considering all of the potential impacts, looking at the areas where the greatest risks will arise and on which we will need to focus when the negotiations begin. Ensuring that our fishing interests are reflected in the overall EU negotiating position will be a key priority.
I have established a dedicated Brexit unit in my Department, and a consultative committee of stakeholders has been convened in order to ensure a full exchange of information as negotiations proceed.
Last week (1 February), I hosted a dedicated Civic Dialogue on the potential impacts of Brexit for the seafood sector as whole. This was very well attended by stakeholders from across the industry and gave a clear insight into the real dangers that a 'hard' Brexit presents for our fishing communities.
My officials are in constant contact with their counterparts in the European Commission and have recently met with the Director General of Fisheries to impress upon him Ireland’s key interests in the upcoming negotiations.
I will remain in close contact with fisheries stakeholders as the issues develop and work with them and my fellow fisheries Ministers in the EU to ensure that we are all fully prepared for what are likely to be extremely complex negotiations.
I will be unequivocal in opposing any dilution of our existing EU quota shares, including protecting the benefit to Ireland of the Hague Preferences, and any limitations on our existing rights of access.
I strongly believe that we must concentrate all our efforts on the Brexit negotiations at this time and until Brexit is completed. The discussion on the post Brexit CFP will undoubtedly occur in earnest once the Brexit arrangements are clear.
541. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar íocaíocht faoi Scéim GLAS le feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí leis seo); cén fáth a bhfuil moill leis an íocaíocht seo; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [5896/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCeadaíodh an duine ainmnithe isteach in GLAS 1 agus an 1 Deireadh Fómhair an dáta a cuireadh tús leis an gconradh. Tá teidlíochtaí iomlána faighte ag an té sin i leith na bliana scéime 2015.
Le linn phróiseas seiceála na réamhíocaíochta in 2016, tugadh ar aird fadhb a bhain leis an mbeart Coimíneachta. Tá an fhadhb seo á scrúdú ag oifigigh Roinne le súil is gur féidir í a réiteach d'fhonn an t-iarratas ar íocaíocht i leith na bliana 2016 a phróiseáil a luaithe agus is féidir.
542. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the measures being taken to ensure that Ireland is in compliance with Article 20 of the Common Fisheries Policy (details supplied); the current supports that are in place and support programmes that are planned for the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5917/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraArticle 20 of the Common Fisheries Policy regulation does not state the details which the deputy has supplied. That Article permits Member States to apply "non-discriminatory measures for the conservation and management of fish stocks and the maintenance or improvement of the conservation status of marine ecosystems within 12 nautical miles of its baselines provided that the Union has not adopted measures addressing conservation and management specifically for that area or specifically addressing the problem identified by the Member State concerned". The Article further sets out requirements which must be followed by a Member State wishing to apply such measures and with which Ireland complies when adopting relevant measures.
With regard to supports and programmes that are available, Ireland's European Maritime and Fisheries Fund Operational Programme 2014-2020 was adopted by the European Commission in December 2015 and officially launched in January 2016. The Programme provides for €240 million in supports for the seafood sector. I have provided €43 million in Budget 2017 for implementation of the Programme by my Department and its agencies.
543. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has considered the request of farming organisations in relation to the need to provide additional support for suckler farming; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5920/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am very much aware of the various proposals which farming organisations have publicised in relation to additional supports for the suckler in recent weeks.
In relation to any introduction of a specific coupled payment for suckler cows from Pillar I funding, this 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 would 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.
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 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.
544. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total funding provided for forestry in 2016 and 2017; the level of funding provided for each programme; if any of this expenditure is sourced from the European Union; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5921/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe current Afforestation Scheme provides a range of grants that cover the full cost of establishment of the plantation and payment of annual premiums to both incentivise planting and to compensate for the loss of agricultural activity on the land that is planted. The Afforestation Scheme is voluntary and demand-led. Financial support for the 2014-2020 Forestry Programme is 100% Exchequer funded under EU State Aid rules.
The allocated funding for the Forestry Programme in 2016 was €113.855 million, which allowed for 6,500ha of new planting. The actual expenditure was broken down as follows;
- €97.797 million to the Afforestation Programme, and
- €5.908 million for Forestry Support Schemes.
The allocation for 2017 is €111.675 million. The expenditure is to be broken down thus:
- €98.5 million to the Afforestation Programme, and
- €13.05 million for Forestry Support Schemes.
Forestry Support Schemes include funding for, inter alia, Forest Road Works, Reconstitution, Woodland Improvement Scheme along with COFORD, the Forest Service Inspectorate and Promotion.
545. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will consider reviewing a decision to impose a 100% penalty on a basic payment scheme application by a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary due to a late submission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5932/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application in respect of the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) was received from the person named on 8 July 2016, thus incurring a 100% late penalty as it was outside the time frame allowed.
The closing date for the receipt of applications under the 2016 BPS was 16th May as confirmed in the 2016 Terms and Conditions booklet circulated to all applicants in March/April 2016 and also on the 2016 BPS application form.
It is also set down in the Terms & Conditions booklet that there are deductions applied under EU legislation for the submission of applications after 16th May. During the following 25 calendar days, up to 11th June 2016, it was possible to submit applications under the 2016 BPS with a rate of deduction of 1% per working day. From that date, except in cases of force majeure/exceptional circumstances, a 100% late penalty must be applied in respect of applications received by my Department.
This application mentioned above was submitted online by the person named on 8th July. Reference was made to difficulties with the online system. However, Department records indicate that the person named did not access the system until 27 June 2016.
If the person named can submit any additional relevant information my Department will review this case.
546. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the review of disadvantaged areas and areas of natural constraint; when it is envisaged this review will be complete; his views on whether it will have a negative impact on farmers in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5933/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraArticle 32 of EU Regulation 1305/2013 requires all member states to implement a new system for designating eligible areas under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme from 2018 at the latest. At present, eligible land under the scheme is designated by reference to criteria such as stocking density, family farm income, population density and the percentage of the working population engaged in agriculture.
Under the new system of designation which must be introduced in 2018, eligible areas will have to be designated on the basis of biophysical criteria. The criteria set out in the legislation are:
- Low temperature
- Dryness
- Excess soil moisture
- Limited soil drainage
- Unfavourable texture and stoniness
- Shallow rooting depth
- Poor chemical properties
- Steep slope.
My Department has commenced work on this project, and relevant technical experts are currently sourcing and analysing the data in relation to the new criteria. This analysis will identify areas deemed to be facing natural constraints, which will in parallel be subjected to a refinement process.
Once this process is complete, the draft data will provide the basis for the identification of eligible areas for ANC which in turn will be used in any assessment of a new ANC scheme from 2018 onwards. It is envisaged that stakeholders will be consulted as this process develops.
547. Deputy Mattie McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal in relation to non-payment of an area of natural constraint, ANC, payment for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5934/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2015 and 2016 Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) Scheme was received in my Department from the person named on 13 April each year.
Under the ANC Scheme, eligible applicants are required to have met a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units for a retention period of seven consecutive months and to maintain an annual average of 0.15 livestock units calculated over the twelve months of the scheme year.
Processing of the applications under 2015 and 2016 scheme years identified that the holding concerned had not satisfied the scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements as outlined in the terms and conditions.
The person named sought a review of this decision, for which supporting documentation was received on 17 January 2017. On foot of this review, the 2015 ANC scheme was accepted and payment is due to issue shortly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
Under the 2016 scheme, the person named has been notified of the unsuccessful outcome of his force majeure appeal and advised of the option to avail of a review of this decision via the Agriculture Appeals Office.
548. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5945/17]
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 in relation to the Commonage action. Department officials are actively working to resolve this issue with a view to further processing the application for the 2016 payment as soon as possible.
549. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when decisions will be made on GLAS tier 3 applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5946/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand that the Deputy is referring to applications submitted under Tranche 3 of the GLAS Scheme which closed for the submission of applications on the 15 December 2016.
Processing of GLAS Tranche 3 applications is ongoing and to date some 12,400 applications have passed all validations and have been selected into the Scheme. The approval letters for these applications will begin issuing this week. The remaining 1,600 applications require further checks including validation of documents and I expect this work to be completed shortly.
550. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by persons (details supplied); and when payment will issue. [5974/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicants in question have submitted a payment claim for the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II. The local office is awaiting documentation from the applicants to enable prepayment checks to be completed. The local office have been advised by the applicants that this required documentation will be supplied as soon as possible. When received the local office will make the necessary arrangements to complete the prepayment checks.
551. Deputy Eamon Scanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the associated costs to his Department in terms of landscaping for locations (details supplied), for each of the years from 2013 to 2016, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5985/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraCosts of landscaping at DAFM laboratories, 2013-2016.
|
Laboratory Location |
2013 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
|
Backweston* |
€62,450 |
€62,450 |
€62,450 |
€60,370 |
|
Sligo |
€1360 |
€1400 |
€1370 |
€1200 |
|
Athlone |
€1740 |
€2180 |
€1990 |
€2040 |
|
Limerick |
€230 |
€260 |
€50 |
€50 |
|
Kilkenny |
€1420 |
€1190 |
€1420 |
€800 |
|
Cork |
€5040 |
€5040 |
€5040 |
€5040 |
My Department’s Central Laboratory Complex and one of my Department’s larger office buildings are located at Backweston, near Celbridge in Co. Kildare on a site of approximately 91 acres. The Backweston site is currently shared with the State Laboratory (operated by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform) and plans are currently being developed by the Office of Public Works (OPW) to relocate Forensic Science Ireland (operated by the Department of Justice) to this national campus over the next few years. In addition, the Backweston campus frequently hosts national and international conferences and visiting trade delegations. OPW have overall responsibility for the maintenance of the site on behalf of the State and have procured a private commercial company to provide facilities management services including site security, landscaping, the operation of a shared services facility (lecture theatre, meeting rooms, catering), buildings maintenance and repairs and cleaning services. The facilities management company outsource landscaping of the Backweston site to another private company – the fees paid to this company are the figures provided in the table for Backweston.
The other locations that are referred to (with exception of Cork), are Regional Veterinary Laboratories located on approximately 1-2 acres of land of which a portion (at most 0.5 acres) is regularly mowed, with some ancillary strimming and weed control. In the case of Cork Regional Veterinary Laboratory, this is located with another Department Laboratory building on a site of approximately 8 acres adjacent to the Model Farm Road and of which only a relatively small proportion (less than one acre) is maintained as a regularly mowed lawn, with some ancillary strimming and weed control.
*Costs for Backweston are apportioned between the State Laboratories, DAFM Administration Building and Laboratories Building. The costs tabled above relate to the DAFM Laboratories portion.
552. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of the information technology issues which he has indicated are partly responsible for the delay in over 9,000 farmers receiving their GLAS payments; the exact nature of these issues; the efforts his Department has made to resolve them; the reason they have not been resolved at this stage of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6049/17]
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 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.
The 2016 GLAS payments underway since December 2016 represent the first full year payment schedule under the GLAS scheme. More than 28,000 of the 37,500 participants in the scheme received 85% of their payment totalling almost €100 million before the end of last year. Further payments valued at €5.3m issued to just under 1,600 participants in the last two weeks and payments continue to be made on an on-going basis as cases are cleared. Every effort is being made in order to ensure that all outstanding payments are issued without delay.
I acknowledge that there have been a number of issues recently in particular in relation to the GLAS system.
Issues leading to delayed payments include the following:
- declaration of an incompatible parcel usage for the GLAS action chosen
- changes in parcel boundaries on which a GLAS action is chosen including splitting or merging of parcels
- an applicant is no longer claiming the parcel on BPS 2016
- incomplete documentation such as incorrect information on Low-Emission Slurry declaration
- incomplete interim commonage management plans
- incompatible data and parcel history on Department databases
The outstanding applications are currently being processed as a matter of urgency with a view to resolving issues as soon as possible.
553. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date with the upgrade of the pier in Cleggan, Connemara; his plans to upgrade this pier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6079/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Marine Works Act, 1902 was introduced to facilitate the execution and maintenance of marine works considered necessary for the development of any industry or trade carried out by the inhabitants of a congested districts county.
My Department is responsible for the infrastructure that was completed under the 1902 Act, Galway County Council are responsible for the Non 1902 Act infrastructure at Cleggan.
My Department has undertaken, co-funded and facilitated a number of developments at Cleggan in conjunction with the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands and the Local Authority. Most recently €82,500 was granted to the Council under the 2016 Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme.
On the 3rd February 2017, Local Authorities were invited to submit applications under the 2017 Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Any application that might be submitted by Galway County Council in respect of Cleggan Pier, which meets the conditions of the scheme, will be considered in the context of available funding and overall national priorities.
554. Deputy Ruth Coppinger asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the regulation of puppy farms; the steps his Department takes to protect the welfare of dogs in such farms; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6119/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for legislation relating to dog breeding establishments rests with the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government. However, officials from my Department work closely with local authority officers on issues relating to the welfare of dogs and, in 2015, engaged with them on joint inspections of dog breeding establishments. In overall terms the welfare of the dogs was satisfactory; however a number of notices were issued by local authorities with a view to improving housing facilities and reducing the number of dogs kept.
A detailed list of statistics on the 2015 local authority inspections, notices issued and detailed information can be found at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/search/archived/current/sub-type/dog-control/type/statistics?query.
The figures for 2016 are being compiled at present and will soon be published at the same location.
The Deputy may also be aware of the current public consultation on revised guidelines for the operation of dog breeding establishments. In 2015, the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government began a review of the current Dog Breeding Establishment (DBE) Guidelines, under the auspices of the County and City Managers Association (CCMA) Dogs Working Group. A first draft revision of the Guidelines was produced. The review of the Guidelines was subsequently broadened to a more formal public consultation, for quality assurance and to ensure openness and inclusivity. My colleague, Minister Coveney launched this public consultation process on 1 December 2016 and it will close on 28 February 2017.
More details on this public consultation process can be accessed at the following link: http://www.housing.gov.ie/review-dog-breeding-establishments.
555. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to ensure a GLAS payment for 2016 due to a person (details supplied) is immediately paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6123/17]
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 issued to the person named. The balancing 15% payments will be processed in due course.
557. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if he will place a hold on any Government funding for the capital phase of the North-South interconnector until such a time that the impact of Brexit on this project is realised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5392/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe proposed North-South Interconnector is an integral part of the evolution of the all-island Single Electricity Market. It remains a strategic imperative, intended to provide a second high capacity link between the electricity systems in Ireland and Northern Ireland. This will accordingly increase the efficiency of the all-island Single Electricity Market and security of electricity supply and also allow greater levels of renewable energy be connected to the grid. Since its establishment in 2007 the Single Electricity Market has delivered an efficient, competitive, and secure market for customers. The governance framework that applies to it remains in place and is based on national legislation adopted by the Oireachtas and the British Parliament.
Existing energy trading and interconnection arrangements between Ireland and the UK, ensuring the continuity of mutually dependent energy arrangements and maintaining the long standing history of beneficial cooperation in this sphere, are key priorities for both Ireland and the UK.
In line with this the priorities of the Single Electricity Market and the status of the North South Interconnector remain unchanged.
The relevant Departments, Regulators, and stakeholders in Ireland and Northern Ireland continue to work in the all-island context of the Single Electricity Market and are preparing for the consequences of the UK referendum as they arise, to ensure timely assessment and that the best possible outcomes will be achieved.
The costs of development of the North South Interconnector are not borne by the Irish exchequer. The project will be funded in the same way as all other electricity and gas grid investments are paid for. These costs are approved by the regulator and charged by EirGrid, ESB Networks and Gas Networks Ireland to energy supply companies. The energy supply companies generally include these costs in customer bills.
561. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment if his attention has been drawn to surcharging costs being applied to consumers on pre-paid energy schemes; the engagements he has had on this topic and with whom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5449/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraResponsibility for the regulation of the electricity and the natural gas markets is a matter for the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) which is an independent statutory body. Pay As You Go meters are offered free of charge to energy consumers experiencing financial difficulty. Since their introduction in 2011, more than 180,000 electricity and gas PAYG meters have been distributed. These meters have proved to be effective in helping to reduce disconnections and CER has reported a 56% fall in electricity disconnections, and a 22% fall in gas disconnections, between 2011 and 2015. I understand the CER views Pay As You Go meters as contributing significantly to this improvement.
I believe that in light of the assistance that Pay As You Go metering is providing to households under financial pressure, it is critical that these households do not incur any additional charges for availing of these meters. However, I am aware that some retailers are charging surcharges to top-up payments for Pay As You Go meters for electricity and I deplore this practice.
Officials in my Department have met with the providers of these systems, retail representative groups and a number of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), particularly the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) and Society of Saint Vincent de Paul (SVP) specifically on this topic.
Payment providers have assured my officials that the practice of surcharging is explicitly forbidden in the contract retailers must sign on accepting a payment terminal. Additionally, they advise that the level of customer complaints they receive is low but that they are working with energy suppliers to investigate and address persistent problems. They are also working to mitigate the problem through proactive support of those retailers who aren’t engaging in the practice. They do this through the provision of promotional material that can encourage customers to use retailers who do not apply surcharges and in the case of repeat offenders, payment providers have the ability to withdraw a payment terminal.
The CER has also been working to address this problem by engaging with energy suppliers and has written to suppliers to remind them of their obligations to prevent this practice. My officials have requested that the aforementioned NGO's keep the Department appraised of any growth in the practice of surcharging. Should I received evidence that the practice is becoming more widespread, I will instruct my officials to engage further with the industry to determine how the issue can be addressed.
