Written Answers Nos. 243-252
243. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on whether it is fair and just that a person (details supplied) who won a case in the appeals office, a decision appealed by the Department, has been left in the process for two years with no decision made and no moneys received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14329/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Agriculture Appeals Office has confirmed that my Department sought a review of the Appeals Officers decision in May 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 as a matter of urgency.
244. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on an application under the GLAS 3 scheme submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if the person has been accepted under GLAS 3; if not, the reason for refusal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14351/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has no record of a GLAS 1, 2 or 3 application being created or submitted for the person named.
245. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a TAMS grant payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14353/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named is an applicant under the Dairy Equipment Scheme in TAMS. There is an issue with an over claim in this case. The matter is now being examined. Every effort will be made to resolve it as quickly as possible.
246. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the review of the disadvantaged area scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14393/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder 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.
The biophysical criteria set out in the legislation to underpin the new system of designation 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 working on sourcing and analysing the data in relation to the new criteria. Department officials have also been in contact with the Joint Research Centre (JRC) and DG Agri in the EU Commission in relation to technical issues arising. Over the coming months this analysis will identify areas deemed to be facing natural constraints, which will in parallel be subjected to a refinement process. It is envisaged that stakeholders will be consulted as this process develops.
247. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will be made on a GLAS application by a farmer (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14403/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases. Department officials have examined this issue and the application is now being further processed for payment in respect of the 2016 scheme year.
248. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a TAMS grant payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14468/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named made a payment claim under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme on 15 February 2017. A number of queries need to be resolved with this claim and they are being examined by the Department.
249. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of GLAS payments (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14471/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue.
To date some 32,000 applicants have received their 2016 GLAS payment and my Department is continuing to work on processing the remaining 5,000 cases with payments issuing as applications clear all of the required regulatory checks and validations.
250. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to close regional veterinary laboratories; the basis on which decisions have been taken and the laboratories selected for closure; and the impact assessment that has been carried out. [14497/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraDAFM commissioned a Working Group (WG) led by Prof. Alan Reilly to undertake a comprehensive review of DAFM Laboratories (Backweston, Sligo, Limerick, Cork, Athlone and Kilkenny). The WG has presented a report to the Department, which makes recommendations on:
- Oversight and co-ordination of the laboratories activities
- Re-organisation of Divisions and support functions within the Central Laboratory complex
- Options for the future development of the Regional Laboratories – with a view to improving disease investigative and surveillance capability but with the over-riding imperative of maintaining and enhancing services to farmers and
- Human resources management within the laboratories - with a focus on grading structures, career development opportunities and workforce planning
The Department is currently consulting with relevant stakeholders. A decision on any of these recommendations will await the outcome of this consultative process. In the case of the Regional Laboratories any decision will also be informed by a cost benefit analysis of the various options that have been proposed.
251. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14499/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme was received on 11th May 2016, thus incurring a 100% late penalty. An appeal was submitted and upon review it was decided to waive the penalty.
The 2013 Single Payment scheme application submitted by the person named has now been processed. The payment due will issue to the nominated bank account in the coming days.
252. Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he will take to have an areas of natural constraint scheme payment due to a person (details supplied) immediately paid out for 2016; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14532/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application in respect of the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme was received from the person named on 16 May 2016, processing of which has recently been finalised. Payment has issued to the nominated bank account of the person named.
