Written Answers Nos. 220-226
220. Deputy Thomas Byrne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application for a GLAS payment by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22252/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of the 1 January 2016.
During the 2016 prepayment checking process an issue presented on the computerised crosscheck of Department databases in relation to the Protection of Watercourse from Bovines actions. Department officials have reviewed this issue and the 2016 payment will now be further processed with a view to issuing payment as soon as possible.
221. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22255/17]
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 with the Planting New Hedgerows action. Department Officials have been in contact with the applicant directly to resolve this issue and when the applicant informs the Department of the up to date position with this action the 2016 payment application will be processed further.
223. Deputy Seamus Healy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 535 of 7 February 2017, when a reply will issue. [22304/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act of 1958, chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. Bord na gCon is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.
The matter raised by the Deputy regarding the departure of the former CEO is an operational matter for Bord na gCon. However, I am assured that the arrangements surrounding the departure were in accordance with Bord na gCon's contractual obligations and in accordance with its own legal advice.
224. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22322/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an incorrect payment claim for the investments made. There is a correction process in place for such claims and this claim is currently being examined under this correction process. As soon as the claim passes the correction process and is compliant, payment will issue. This is expected in the immediate future.
225. 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. [22324/17]
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.
The 2016 prepayment checking established that the interim commonage form issued to the person named in October 2016 had not been signed and returned as required to support payment. This form has now re-issued and when it is completed and returned by the person named the application will be further processed for payment.
226. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment when the tender process will be complete for the contracting of international experts to investigate the costs of undergrounding the North-South interconnector versus the overheading of same; when the experts will be in place; when the investigation will be complete; and if he envisages a postponement or delay in the project as a result of the investigation. [22205/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 19 December 2016 An Bord Pleanála granted planning permission for the North-South Interconnector project in Ireland. The decision concluded a lengthy planning process which included an Oral Hearing completed over eleven weeks from March to May last year. The planning decision is currently the subject of Judicial Review proceedings. The planning process for the section of the project in Northern Ireland is on-going with an oral hearing concluding on 27 February 2017.
In light of the motions passed by Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann, I have had a proposal prepared for an updated independent study that will bring further clarity to the relative cost and technical merits of overhead and underground solutions for the North-South Interconnector. The terms of reference for this study were published on my Department's website on Monday of this week.
It is proposed to engage a team of international experts to carry out the study. Preferably, the experts will have a familiarity with the project and be recognised as independent. Therefore the primary focus will be on the members of the International Expert Commission (2011-2012) and Independent Expert Panel (2014).
I intend to appoint the team of experts in the coming weeks and I intend that this study be completed and published before the end of this year.
Construction of the project is not planned to commence before 2018 and therefore I envisage no delay to the project as a result of carrying out this study.
