Written Answers Nos. 231-43
231. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of participants under the young farmers scheme in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6589/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Young Farmers Scheme was introduced in 2015 as a measure to support young farmers under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy. In 2015 there were 8,184 successful applicants under the Young Farmers Scheme. There were 9,250 applications received under the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme. In excess of 90% of these applications have been fully processed and in the remaining cases my Department is in contact with individual applicants regarding additional information to finalise processing or carrying out final administrative and on-farm checks.
|
Scheme Year |
Number |
|
2015 |
8,184 successful applicants. |
|
2016 |
9,250 applications received. |
The Young Farmers Scheme will be in operation for 2017. Details in relation to the application process will be widely advertised in the farming media and on the Department's website. The closing date for applications under the Scheme will be 15 May 2017.
232. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total budget allocation for each year under CAP Pillar 1 2014 to 2020, inclusive, for participants under the young farmers scheme; the total amount drawn down in each year and to date in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6590/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Young Farmers Scheme was introduced in 2015 as a measure to support young farmers under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy. Ireland has allocated 2% of the national ceiling to the Scheme each year from 2015 to 2019.
The table sets out the total budget allocation for each year 2015-2019 for the Young Farmers Scheme and details of the amount paid under the Scheme for 2015. It also sets out the amount paid under the 2016 Scheme to date. With regard to the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme, in excess of 90% of these applications have been fully processed and in remaining cases my Department is in contact with individual applicants regarding additional information to finalise processing or carrying out final administrative and on-farm checks. In this regard, the amount paid under the 2016 Young Farmers Scheme will increase as the remaining successful applications are cleared for payment.
|
Year |
Annual National Ceiling |
YFS Ceiling: 2% of Total Funding |
Total Paid under YFS |
|
2015 |
€1,215,003,000.00 |
€24,300,000.00 |
€18,774,796.09 |
|
2016 |
€1,213,470,000.00 |
€24,269,400.00 |
€16,450,517.59 |
|
2017 |
€1,211,899,000.00 |
€24,237,980.00 |
N/A |
|
2018 |
€1,211,482,000.00 |
€24,229,640.00 |
N/A |
|
2019 |
€1,211,066,000.00 |
€24,221,320.00 |
N/A |
233. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated number of young farmers who have and do not have a green certificate, who are under 40 years of age but have been farming for more than five years and who are not permitted from accessing measures under CAP for young farmers, including being able to apply for the national reserve and for top-up entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6591/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn accordance with EU regulations governing the National Reserve and Young Farmers Scheme, a young farmer is defined as a farmer aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme and who commenced their farming activity no more than five years prior to submitting that application. This definition applies to all Member States and my Department has no discretion with regard to its implementation in Ireland. The status of ‘young farmer’ introduced under the reformed Common Agricultural Policy is designed specifically to assist young farmers in the initial stages of establishing a farming enterprise.
My Department does not hold records of farmers under the age of forty farming for more than five years who do or do not hold green certs except where that information has been submitted by individual farmers as a requirement under an application for a particular scheme.
234. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total number of hectares currently eligible under the basic payment scheme, BPS, and greening scheme per county; the total percentage of eligible land per county covered by the scheme out of total national land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6592/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe extensive information requested is not yet available but is currently being compiled. It will be forwarded to the Deputy directly as soon as it is finalised.
235. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average support per hectare under the basic payment scheme, BPS, and greening scheme per county; the euro per farm holding in each county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6593/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs requested, please see the table detailing the average support per hectare under the BPS and greening scheme per county; and the average euro per farm holding in each county.
|
County |
Average support per hectare under the BPS |
Average support per hectare under Greening |
Average euro per farm holding in each county |
|
CARLOW |
€233.37 |
€95.80 |
€14,384.91 |
|
CAVAN |
€181.50 |
€77.05 |
€7,275.79 |
|
CLARE |
€168.90 |
€69.91 |
€7,727.18 |
|
CORK |
€214.60 |
€90.78 |
€12,243.19 |
|
DONEGAL |
€138.88 |
€56.34 |
€6,526.83 |
|
DUBLIN |
€180.81 |
€73.72 |
€14,048.22 |
|
GALWAY |
€164.53 |
€68.21 |
€6,899.95 |
|
KERRY |
€141.26 |
€59.14 |
€8,239.61 |
|
KILDARE |
€204.92 |
€82.68 |
€14,529.31 |
|
KILKENNY |
€231.09 |
€96.48 |
€14,896.63 |
|
LAOIS |
€231.53 |
€97.46 |
€12,933.22 |
|
LEITRIM |
€137.37 |
€58.36 |
€5,716.87 |
|
LIMERICK |
€186.81 |
€79.09 |
€9,865.58 |
|
LONGFORD |
€194.77 |
€82.56 |
€8,015.15 |
|
LOUTH |
€219.45 |
€92.02 |
€12,412.28 |
|
MAYO |
€141.01 |
€58.22 |
€5,930.24 |
|
MEATH |
€221.36 |
€92.29 |
€13,736.62 |
|
MONAGHAN |
€210.05 |
€87.08 |
€7,083.77 |
|
OFFALY |
€210.81 |
€90.01 |
€11,399.61 |
|
ROSCOMMON |
€181.11 |
€78.20 |
€7,100.59 |
|
SLIGO |
€145.44 |
€60.90 |
€6,117.47 |
|
TIPPERARY |
€219.48 |
€93.02 |
€13,621.25 |
|
WATERFORD |
€213.11 |
€90.00 |
€15,410.66 |
|
WESTMEATH |
€197.94 |
€84.64 |
€10,817.96 |
|
WEXFORD |
€229.51 |
€96.66 |
€14,157.71 |
|
WICKLOW |
€181.06 |
€75.76 |
€13,134.91 |
236. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a report from his Department (details supplied). [6607/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe afforestation application received in my Department on behalf of the above named person included a Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Following receipt of a Natura Impact Statement, the Department Inspector requested a report from the Department's ecologist. This report has now been received.
The file has been returned to the Inspector, who will review the ecologist's report and, mindful of the SAC, will provide his recommendations. The applicant will be informed of the decision on the afforestation application as soon as it is available.
237. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a thorough examination will be undertaken of the circumstances whereby several animals mysteriously died on the farm of a person (details supplied); the extent to which the State laboratories have been able to identify the cause or causes; if toxins have been identified as a possible or probable cause; if investigations have been fully completed or remain to be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6628/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department’s Regional Veterinary Office in Athlone along with significant specialist support from our Central Veterinary Laboratory in Backweston has undertaken a detailed investigation into the animal deaths at the named person's holding. A comprehensive and extensive investigation has revealed a definitive diagnosis of a parasitic nature, the details of which the herdowner and the attending veterinary practitioner have been informed.
238. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the state aid which will be given to community groups to combat illegal dumping; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6402/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra239. Deputy Fiona O'Loughlin asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount of funding his Department has allotted to fighting illegal dumping for each of the years 2012 to 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6403/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 238 and 239 together.
Each local authority is responsible for the supervision and the enforcement of the relevant provisions of the Waste Management Act in relation to the holding, recovery and disposal of waste within its functional area. Local authorities have specific powers under the Act to require measures to be taken, or to take measures directly, to prevent or limit environmental pollution caused or likely to be caused by the holding, recovery or disposal of waste, and to mitigate or remedy the effects on the environment of such activity.
My role, as Minister, is to provide the legislative and policy framework under which both local authority and Environmental Protection Agency enforcement action against illegal dumping is initiated. Enforcement action against illegal waste activity is a matter for the local authorities and the Office of Environmental Enforcement of the EPA as appropriate.
Notwithstanding this arrangement, my Department encourages a multi-facetted approach to tackling the problem, incorporating enforcement, public awareness and education and, as such, provides funding to support the activities of the Waste Enforcement Regional Lead Authorities and the network of local authority waste enforcement officers. In this regard, from 2012 to 2016 some €37 million has been allocated by my Department to support local authority waste enforcement with a further €9.35 million being allocated this year to ensure that effective waste enforcement capacity is maintained.
In addition and in recognition of the particular difficulties border counties have experienced in dealing with diesel laundering waste dumping, my Department has also fully reimbursed the substantial clean-up costs associated with this nefarious practice with payments of €5.37 million being made to local authorities from 2012 to 2016.
I intend to support a new anti-dumping initiative in the near future. Its aim is to provide specific funding for projects tackling illegal dumping in particular black spots. Further information will be available from the Environment Section of each local authority at that point.
240. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the level of expenditure by his Department or any organisations under the aegis of his Department for each of the years from 2005 to 2016, in tabular form, on photography, advertising, communications advice, public relations, website development, interview training and preparation, including details of the events, campaigns or policies to which this expenditure related, and the company or individual to whom such payments were made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6534/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
241. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if the east-west link road investment project in County Cavan can be considered for part of the €2.6 billion in additional capital funding announced by the Government recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6479/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs I outlined to the Deputy in my reply to Oral PQ No. 34 of 8 February 2017, the proposal for a East-West Road Corridor from Dundalk to Sligo encompasses both national and regional roads.
The Capital Plan published in September 2015 provides for the gradual build up in expenditure on the maintenance and improvement of the road network over a 7 year period. The bulk of expenditure is scheduled to be spent on maintenance of the road network with some limited investment in new projects. My Department has provided funding to Cavan County Council (acting as lead authority with Monaghan and Louth County Councils) with over €2 million in the period 2007-2014 to progress the regional road element of the project to preliminary design. At an estimated cost of €150 million, unfortunately it was not possible to include the East-West Link in the Capital Plan.
As regards the possibility of additional funding within the Plan period, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is now commencing the Capital Plan review and has indicated that the additional capital funding for allocation totals €2.6 billion. While there is a strong case for additional funding for the transport sector, there are a multitude of possible national, regional and local projects around the country, the cost of which far exceed available funding and unfortunately, this means that only a limited number can be put forward for funding.
242. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if realignment works between Castleblayney and Carrickmacross can be considered for part of the €2.6 billion in additional capital funding announced by the Government recently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6482/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, I have responsibility for overall policy and funding in relation to the national roads programme. The planning, design and implementation of individual road projects is a matter for the Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) under the Roads Acts 1993-2015 in conjunction with the local authorities concerned.
As regards the possibility of additional funding within the Plan period, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform is now commencing the Capital Plan review and has indicated that the additional capital funding for allocation totals €2.6 billion. While there is a strong case for additional funding for the transport sector, there are a multitude of possible national, regional and local projects around the country, the cost of which far exceed available funding and unfortunately, this means that only a limited number can be put forward for funding.
243. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the provisions in place for Irish citizens living abroad who have lost or had stolen their full Irish driving licence and who cannot return here to present to a NDLS office to seek a replacement; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6491/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraIrish driver licensing law operates within a framework of EU legislation. Under EU law, driving licences may be issued only to people normally resident in this jurisdiction.
Under national legislation governing driver licensing, the default procedure is for applicants to appear in person at an office of the National Driver Licensing Service (NDLS) to apply for a licence. However, following difficulties which became apparent following the introduction of the NDLS in 2013, an amendment was made in summer of 2014, allowing that people normally resident in Ireland but abroad for a period for study or work reasons could apply for a licence by post. Replacement licences may therefore be sought in this way.
However, in accordance with EU rules, a person who is normally resident in another jurisdiction may not renew their licence once it expires. If they are resident in another EU Member State, or in a state with which Ireland has a mutual licence exchange agreement, they should exchange their licence for the equivalent from their new state of residence.
