Written Answers Nos 1609-1628
1609. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the threats identified by his Department with regard to the responsibilities of his Department as a result of no deal being reached in Brexit negotiations; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26896/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOn 2nd May, the Government published a comprehensive document on Ireland and the negotiations on the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union under Article 50 of the Treaty on European Union. This document sets out the approach of the Government to the forthcoming negotiations, following the successful campaign to have key Irish issues recognised in the EU negotiation position.
Following on from this publication, work is underway to prepare a further paper on economic implications of the Brexit challenge. This will draw on the work to date across Departments, which will be developed to mitigate emerging sectoral challenges. These plans will build on ongoing cross-Government research, analysis and consultations with stakeholders, and will reflect the core economic themes of the Taoiseach's speech to the IIEA on 15 February last.
Ireland’s economic interests lie firmly in a strong and well-functioning EU with continued and unfettered access to the single market. There is a lot of negotiation to be done around trading arrangements. Our contingency work is examining all scenarios and we cannot pre-empt the outcome at this stage. We are not under any illusions about the complexity of these negotiations and are engaged in detailed planning to prepare for these.
My Department and its agencies have conducted a number of analyses on the potential impact a UK exit from the EU will have on Ireland’s agri-food sector. These analyses range from initial and ongoing internal departmental assessments to published work by Teagasc and Bord Bia. This is an ongoing process, and will continue through extensive consultation with stakeholders via the Department's Stakeholder Consultative Committee and through the All-Island Civic Dialogue process, in respect of which I have already hosted five agri-food and fisheries sectoral dialogues.
While the main impact to date of the Brexit vote has been the effect of sterling volatility on those businesses that have a significant trading relationship with the UK, the medium to long term threats include the possible introduction of tariffs on trade between the EU and UK, potential divergences in regulations and standards between the EU and UK post-Brexit, and the implications of border controls and certification requirements. Failure to reach agreement on an exit or a transition period would most likely result in the application of WTO tariff schedules and this would have a very significant impact on the competitiveness of the Irish food offering in the UK. Difficult challenges also arise in relation to potentially restricted access to fishing grounds and resources; the freedom of the UK to negotiate trade agreements with third countries; border controls and certification which will most likely result in delays and additional costs; additional certification and sealing for products transiting through the UK en route to the EU.
I am very aware of these potential threats, but I remain very focused on supporting the agri-food industry through the challenges ahead. I will continue to consult with the industry as the negotiations develop, and press Ireland's case at European level for continued free access to the UK market, without tariffs and with minimal additional customs and administrative procedures, together with the minimisation of the risk from UK trade agreements with third countries. I will also seek to maintain Irish access to UK fishing grounds and protect Ireland's quota share for joint fish stocks.
1610. Deputy Stephen S. Donnelly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Brexit related posts sanctioned, filled and unfilled for his Department and Bord Bia in each of the years 2016 to 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26913/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraFollowing the UK referendum in June 2016, the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine established a dedicated Brexit Co-ordination Unit within its EU and International Trade Division. This Unit now forms part of a newly-formed Brexit and International Trade Division. It comprises four staff working full-time on the co-ordination of Brexit issues, including a full-time Head of Division, who in turn reports to an Assistant Secretary General deeply engaged in Brexit issues in addition to discharging other responsibilities. The Unit co-ordinates the ongoing analysis, consultation and engagement activities being undertaken by a large number of administrative, technical and veterinary staff, through an internal Brexit Response Committee comprised of 16 people drawn from the wide range of Divisions affected by Brexit (including, for example, Meat and Milk Policy, Animal Health and Welfare, Food Industry Development, Economics and Planning, and Seafood Policy and Development). It also feeds into the whole-of-Government co-ordination being undertaken by the Department of the Taoiseach.
The programme and activities of Bord Bia, the state agency responsible for the marketing and promotion of agri-food and drink, are all directly relevant to expanding market penetration and diversifying outlets for Irish food and drink against the background of the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union. Bord Bia currently has a staff of 116 and is in the process of recruiting for four more positions.
In overall terms, my Department is continuing to monitor the future workforce needs of both the Department and its agencies in relation to Brexit, and will be keeping resource allocations under close review as the negotiations proceed.
1611. Deputy Bríd Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 378 of 23 May 2017, if he will provide the figures for all pension contributions made by public sector workers in each body under the aegis of his Department, excluding those in the Civil Service, including the pension levy, in each of the years 2010 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [26965/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe pension arrangements for State Bodies are, subject to an overall policy framework, an operational matter for those organisations. I have requested the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to the Deputy on the specific information requested.
1612. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the policy regarding the employment of persons with disabilities in his Department and in each State and semi-State body under the aegis of his Department; if there is a responsibility to employ persons with disabilities to a quota of 3% of its workforce; if this quota has now been exceeded; if there has been an advertised competition in relation to this quota; if not, the reason therefor; the dates and details of such competitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27130/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraPart 5 of the Disability Act 2005 provides for a statutory report on the employment of people with disabilities in the public sector. The Minister for Public Expenditure & Reform must submit a report to the National Disability Authority (NDA) giving details of the number of people with a disability employed in the Civil Service.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is complying with the Government target of 3% for the employment of people with a disability in that 4.3 % of its staff have declared a disability. My Department is committed to providing the supports necessary to enable staff with disabilities to participate fully in the workplace.
The Department has not advertised a competition specific to this quota. However my Department is committed to ensure that all internal competitions are in compliance with the Disability Act 2015.
Information in respect of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the State Bodies themselves.
1613. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new training officers being employed to provide green cert courses in County Donegal; the number on the waiting lists for these courses in County Donegal; the timeframe for the placement of these new officers; the start date for the commencement of new courses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27146/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe issues raised are operational matters for Teagasc.
I am advised that the Sligo/Leitrim/Donegal Advisory Region is provisionally looking at starting 4 new Part-time Green Cert classes in October 2017 (Ballymote, Manorhamilton, Letterkenny and Ballybofey). The number of classes and locations will not be finalised until later in the year. The expected intake will be approx. 130 students (65-70 in Donegal). Teagasc plan to appoint 2 new Temporary Education Officers in Donegal to facilitate the additional intake.
I am also advised that 274 people have registered an interest in completing the Green Cert with Teagasc in Donegal. It's not clear at this stage how many will translate into formal applications and have to be accommodated on the Green Cert in due course. The 4 new classes proposed for this autumn will bring the total number of Green Cert classes in the Sligo/ Leitrim/Donegal region to 16 and the total number of students close to 500.
1614. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a 2015 GLAS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27163/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a GLAS 1 application and following the initial checks the Bird Box action was rejected resulting in the application not being approved as the minimum score of 16.3 was not achieved on the remaining actions.
However the Department has reviewed this decision and has deemed the action eligible which means that the Bird Box action will be reinstated. The application will be reassessed with a view to approving the person named into the scheme.
1615. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a farm payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27168/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application for grant-aid under the Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme on 07 April 2017. This is Tranche 6 of the scheme. All applications received in a given tranche have to be checked to ensure that all administrative issues are in order. Once this process is complete a ranking and selection process is carried out and all eligible applications within the available tranche budget are sent to the local office for final technical appraisal before approvals issue. It should be noted that the submission of an application to the TAMS II scheme does not mean automatic approval. This process is currently underway for the applications received in Tranche 6.
1617. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the action taken regarding the Irish Greyhound Board issuing an interest free loan to the private operators of a racetrack (details supplied); the amount loaned; the amount paid back to date in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27178/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon (BnG) has statutory responsibility under the Greyhound Industry Acts 1958 and 1993 for the control, development and improvement of the greyhound racing industry.
The issue to which the Deputy refers is an operational matter for BnG. That organisation is specifically empowered under Section 16(1) of the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958, to provide loans for the 'improvement of greyhound race tracks, authorised coursing grounds and the amenities thereof' and for 'any other purpose conducive to the improvement and development of the industry.
I am informed by BnG that financial support in the form of a trading facility was made available to Davis Road Greyhound Stadium plc (DRGS) to assist the management of DRGS in finalising the project towards the construction of a new grand stand along with improvement of racing facilities including adherence to Health and Safety standards. DRGS is a private trading company with transactions between this company and BnG being subject to matters of commercial sensitivity.
Clonmel has a long established tradition of hosting racing on a Sunday night which is a very valuable asset to the Greyhound Industry in light of the plans for the further commercialisation of Irish Greyhound Racing. Additionally Clonmel has a reputation of breeding top quality greyhounds therefore it was deemed appropriate to support the wider industry in this area.
The facility referred to is part of the continuing trading relationship between BnG and DRGS with all commitments being honoured in full to date by DRGS.
1618. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied); the stage this application is at; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27188/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme was received on behalf of the person named in December 2016. Part of the proposed site is adjacent to Toome Lough, which had recently supported a pair of breeding Curlew, a red-listed species.
The applicant and his registered forester were requested to carry out a species appropriate survey during the breeding season to confirm the existence of breeding curlew. This report was received and will be reviewed by my Department's Ecologist before it is forwarded to the Forest Service Inspector for their final recommendations. Once the Inspector's recommendations are received, a final decision will issue to the applicant.
A separate application had been received on behalf of the person named in August 2016. The applicant and his forester were advised that one plot was not suitable for afforestation due to shallow soils. Part of this particular plot is determined to be non-utilisable agricultural land. A request was made for a drainage survey on other plots in this application and for a revised bio-diversity map to highlight and account for retained hedges/scrub and other unplanted areas. A response from the applicant and his forester is still outstanding and the application cannot be progressed until this is received.
1619. Deputy Lisa Chambers asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if there are regulations for the CAP programme 2014-2020 which would preclude him from including farm forestry planted before 2009 as eligible land for the purposes of the basic payment and greening payment schemes. [27228/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraArticle 32 (2) (a) of EU Regulation 1307/2013 defines what is known as the "eligible hectare". With regard to Basic Payment Scheme and Greening payments an applicant must have an eligible hectare for each payment entitlement on which they wish to draw down payment. The eligible hectare is further defined as an agricultural area with an agricultural activity carried out upon it.
Under Article (4)1(e) of EU Regulation 1307/2013 an agricultural area is clearly defined as any area of permanent grassland, arable or permanent crops. As permanent crops do not include forestry the only means by which forestry can be made eligible and hence paid on is the exemption granted under Article 32 (2) (b) of EU Regulation 1307/2013. This allows for land which was eligible in 2008 but has since become ineligible, for example due to the planting of forestry, to be deemed eligible. Therefore forestry land planted in 2008 or before is not an eligible crop for payment purposes under the Basic Payment Scheme.
1620. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made to date at EU level regarding the possible reopening of the Russian market for some food products; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27235/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe ban by the Russian Federation on a range of EU agri-products, which was imposed in August 2014, has had direct and indirect impacts for the EU and Irish agri-food sectors.
Some Member States, such as Ireland, whilst having a less direct exposure to the Russian market than other Member States such as the Baltic Countries, are affected indirectly as additional product which would have been destined for the Russian market becomes available on EU and global markets. In this respect the Russian ban, when initially imposed, exacerbated what was an already softening global dairy outlook. Whilst there is evidence that new markets have been found for EU dairy produce in the intervening period, any reopening of the Russian Market would be a welcome development as I am aware that Irish companies, for example in the dairy, meat and seafood sectors, view it as a market of significant potential.
It must be taken into consideration that the issues giving rise to the Russian ban were geo-political in nature and any amelioration of the situation will also no doubt have to be in that context. The Russian market remains open to a number of important products such as Infant Formula, and the Russian authorities have made a number of minor adjustments to the list of banned products in accordance with domestic needs. There has been no progress, however, in the EU/Russian negotiations to remove the ban. Ireland and the EU continue to engage with the Russian Federation on issues of access for Irish and EU food business operators and products.
1621. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a matter in respect of turbary rights (details supplied) will be finalised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27262/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraOfficials in my Department will be in contact with the solicitor representing the registered owner setting out the requirements under which the removal of turbary rights can be considered.
1622. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to carry out new inspections in relation to the eligibility of hill land for the basic payment scheme; if there has been a change of criteria being used to establish eligibility; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27273/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe EU regulations governing the various area-based Direct Payment Schemes and Rural Development measures requires my Department to carry out on-the-spot inspections annually to ensure compliance with the eligibility requirements, including land eligibility, of the various schemes. In the case of land eligibility inspections, the requirement is for 5% of beneficiaries to be inspected and such inspections involve examination of all land types declared by an applicant, including “hill land”. There has been no change to the inspection requirement as prescribed in the relevant EU legislation.
For land to be eligible for the various area-based schemes it must be “agricultural area” or “agricultural land”. This is clearly stated in the booklet “A Guide to Land Eligibility” which my Department issued to all farmers in 2015. The booklet describes the type of land that is agricultural area/land and the type of land that is not agricultural area/land.
There has been no change to the criteria being used to establish land eligibility since the publication of the “A Guide to Land Eligibility” booklet in 2015.
1623. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of inspections carried out by his Department on hill land eligibility since 1 January 2016; the number of persons that have had their eligible land reduced as a result of such inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27274/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department does not keep records of land eligibility inspections on the basis requested by the Deputy.
Land eligibility inspections undertaken under the various area-based schemes involve the examination of all land types, including lowland and hill land, that are declared by applicants who are selected for an inspection. Records are not maintained on the basis of specific land types.
1624. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the details of recent studies, surveys and assessments conducted by his department at a location (details supplied) in County Donegal; the reason and purpose for such activities that have been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27290/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has not conducted any recent specific studies, surveys or assessments in relation to the area referred to by the Deputy. It would be normal for staff of my Department’s Marine Engineering Division and/or one of my Department’s marine agencies to visit such areas as part of normal duties.
1625. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a forest road grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27322/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Forest Road Application from the person concerned has been approved and payment will issue to him this week.
1626. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the GLAS 2 Payments for a person (details supplied) can be expedited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27397/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs part of the 2016 GLAS prepayment checks on the application of the person named a cross check was carried out with the information submitted in his 2016 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) application. This check indicated that in his 2016 BPS claim the GLAS Wild Bird Cover parcel, which is an arable crop, was declared by him as permanent pasture.
My Department has contacted the person named directly informing him of what he needs to do to allow processing of the GLAS 2016 payment to continue.
1627. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment under the suckler cow scheme will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27406/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis application was made under the Beef Data and Genomics Programme 2015 - 2020. Ownership of the herd number in question changed since the initial application was received and this resulted in additional information being required. All of this information has now been received and payment in respect of the 2016 scheme year is scheduled to issue in the next two weeks , subject to confirmation of compliance with all other requirements of the programme.
1628. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the sale or transfer of entitlements will be completed with regard to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27431/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department has received two 2017 Transfer of Entitlements applications from the first named person seeking the transfer of entitlements by sale to two separate Transferees. The Transferee signatures on the applications have been witnessed by the second and third named persons respectively.
My Department has now commenced processing of 2017 transfer applications. Once the applications have been completed both Transferor and Transferees will be notified in writing.
