Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:662. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9599/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAgriculture Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (662)
Freagraí scríofa
The person named submitted a 2016 Transfer of Entitlements application to my Department seeking the transfer of entitlements by lease as transferee. This application has been fully processed and the person named has been notified in writing.
The person named also submitted an application under the 2016 Young Farmers' Scheme to my Department. This application has also now been processed and the person named has been notified in writing. Payment under the Young Farmers' Scheme will issue to the person named in the coming days.
Greyhound Industry
Ceisteanna (663)
Kevin O'Keeffe
Ceist:663. Deputy Kevin O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to the fact the Irish Greyhound Board has not published accounts for 2015 and 2016; and if so, the basis on which funding is made available to the Irish Greyhound Board, in view of the fact that his Department does not have access to the board's accounts. [9612/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Bord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and improve and develop the greyhound industry.
The 2015 Annual Report and Accounts for Bord na gCon were laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on the 22nd February 2017 and are available on the Bord na gCon website.
Under the requirements set down in the 'Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies' Bord na gCon is due to submit draft unaudited annual accounts for 2016 to my Department by the end of February. The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) is scheduled to commence his audit of the 2016 Annual Accounts of the Bord na gCon Group in April 2017. Following completion of the C&AG audit the 2016 Annual Report and Accounts will be submitted to the Department for consideration, presented to Government for noting and then laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas. After these steps have been completed Bord na gCon can then proceed to publication.
GLAS Payments
Ceisteanna (664)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:664. 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. [9649/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 2016 prepayment checking process established that my Department has no record of receiving a completed Interim Commonage Management Plan (CMP) for one of the commonages of the person named. My Department issued the Interim CMP form to the approved commonage advisor for completion. Upon receipt of a satisfactorily completed CMP form, the application of the person named will be further processed for 2016 payment.
Agriculture Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (665)
Paul Kehoe
Ceist:665. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a manual payment will be authorised for an approved grant due to the significant delay to TAMS 2 grant payments in respect of persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9663/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The applicants in this case were approved on 15 December 2015 for the following dairy and milking parlour equipment - a water heater, milking machine, bulk milk tank, meal feeding system and an autowasher.
A claim for payment was submitted on 25 August 2016 for all of the above items. The application was checked in the local office and the applicants were informed by phone that there were a number of deficiencies with their claim namely valid electrical certs were not submitted, receipts had no serial numbers for the equipment claimed and land folio numbers and maps had not been submitted. This required documentation was received on 28 October 2016 which allowed the full check to proceed in the office.
On checking this documentation it was noted that there were the following issues with the claim.
The applicant’s had included the full amount of VAT with their claim on all items which is not allowed under the Terms and Conditions of the scheme.
The bulk tank was claimed but when the receipt was checked it was a plate cooler that was purchased instead of the bulk tank. This plate cooler was not approved.
There are no proposals to issue manual payments for the TAMS II Schemes. The issues in relation to this claim are being worked on and they will be finalised as soon as possible.
Fisheries Protection
Ceisteanna (666)
Michael Healy-Rae
Ceist:666. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a matter (details supplied) with regard to the dogfish quota (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9666/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The spawning biomass of Picked Dogfish is at an extremely low level, although conservation measures in recent years have had an impact in terms of stabilising the decline. The species is a long-lived, slow growing and late maturing species and is, therefore, particularly vulnerable to over-fishing. The International Council for the Exploration of the Seas (ICES) advice is that there should be no targeted fisheries in 2017 and 2018 and that any possible provision for landing of bycatch should only happen as part of a management plan.
While I note the anecdotal reports on increased numbers of Picked Dogfish, the Marine Institute fully supports the ICES advice and has very serious concerns about the state of the stock. Given such robust scientific advice, there does not appear to be a case for the re-opening of a commercial fishery for Picked Dogfish at this time.
The TAC and quota Regulation for 2017 (EU Regulation 127/2017) lists Picked Dogfish as a prohibited species and has a prohibition for EU fishing vessels to fish for, retain on board, to tranship or to land picked dogfish, with the exception of fish caught by a vessel engaged in a by-catch avoidance programme that has been positively assessed by European Commission's Scientific, Technical and Economic Committee for Fisheries (STECF).
The EU Total Allowable Catch (TAC) for Picked Dogfish is set at 270 tonnes for 2017 with 53 tonnes available to Ireland. This quota is only available under EU law where a by catch avoidance programme, as approved by the STECF, is in place.
Under an approved avoidance programme, vessels under the programme may land not more than 2 tonnes per month of picked dogfish that is dead at the moment when the fishing gear is hauled on board.
I have now asked the Marine Institute to design a pilot project on such a Picked Dogfish by-catch avoidance programme for consideration by my Department. It will then have to be considered and approved by STECF before a limited number of vessels will be able to participate. It is intended that this pilot programme will further increase our knowledge of the stock, aid in its recovery and help ensure its long-term sustainability on the basis of firm scientific evidence.
Freedom of Information Data
Ceisteanna (667)
Catherine Murphy
Ceist:667. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the legal fees incurred on freedom of information requests received by his Department; the staff hours involved in the processing of freedom of information requests for the past three years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9671/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
My Department has not incurred any legal fees relating to Freedom of Information requests.
My Department does not maintain records in respect of staff hours involved in the processing of Freedom of Information requests and accordingly is not in a position to provide the data requested by the Deputy. The number of requests received in each of the last three years is set out in the following table.
|
Year |
Number of FOI requests received |
|
2014 |
205 |
|
2015 |
319 |
|
2016 |
347 |
You will note that there has been a significant increase year-on-year and while the number of requests does not necessarily reflect the number of hours spent processing such requests, the nature and scope of some requests is such that a single request can take days and even weeks to process.
The Freedom of Information Unit of my Department has 4 staff members as outlined in the following table.
|
Grade |
Number of Staff |
|
Assistant Principal Officer |
0.9 |
|
Higher Executive Officer |
0.6 |
|
Executive Officers |
2.0 |
The Unit coordinates Freedom of Information requests received by my Department and provides advice and guidance to Freedom of Information Decision Makers and Freedom of Information Reviewers in my Department.
Staff throughout my Department at the grade of Higher Executive Officer and equivalent generally act as Decision Maker for FOI requests pertaining to their business area. Staff at the grade of Assistant Principal Officer and equivalent generally act as Reviewer when a request for a review of the original decision is received.
Greyhound Industry
Ceisteanna (668)
Peter Burke
Ceist:668. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide a detailed analysis of rental payments paid by Bord na gCon directly, or by individual greyhound stadiums, for structures and car parks, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9704/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Bord na gCon is a commercial State body, established in 1958 under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry.
Bord na gCon has informed me that rental payments for structures in 2016 was €33,000. There were no rental payments for car parks in 2016.
Greyhound Industry
Ceisteanna (669)
James Lawless
Ceist:669. Deputy James Lawless asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the closure of the Harold's Cross greyhound stadium; the action taken to prevent this closure; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9727/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Bord na gCon has statutory responsibility for the development of the greyhound industry. In that context, it runs commercial operations in a number of greyhound stadia, including Harold's Cross.
In 2014, against the background of reducing income for the organisation through the recession, and a significant debt burden, my department commissioned an independent report into certain matters relating to Bord na gCon, including its financial performance and prospects. That report provided a road map for the sustainable development of the greyhound sector, and in that context recommended a number of asset disposals, including Harold's Cross Stadium, in order to reduce that debt burden.
I understand that Bord na gCon, in view of its substantial debt burden, having considered the matter and having regard to the recommendations in the Indecon Report, has decided to cease racing at Harold's Cross and initiate the sale of the stadium in order to reduce its debt levels and increase its capacity to provide support and assistance to the industry.
While this is very regrettable, its view is that there is no other option if the burden of debt on the organisation is to be reduced in any meaningful way. I understand that its intention is to transfer the Harold's Cross racing schedule to Shelbourne Park, a few kilometres away, and that all 12 staff at Harold's Cross will be offered redeployment.
Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme
Ceisteanna (670)
Tony McLoughlin
Ceist:670. Deputy Tony McLoughlin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when publication of the new areas of natural constraint scheme maps will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9758/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
Under the Rural Development Regulation each Member State must designate areas eligible for payments under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme. The ANC scheme replaces the previous Disadvantaged Areas Scheme-Less Favoured Areas Scheme. The designation of eligible areas under these schemes to date has been based on a range of socio-economic factors. From 2018 eligible areas must instead be designated using a set list of bio-physical criteria. In cases where a Member State does not introduce this new system for payment, the old scheme remains in place but payments must phase out on a digressive basis.
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 completed over the coming months, the draft data will provide the basis for the identification of eligible areas for ANC. It is envisaged that stakeholders will be consulted as this process develops.
GLAS Payments
Ceisteanna (671)
Michael Ring
Ceist:671. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) has not received a GLAS payment; when payment will issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9766/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016.
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 according to the regulatory requirements.
GLAS Payments
Ceisteanna (672)
Pat Breen
Ceist:672. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payments will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9779/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 according to the regulatory requirements.
Agriculture Scheme Payments
Ceisteanna (673)
Peter Burke
Ceist:673. Deputy Peter Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans for payment to maintain hedgerows under the GLAS scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9787/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The majority of hedgerows are designated landscape features for the purposes of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and must be maintained in order to comply with the conditions of payment under that scheme.
In addition the Green Low-input Agri-environment Scheme (GLAS) provides support to applicants who commit to the rejuvenation of existing hedgerows through coppicing or laying of their hedgerows. These management techniques go beyond the requirements of the Basic Payment Scheme thus ensuring that there is no risk of double payment under both GLAS and BPS.
Young Farmers Scheme
Ceisteanna (674)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:674. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the total funding originally allocated in 2014, 2015 and 2016 for CAP Pillar 1 under the young farmers scheme, in tabular form; the total funds actually expended in each year; the 2017 budget allocation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9810/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
The 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 following table sets out the total budget allocation for each year 2015-2017 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 |
€16,911,201.28 |
|
2017 |
€1,211,899,000.00 |
€24,237,980.00 |
N/A |
TB Eradication Scheme
Ceisteanna (675)
Charlie McConalogue
Ceist:675. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the interim report by an organisation (details supplied); his views on policy actions to manage the spreading of tuberculosis via deer in the region; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9811/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFreagraí scríofa
I understand that the Group examined the impact of deer on a range of issues including on grass and grazing, damage to trees and to private gardens by deer and on TB levels in the West Wicklow area. The report proposes an all Wicklow approach to tackling the impact of deer on bovine TB and to the management of a cull.
I should explain that, while I am aware of the concerns expressed by farmers in the Wicklow area about the negative impact of deer on the incidence of TB in the area and on pasture and forestry, responsibility for wild deer rests with the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. However, both our Departments have been actively engaging with stakeholders in the area and we have decided on a number of initiatives aimed at addressing these issues, particularly in relation to the potential impact of the high density of deer on TB levels in the county.
In light of the findings of earlier research which revealed a high incidence of TB in deer in the Calary area of Co. Wicklow, a Steering Group was established in late 2016 to oversee a reduction in the deer density in that area. The Group is comprised of representatives of local farmers, the Irish Deer Management Forum (IDMF), the Wicklow Deer Management Partnership (WDMP), the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) of the Department of Arts Heritage, regional, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs. The Steering Group has appointed a local co-ordinator to manage the project. The co-ordinator is responsible for organising local hunters to implement the density reduction programme, liaising with landowners in the area, collecting and storing samples for scientific analysis and reporting regularly to the Steering Group on progress. Funding for the project has been made available by both Departments.
My Department is also in the process of organising a wider study on the prevalence of TB in deer in Wicklow as a whole. Samples will be collected from culled deer across the entire county and will be subject to detailed analysis with a view to determining the linkage between TB in deer and TB in cattle in the area. In addition, my Department is funding a proof-of-concept pilot deer fencing project to demonstrate to farmers how fencing may prevent deer from gaining access to lands.
In addition to dealing with the deer problem, my Department has increased the intensity of its approach to the management of bovine TB in Co. Wicklow. All TB breakdowns in cattle herds are investigated by veterinary staff from the local offices and there is increased usage both of tuberculin and blood testing for TB in order to try and get ahead of the infection cycle. Extra staff has been assigned to the badger programme and last year more badgers were removed from Co. Wicklow than from any other county apart from Cork. The incidence of TB in West Wicklow has fallen by over 30% to date this year while TB levels in East Wicklow are currently only slightly higher than in the rest of the country.
I am confident that these initiatives will assist in addressing the issues raised by the Group in its interim report.