Written Answers Nos. 704-717
704. Deputy Declan Breathnach asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there is a new grant scheme available for small-scale forestry (details supplied); if so, when this scheme commences; the timeframe for persons to get access to such a scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10261/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Afforestation scheme funded by the exchequer, an application for grant aid must be at least 0.1 hectares for broadleaf trees and 1 hectare for conifers. The European Investment Bank and Ireland Strategic Investment Fund (ISIF) recently announced a new initiative expected to support €112 million of new investment in privately owned forests across Ireland. Since the 1980's over 19,000 unique private forest owners have received grant aid from the State to establish forests, the average size of which is 9.1 hectares. This announcement will help bring more of these forests under a single management plan and in doing so help address the economy of scale issue that is associated with the fragmented nature of Ireland’s private forest estate.
While the announcement by the EIB provides an option for some private forest owners it is important that those owners who wish to retain and manage their own forests are also supported. In this regard the Department has signed a contract to develop a certification template to assist forest owners in achieving certification for their forests. Two certification groups will also be established as part of this exercise to help reduce the cost for those wishing to certify their woodlands.
705. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the closure of Harold's Cross greyhound stadium and the possible sale of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10292/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord 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.
706. Deputy Mick Wallace asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will consider initiating a review into the operations and governance standards of Bord na gCon, the Irish Greyhound Board; if he will consider suspending the activities of Bord na gCon pending the outcome of this proposed review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10293/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy predecessor commissioned the Indecon report, which was published in July 2014, in recognition of the need to review and reform aspects of the greyhound sector.
The Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine published its report on the greyhound industry in January 2016 and in July 2016 the Irish Greyhound Board's Anti Doping and Medication Review was published.
I view it as critically important that the recommendations outlined in these reports are implemented, with a view to ensuring that the greyhound industry can reach its full potential and prosper into the future.
Bord na gCon has assured me that it continues to implement the recommendations made in the aforementioned reports.
For my part, I expect to bring the Heads of a new Greyhound Racing Bill to cabinet this month which address the governance of Bord na gCon, strengthen regulatory controls in the industry, modernise sanctions and improve integrity with a view to building a reputation for exceptional regulation in the sector.
Against this background I have no plans to commission a further review into the greyhound industry at this time.
707. 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. [10308/17]
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 according to the regulatory requirements.
708. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the nature of the relationship between the Marine Institute and an organisation (details supplied). [10318/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for the Marine Institute. I have requested the Marine Institute to respond directly to the Deputy on the specific information requested.
709. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which an organisation (details supplied) is funded. [10319/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for the Marine Institute. I have requested the Marine Institute to respond directly to the Deputy on the specific information requested.
710. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the source of funding provided by the Marine Institute to an organisation (details supplied) under the national infrastructure access programme. [10320/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is an operational matter for the Marine Institute. I have requested the Marine Institute to respond directly to the Deputy on the specific information requested.
711. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the current vessel monitoring system reporting interval can be reduced from one-to-two hours to eight minutes for vessel tracking. [10338/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra712. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if switching off the vessel monitoring system and automatic identification system is an offence; and the penalties that result following prosecution. [10339/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 711 and 712 together.
Control of the fishing within Ireland’s Exclusive Fisheries Zone is a matter for the Irish control authorities. Under the Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act, 2006, operational issues concerning sea fisheries control - such as the Vessel Monitoring System and the Automatic Identification System - are a matter for the Sea Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) and the Naval Service. The prosecution of infringements which are an offence under national legislation, implementing EU fisheries regulations or otherwise are carried out on behalf of the State by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
Article 18 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 404/2011 of 8 April 2011 provides that a Union fishing vessel subject to Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) shall not be allowed to leave a port without a fully operational satellite tracking device installed on board.
Article 20 of that Regulation provides inter alia that the master of a Union fishing vessel shall ensure that satellite tracking devices are fully operational at all times.
In relation to frequency of data transmission and reporting intervals, Article 22 of that Regulation provides that each Member State shall ensure that its Fisheries Monitoring Centre (FMC) receives at least once every two hours, through the Vessel Monitoring System the required information. It further provides that the FMC may require that information at shorter time intervals.
The Naval Service acts as the official agency with responsibility for the operation of Ireland's FMC.
713. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number incidents of pot losses that have been reported to State agencies as a result of towing by larger vessels over the past five years. [10340/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra714. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the State agency which has responsibility to investigate the loss of static fishing gear caused by larger mobile, towed fishing gear. [10341/17]
Amharc ar fhreagra715. Deputy Martin Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the mechanisms in place to facilitate fishermen seeking compensation for pots lost to large vessels. [10342/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 713 to 715, inclusive, together.
The loss of or damage to fishing gear caused by other vessels is most effectively dealt with as a civil matter between the parties involved. Neither my department nor the agencies under its aegis have a role in relation to this issue.
716. 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. [10356/17]
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.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases. Department officials have resolved this issue and the application is now being further processed with a view to issuing payment in respect of 2016 as soon as possible.
717. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) can submit a new TAMS II application in view of an error in their initial application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10444/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application for payment in this case is currently being examined and will be finalised as soon as possible.
