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Gnáthamharc

Tuesday, 6 Feb 2018

Written Answers Nos. 453-470

Primary Care Centres Provision

Ceisteanna (453)

Louise O'Reilly

Ceist:

453. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Health the reason primary care centres (details supplied) will not be provided with additional new staff hires; the way in which these centres will now be staffed; if staff will be drawn from the surrounding area; if so, if this will reduce services beyond the remit of the primary care centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6066/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

As the HSE has responsibility for the provision, along with the maintenance and operation of Primary Care Centres and other Primary Care facilities, the Executive has been asked to reply directly to the Deputy.

Question No. 454 answered with Question No. 306.

Medical Card Applications

Ceisteanna (455)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

455. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Health when a decision will be made regarding an application for an emergency medical card by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [6079/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Health Service Executive has been asked to examine this matter and to reply to the Deputy as soon as possible.

The Health Service Executive operates the General Medical Services scheme, which includes medical cards and GP visit cards, under the Health Act 1970, as amended. It has established a dedicated contact service for members of the Oireachtas specifically for queries relating to medical cards and GP visit cards, which the Deputy may wish to use for an earlier response. Contact information was issued to Oireachtas members.

GLAS Applications

Ceisteanna (456)

Tom Neville

Ceist:

456. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5302/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An application from the person named under the GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme was received and acknowledged by the Heritage Council, who manage this Scheme on behalf of my Department. In the letter of acknowledgement all eligible applicants were informed that they would be informed by the end of February if their application was successful or not. All eligible applications will be assessed by an expert panel.

The GLAS Traditional Farm Buildings Scheme has proved to be a very popular Scheme. All applications are assessed in accordance with set of selection criteria published in advance, with offers of grant-aid made to those scoring highest overall.

Agriculture Scheme Applications

Ceisteanna (457)

Tom Neville

Ceist:

457. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied) under the national reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5329/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The person named submitted an application to my Department under the ‘young farmer’ category of the 2017 National Reserve.  The Terms and Conditions of the 2017 National Reserve include a requirement that a successful applicant must have completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC Level 6 or its equivalent by 15 May 2017.

 Documentation submitted to my Department in support of the application by the person named under the 2017 National Reserve states that he will not have completed the required education course until May 2018. On this basis the application under the 2017 National Reserve was deemed to be unsuccessful.  The person named was notified of this decision in writing on 22 June 2017 and was offered the opportunity to submit an appeal of this decision within fourteen days.  There is no record of such an appeal having been received by my Department.

Fodder Crisis

Ceisteanna (458, 473)

Michael Harty

Ceist:

458. Deputy Michael Harty asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the application form and full details of the transport scheme as announced to ease the farm fodder crisis will be published; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5339/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

John Brassil

Ceist:

473. Deputy John Brassil asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to extend the fodder transport scheme to fodder imported from 1 September 2017 instead of to 1 December 2017 in view of the fact the crisis dates back to then; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5603/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 458 and 473 together.

I am aware that weather conditions for much of last autumn were challenging for farmers in some parts of the West and North West in particular. Difficulties in harvesting fodder in some of these areas were compounded by the need to house livestock earlier than usual, resulting in additional pressure on fodder supplies over the course of the winter.

I prioritised the payment of farm supports to assist farmers with cash flow. The European Commission agreed to my request, informed in part by the poor weather conditions of last autumn, for an advance payment of the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme and Agri-environment schemes. These payments commenced after the earliest date possible which was 15 October 2017, and balancing payments issued in early December 2017. These payments together with those issued under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, injected over €1.3 billion into the Irish rural economy by the end of last year and are providing a very welcome boost for Irish farm families and will help to finance additional fodder purchase where necessary.

However, in order to provide additional assistance to those livestock farmers severely affected by ongoing fodder shortages, mainly in parts of the West and North West, I have introduced a targeted Fodder Transport Support measure operated through the Co-operative structure. This measure applies only to fodder purchased in the period from January 29 2018 until April 20 2018. Application forms and full details on the operation of the measure are available on my Department’s website.

Farmers, who have an identified fodder shortage, having completed a fodder budgeting exercise with their FAS agricultural advisor, will be eligible to receive a financial contribution towards offsetting the costs of transport of fodder in excess of 100 km. As fodder is traded between farms on a regular basis, it is essential that the support measure is targeted at those who most need it and does not impact on the normal functioning of the market for fodder and for this reason a minimum transport distance applies. Eligible applicants will receive a transport contribution of €8 per standard bale of hay or straw for feeding, and €12 per standard bale of silage or haylage.

Financial assistance under the Fodder Transport Support Measure is payable in accordance with Commission Regulation (EU) No 1408/2013 on de minimis aid in the agricultural production sector.

While this measure builds on my early supports to farmers through prioritisation of farm payments, and the convening of a Fodder Group, I urge affected farmers to avail of the additional fodder budgeting support being provided by Teagasc.

Sheep Welfare Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (459)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

459. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons that undertook each of the various welfare measures of the sheep welfare scheme. [5358/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested be the Deputy is provided in the following table:

Welfare Measures

Number of Persons

Lameness Control

   4,781

Mineral  Supplementation Ewes post mating

 15,819

Parasite Control (Faecal   Egg Count)

   1,879

Scanning

 11,614

Flystrike Control

   4,667

Meal feeding lambs post weaning

   1,348

Mineral Supplementation Lambs pre weaning

   3,783

Livestock Issues

Ceisteanna (460)

Aindrias Moynihan

Ceist:

460. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the dates on which fluke alerts were issued in 2017. [5359/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

My Department issued a press release detailing the forecast for liver fluke for the winter period on 21 November 2017.

This forecast was published on my Department's website and was also reported in a number of farming publications and in a number regional newspapers between 24 November and 2 December.

Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme Eligibility

Ceisteanna (461)

Tom Neville

Ceist:

461. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if additional funding is available to young farmers in addition to the 60% grant for those that are in partnership with their parents on the family farm; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5388/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The Young Farmers Capital Investment Scheme, one of a suite of 7 measures under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme II (TAMS II), was launched under the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 and is co-funded under the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD).  The objective of the Scheme is to provide an incentive to young farmers to upgrade their agricultural buildings and equipment by providing them with an increased level of support to meet the considerable capital costs associated with the establishment of their enterprises, and to facilitate the Tillage Sector to develop a targeted and precise approach focusing on environmental dividends, efficiency and growth and improve competitiveness and contribute to the improvement of agricultural incomes.

Subject to meeting the Terms and Conditions of the scheme, grant aid will only be paid on approved, completed and eligible expenditure and shall be paid at the rate of 60% up to the applicable maximum investment ceiling of €80,000 per holding. In the case of an application by two or more eligible partners in a partnership registered on the Department’s Register of Farm Partnership the maximum eligible investment ceiling shall be increased to €160,000. Applications from Joint Ventures are not eligible for grant aid under the Scheme, except in the case of applicants who both meet the eligibility criteria.  Where a registered farm partnership contains one qualifying young farmer grant-aid will be paid at 60%, subject to all qualifying conditions being met, on the first €80,000 and 40% on the remaining balance.  The Scheme came into operation as and from 28 May 2015 and will close for receipt of applications on 31 December 2020.

 EU Regulation 1307/2013 provides for the establishment of a National Reserve. One of the two mandatory priority categories National Reserve is ‘Young Farmer’.  For the purposes of the ‘young farmer’ priority category of the National Reserve a young farmer is defined as follows:

- must be aged 40 or less in the year in which s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment scheme;

- must be setting up an agricultural holding for the first time in his/her own name or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the BPS application;

- must have submitted a valid BPS application in the year of application to the National Reserve.

Successful applicants must also hold a recognised agricultural educational qualification at FETAC Level 6 or equivalent and have an off-farm income of not more than €40,000 in either of the two most recent tax years.  

Successful applicants under the National Reserve can receive an allocation of new entitlements from the National Reserve on the basis of one entitlement for one hectare at the National Average value of entitlements. Applicants who already hold existing entitlements which are below the national average value can receive a top-up whereby the value of those entitlements will be increased to the national average value.  It expected that a final decision on a National Reserve for 2018 will be taken shortly.  

The Young Farmers Scheme is a separate scheme that provides for an additional payment to young farmers based on eligible activated entitlements. Payment under the scheme is a flat rate payment issued to eligible applicants and is paid per activated entitlement, subject to a maximum of 50. This scheme operates each year from 2015 to 2019 and will shortly be open for submission of applications under the 2018 scheme year. The definition of a young farmer for the purposes of the Young Farmers Scheme is the same as that which applies to the young farmer priority category of the National Reserve.  While the same agricultural educational qualification requirement also applies, there is no off-farm income threshold applicable under the Young Farmers Scheme.

GLAS Data

Ceisteanna (462)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

462. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons enrolled in GLAS 1, 2 and 3 who have submitted their nutrient management plans to date; and the number that have not submitted their nutrient management plans to date, by county, in tabular form. [5455/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The following table sets out the most recent county breakdown available, NMPs are being submitted on an ongoing basis:

 

 

GLAS1

 

 

GLAS2

 

 

GLAS3

 

COUNTY

Active

NMP

No   NMP

Active

NMP

No   NMP

Active

NMP

No   NMP

Carlow

283

273

10

129

122

7

126

18

108

Cavan

908

896

12

435

430

5

542

53

489

Clare

1,624

1,596

28

691

675

16

815

169

646

Cork

2,171

2,112

59

1,013

989

24

949

22

927

Donegal

1,939

1,916

23

1,000

991

9

1,410

222

1,188

Dublin

62

59

3

17

17

0

19

3

16

Galway

3,072

3,035

37

1,308

1,290

18

1,590

206

1,384

Kerry

1,776

1,749

27

873

861

12

768

32

736

Kildare

249

241

8

80

77

3

115

7

108

Kilkenny

435

422

13

208

205

3

190

27

163

Laois

375

368

7

197

192

5

235

19

216

Leitrim

1,022

1,007

15

419

415

4

530

61

469

Limerick

1,058

1,035

23

303

295

8

407

30

377

Longford

516

509

7

346

339

7

331

9

322

Louth

149

147

2

78

75

3

96

4

92

Mayo

2,551

2,525

26

1,329

1,318

11

1,664

54

1,610

Meath

426

418

8

201

197

4

255

8

247

Monaghan

580

570

10

146

143

3

340

31

309

Offaly

492

475

17

283

275

8

294

3

291

Roscommon

1,522

1,509

13

557

548

9

719

52

667

Sligo

943

929

14

364

360

4

493

22

471

Tipperary

1,144

1,109

35

512

491

21

508

20

488

Waterford

368

353

15

135

129

6

124

27

97

Westmeath

645

639

6

266

259

7

281

14

267

Wexford

771

748

23

266

262

4

304

20

284

Wicklow

334

320

14

153

151

2

204

14

190

Totals

25,415

24,960

455

11,309

11,106

203

13,309

1,147

12,162

Basic Payment Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (463)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

463. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of 2017 basic payment scheme applicants by county; the number who received payments; the expenditure in payments in 2017, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5456/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Please find data as follows:

County

Scheme Year

Eligible Apps

Number Paid

Amt Paid

CARLOW

2017

1,611

1,601

€22,232,285

CAVAN

2017

4,731

4,701

€33,856,768

CLARE

2017

5,962

5,947

€45,877,021

CORK

2017

12,808

12,674

€151,968,968

DONEGAL

2017

8,263

8,194

€54,731,187

DUBLIN

2017

626

615

€8,727,448

GALWAY

2017

11,828

11,760

€81,979,101

KERRY

2017

7,585

7,507

€63,348,339

KILDARE

2017

2,048

2,018

€28,714,164

KILKENNY

2017

3,365

3,337

€48,612,948

LAOIS

2017

2,908

2,894

€36,457,565

LEITRIM

2017

3,379

3,335

€19,580,816

LIMERICK

2017

5,010

4,985

€48,541,138

LONGFORD

2017

2,326

2,308

€18,226,811

LOUTH

2017

1,494

1,483

€18,076,295

MAYO

2017

11,299

11,164

€67,469,749

MEATH

2017

3,748

3,731

€49,825,417

MONAGHAN

2017

3,963

3,957

€27,400,417

OFFALY

2017

3,004

2,990

€33,384,777

ROSCOMMON

2017

5,610

5,561

€39,282,850

SLIGO

2017

3,888

3,855

€23,899,282

TIPPERARY

2017

6,806

6,786

€90,861,675

WATERFORD

2017

2,378

2,356

€35,612,674

WESTMEATH

2017

2,953

2,946

€31,307,696

WEXFORD

2017

4,000

3,961

€54,844,336

WICKLOW

2017

2,115

2,097

€27,344,300

TOTAL

 

123,708

122,763

€1,162,164,038

Basic Payment Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (464)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

464. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons enrolled in the basic payment scheme who have received a 2017 BPS payment by payment range (details supplied) in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5457/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the following table:

Range - value of BPS payment including Greening

Applicants who have received a 2017 BPS payment.

01-Between €0 and €5000

52,129

02-Between €5,001 and €10,000

33,197

03-Between €10,001 and €20,000

24,269

04-Between €20,001 and €30,000

7,722

05-Between €30,001 and €40,000

2,695

06-Between €40,001 and €50,000

1,223

07-Between €50,001 and €60000

604

08-Between €60,001 and €70,000

329

09-Between €70,001 and €80,000

197

10-Between €80,001 and €90,000

128

11-Between €90,001 and €100,000

85

12-Between €100,001 and €110,000

49

13-Between €110,001 and €120,000

38

14-Between €120,001 and €130,000

22

15-Between €130,001 and €140,000

28

16-Between €140,001 and €150,000

11

17-> €150,000

37

TOTAL

122,763

Basic Payment Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (465)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

465. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the expenditure for persons paid under the 2017 basic payment scheme, including greening, by payment range (details supplied), in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5458/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The statistics requested by the Deputy are outlined in the following table:

Range €

Payments €

01-Between 0 and 5000

141,994,360

02-Between 5000 and 10000

236,782,253

03-Between 10000 and 20000

338,682,449

04-Between 20000 and 30000

186,058,325

05-Between 30000 and 40000

92,311,640

06-Between 40000 and 50000

54,212,949

07-Between 50000 and 60000

32,807,682

08-Between 60000 and 70000

21,230,939

09-Between 70000 and 80000

14,712,606

10-Between 80000 and 90000

10,860,305

11-Between 90000 and 100000

8,048,685

12-Between 100000 and 110000

5,111,181

13-Between 110000 and 120000

4,369,438

14-Between 120000 and 130000

2,742,899

15-Between 130000 and 140000

3,806,319

16-Between 140000 and 150000

1,591,579

17->150000

6,840,422

 TOTAL

1,162,164,038

Basic Payment Scheme Data

Ceisteanna (466)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

466. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the maximum payment that can be granted to one person for the greening payment under pillar 1; the greening payment values in 2017 by amounts (details supplied); and the number of persons paid, in tabular form. [5459/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

The maximum payment that may be granted to any one farmer under the Basic Payment Scheme (excluding the Greening Payment) in any one scheme year is capped at €150,000. This cap on payment relates only to the payment received under the Basic Payment Scheme, and a farmer’s total payment could be over €150,000 when Greening is added on. There is no maximum Greening Payment.

The requested information with regard to Greening payments is set out in the following table:

Range

Number of Applicants

Value of Payments

01-Between 0 and 5000

103882

€188,354,920

02-Between 5000 and 10000

14176

€96,364,200

03-Between 10000 and 20000

3752

€49,385,188

04-Between 20000 and 30000

521

€12,448,498

05-Between 30000 and 40000

121

€4,097,889

06-Between 40000 and 50000

48

€2,076,20

07-Between 50000 and 60000

15

€819,806

08-Between 60000 and 70000

11

€690,908

09-Between 70000 and 80000

1

€71,832

10-Between 80000 and 90000

1

€80,653

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments

Ceisteanna (467)

Michael Healy-Rae

Ceist:

467. 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. [5460/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

An application for the 2017 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the above named applicant on 21 April 2017. Under the ANC Scheme applicants are required to maintain a stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per eligible forage hectare for 7 consecutive months within the 2017 calendar year and also maintain an annual average stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for the 2017 calendar year.

The applicant has failed to meet these requirements and as such is not eligible for payment under the scheme. Records held by my Department indicate that in 2017, no livestock were on the holding in question before October. An official from my Department will contact the person named directly to discuss the details of the case.

Commonage Management Plans

Ceisteanna (468, 469, 470)

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

468. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of commonage farmers who have completed a commonage management plan, CMP, by county, in tabular form; the number who have not completed a CMP; the number who have received 85% and 15% 2017 GLAS payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5493/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

469. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of commonage farmers, by county, in tabular form; the number who have applied to GLAS 1, 2 and 3; the number who have had their applications processed by county; the number by county who have received and not received 2017 GLAS payments, respectively; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5494/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Charlie McConalogue

Ceist:

470. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of commonage farmers who have applied to GLAS 1, 2 and 3; the number who have had their applications processed; the number who have and have not received 2017 GLAS payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5495/18]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

I propose to take Questions Nos. 468 to 470, inclusive, together.

The following table sets out the current status in relation to the receipt of CMP's per county:

 

Commenced and Eligible for Payment

Not Commenced

MAYO

5962

431

KERRY

1816

144

DONEGAL

4181

118

GALWAY

3303

89

WICKLOW

302

23

LEITRIM

1053

20

SLIGO

409

17

WATERFORD

383

17

CLARE

454

17

CORK

1209

13

LIMERICK

128

13

WEXFORD

90

8

TIPPERARY

697

7

LOUTH

229

6

CARLOW

271

5

KILKENNY

13

3

CAVAN

120

3

ROSCOMMON

83

2

LONGFORD

36

 

OFFALY

10

 

LAOIS

95

 

DUBLIN

28

 

KILDARE

27

 

MEATH

1

 

The remaining information is being complied and will be sent directly to the Deputy.

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