Written Answers Nos 741-757
741. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of applications under the fodder transport scheme that have been received from counties Cavan and Monaghan; and the number received from the rest of the country, in tabular form. [12652/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Fodder Transport Support measure was announced in January 2018. The measure aims to provide a contribution towards the cost of transporting fodder, sourced through the Co-operatives, from areas of surplus to those areas in need, located primarily in the West and North West.
To date 5 applications have been received in Donegal and 2 in Roscommon. The closing date for applications under the measure is 20 April.
742. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan waiting for GLAS payments; the number of part payments issued; and his plans to have the outstanding payments processed. [12653/18]
Amharc ar fhreagra743. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of delayed GLAS payments to persons in counties Cavan and Monaghan in 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12654/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 742 and 743 together.
1,771 participants in County Cavan have received a 2017 payment with 101 cases continuing to be processed. For County Monaghan 1,010 have received a 2017 payment with 48 cases continuing to be processed.
In some of these cases, the payment is delayed due to the applicant failing to meet his or her obligations under the scheme. I would encourage all applicants to ensure that any outstanding issues are resolved in order to allow the Department to make the payment.
Payments continue to issue on a weekly basis as cases are cleared.
744. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to offset the impact of Brexit on farmers in counties Cavan and Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12655/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBrexit has the potential to have a very significant impact on the agrifood sector throughout Ireland, including in counties Cavan and Monaghan.
As the Deputy will be aware, the agrifood sector is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and its regional spread means it underpins the socio-economic development of rural Ireland, and of the border region in particular.
The primary means through which the Government is seeking to minimise the impact of Brexit is through the negotiated outcome. In a border context, and in terms of mitigating the impact in counties Monaghan and Cavan, the UK commitment in the Joint EU-UK Report of last December to avoid a hard border on the island of Ireland is extremely important. The Government has insisted that this commitment be translated into legal form in the Withdrawal Agreement, and we are currently working closely with our EU counterparts and the European Commission Task Force to ensure that the necessary legal provisions are incorporated.
We will also continue to work with them on the inclusion of transitional arrangements, and on agreeing guidelines that will underpin the forthcoming discussions on the framework for the future EU-UK relationship. On Thursday last I met with my UK counterpart, Secretary of State Michael Gove , and stressed the importance of facilitating bilateral trade post Brexit, without undermining the Single Market.
In the meantime, the Government has continued to introduce a range of measures to help the agri-food sector navigate the short-term impacts of Brexit. In Budget 2017, I introduced measures to help reduce farm gate business costs, including a €150 million low-cost loan scheme, new agri-taxation measures and increased funding under the Rural Development and Seafood Development Programmes.
In Budget 2018 I also announced a €50m Brexit support package, which will comprise a number of initiatives. Firstly, in cooperation with my colleague, the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, I am establishing a new Brexit Loan Scheme aimed at providing affordable, flexible financing to Irish businesses that are either currently impacted by Brexit or who will be in the future. The Scheme aims to make up to €300 million of working capital finance available to SMEs and mid-cap businesses (up to 499 employees), at least 40% of which will be available to food businesses.
I am also considering the development of a separate loan scheme in 2018 similar to the 2017 low-cost scheme, based on €25m funding from my Department to the Scheme. These measures are aimed at enhancing competitiveness within the sector.
I have also introduced supports for Bord Bia for investment in market insight and market prioritisation initiatives, which are aimed at identifying and developing potential diversification opportunities. I have already increased funding to Bord Bia by €10 million since the Brexit vote, and a further €4.5 million is allocated in Budget 2018. As part of this effort I will lead a number of trade missions to promote Irish food and drink in key markets.
To enhance product diversification, I have also allocated funding to support the development of the new National Food Innovation Hub, which will be located in the Teagasc Moorepark complex.
I wish to assure the Deputy that the Government remains very focused on supporting farmers and the agri-food industry through the challenges ahead, whether they are based in Cavan, Monaghan or any other part of the country.
745. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if EU CAP regulations mandate that all basic payment and ANC scheme applications in 2018 must be submitted online; and if he has requested at EU level a temporary derogation in view of the fact that many rural areas have no access to broadband. [12748/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder EU regulations, 2018 is the first year that all applications for the BP and ANC schemes are to be be submitted online. In keeping with these regulations, my Department is rolling out a range of technical supports for farmers who are not in a position to apply online. There is no provision in the regulations for a Member State to apply for a derogation from this requirement.
746. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on concerns expressed by farmer representative organisations regarding the practicality of meeting the obligation to ensure half of slurries are spread before mid-June 2018 under the terms of the derogation of the EU Nitrates Directive; if there will be flexibility on a case by case situation on the upcoming June deadline in view of the increasing regularity of severe weather events; and his plans for additional supports under TAMS to purchase necessary low emission slurry spreading technologies. [12749/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn December 2017, Ireland secured a renewal of our nitrates derogation for the period 2018 – 2021 on the basis of a strengthened set of water protection measures. This contrasts with a number of other EU member states which have had severe difficulties in negotiating a successful renewal of their derogations and who have faced significant delays or have secured a reduced term in their derogation approval. The achievement of securing the renewal of the derogation is a significant milestone in the context of an expanding dairy herd and increasing milk production. While there are some additional stipulations attached to the derogation these are the outcome of a year long negotiations with the Commission and two separate public consultations. It was important when seeking the renewal that Ireland demonstrated commitment to tackling agricultural impacts on water.
The measures in Ireland’s derogation take account of the growing numbers of derogation farmers who are farming at intensive stocking rates (increasing from over 4,000 to 7,000 in recent years), and also environmental objectives for water, climate change and ammonia which Ireland must achieve. Furthermore, opportunities for large savings on farms through better grassland management and improved timing and application of fertiliser have been taken into account.
Under the National Emissions Ceiling Directive, Ireland must also reduce its ammonia emissions with agriculture responsible for 98% of ammonia emissions. Ammonia losses from slurry are significantly reduced by slurry application in the Springtime and also by using low emission slurry spreading (LESS) equipment. Consequently the timeframes for slurry application stipulated in this measure will be effective in reducing ammonia losses. The new measure will assist farmers to deliver their production targets, reduce their greenhouse gas and ammonia emissions and reduce the risk of runoff to water quality.
I wish to acknowledge that weather conditions have been challenging and this has created difficulties for some farmers in spreading slurry. Increasingly however farmers are maximising the value of slurry through Spring application.
In order to help farmers with the purchase of LESS equipment, support is provided under the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme known as TAMS II is, subject to the terms and conditions of the Scheme, at a general grant rate of 40% rising to 60% for qualifying Young Farmers. The maximum amount of investment eligible for grant aid under the LESS measure is generally €40,000 per holding. It is also worth noting that the investment ceiling under this measure is, uniquely among all TAMS II measures, not subject to the overall TAMS II investment ceiling of €80,000 per holding. The TAMS II LESS Scheme has been very popular with over 980 approvals now issued for LESS equipment. Under the LESS Scheme and the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II the processing of applications for the supply of this equipment will continue until 31 December 2020.
747. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on comments by Commissioner Oettinger (details supplied) that cuts of at least 5% to 10% are on the way in the next CAP budget; the number of meetings he has planned with his counterparts in Sweden, Denmark, France and the Netherlands on the CAP budget outside of Council of EU Ministers meetings; the steps he is taking to avoid reductions in the CAP budget after 2020; if he has proposed increasing the current overall CAP budget; and if he has formally requested that member states increase their national contribution to the EU budget to fill a deficit caused by Brexit. [12750/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Budget Commissioner, Gunther Oettinger visited Dublin on 6 March 2018 as part of a tour of European capitals, in advance of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) proposals, which will be published on 2 May 2018. Ministers for Finance take the lead in negotiations on the MFF.
During his appearance before the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Finance and Public Expenditure, the Commissioner referred to cuts to CAP and Cohesion of 5 - 10%. He also indicated that some Member States are looking for cuts of up to 30%in these programmes.
These figures must be seen in the context of the European Commission's own Reflection Paper on the Future of EU Finances, which was published on the 14 February 2018. Within this paper, a range of scenarios across all major spending programmes are outlined. The impacts of maintaining the current budget, a 15% cut and a 30% cut are considered. The Communication is very clear that these are just options and not proposals and are intended to stimulate an open debate.
Decisions on the multi annual financial framework will ultimately be taken by member states through the European Council, on the basis of proposals advanced by the Commission. While at this point not all Member States may be willing to make the additional contributions needed following Brexit, a significant number of Member States, including Ireland, have indicated their willingness to do so. However, the negotiation on the future MFF will be difficult.
Ireland's position was outlined by An Taoiseach in his address to the European Parliament in January 2018, where he indicated that Ireland is open to contributing more to the EU budget, but only if it is spent on policies that contribute to the advancement of the European ideal. The CAP is such a policy.
I regularly meet with counterparts as part of the Council of EU Agriculture Ministers. These meetings give me the opportunity to discuss future CAP policy and funding with my EU colleagues, including those from Sweden, Denmark, France and the Netherlands.
Since July of last year, I have bilaterally met with the French Agriculture Minister Stephane Travert on three separate occasions, with the main focus of discussion being CAP post 2020. In addition, during the first half of 2017, I held an intensive round of bilateral meetings with my counterparts in key Member States, and intend to do so again shortly. In addition, my Department engages on a regular basis with its counterparts in other member states.
Discussions on the future CAP are intensifying under the Bulgarian Presidency, with CAP related discussions being scheduled at each of its Agri-Fish Council of Ministers meetings. I look forward to engaging constructively with the Presidency, my European counterparts and the European Commission, to ensure that the next CAP continues to provide necessary support to the Irish and European agriculture sector.
748. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position Ireland took at the recent EU Agriculture Ministers meeting regarding voluntary coupled support; and his views on such support for vulnerable sectors in disadvantaged regions, as pertains in other member states. [12751/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the current CAP programme, Ireland's Pillar 1 envelope is approximately €1.2 billion annually, almost all of which are decoupled payments. Ireland has only one small voluntary coupled scheme (VCS) which is the Protein Aid scheme with the annual expenditure accounting for 0.25% of our total Direct Payments or approximately €3 million per annum. I believe that coupled supports have a role to play in supporting vulnerable sectors, however, I do not consider it optimal to divert significant sums of Pillar 1 monies into coupled support schemes.
I believe that efforts should instead focus on ensuring the market delivers a satisfactory return for the end product produced by the farmer. At the recent Council of Minister's meeting I indicated that I could support a system that permitted member states to introduce limited coupled supports on a voluntary basis, to address a decline in a particular sector and/or to help solve or mitigate environmental problems such as under grazing or potential land abandonment.
As regards support for vulnerable sectors in disadvantaged land regions, the Programme for Government included a commitment to provide an additional €25 million for the Areas of National Constraint (ANC) Scheme in 2018. I am pleased to confirm that this commitment was delivered in Budget 2018 and that, subject to the EU Commission’s approval of an amendment to Ireland’s Rural Development Programme, this new funding will be available for payment under the 2018 ANC Scheme.
In addition, I am extremely conscious of the need for money to be targeted at those farmers on lands with higher levels of constraint. In that context, and having considered the views of stakeholders, I have decided to allocate €22 million (or 88%) of this additional monies to farmers in the 'mountain type land' and 'more severely handicapped land' categories. The balance will be allocated to farmers in the 'less severely handicapped' land category. The higher allocations for land in more disadvantaged areas is a reflection of the greater constraints on farmers who are farming this type of land.
749. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding funding approved for works in TAMS II applications that have yet to be drawn down which will expire by the end of 2018; the number of persons in this position; the value of moneys approved but not drawn down to date; the position regarding moneys approved but not drawn down; if these funds can be carried forward; and if not, whether they must be returned to the Exchequer or the EU budget. [12752/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraOver 13,000 approvals have now issued for the various investments covered by the suite of seven TAMS II measures. Applications that were submitted under Tranches 1 to 5 were issued with approvals which had a lifetime of up to three years. Thereafter applications were approved with a completion period of six months for mobile investments or twelve months for fixed investments.
The budget for TAMS II for the duration of the RDP (2014-2020) is €395m. Payment claims continue to be received and processed on an on going basis as is the case with applications for approval.
At this point payments to the value of €45.4m have issued. The number of outstanding approvals in respect of which payment claims have not yet been submitted by participants is currently 9,500. The usage of the budget is dependent on the volume and value of payment claims submitted by approved participants as they complete their approved works and the expenditure is monitored closely. All participants who have completed approved works have been encouraged to submit a payment claim.
The first TAMS approvals are now starting to lapse as the time for applying for payment has expired. It is a matter for each TAMS applicant to ensure that they submit their payment application within the timeframe of their approval.
750. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 420 of 8 March 2018, the estimated number of young farmers concerned if the first part of the amended regulatory provision in question was implemented for scheme applicants that commenced in the 2010 to 2013 period. [12753/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulation 2017/2393 contains an amendment to EU Regulation 1307/2013 regarding the number of years a successful applicant under the Young Farmers Scheme can receive payment. This regulatory amendment is in two parts and Ireland has opted to implement the amendment in full.
If Ireland implemented just the first part of the regulatory amendment it is estimated that the additional cost would be in excess of €5.5 million in 2018 and €7.5 million in 2019 which would result in a requirement for a linear cut to all farmers’ basic payments in order to fund this additional spend under the Young Farmers Scheme. It is estimated that the number of young farmers concerned if just the first part of the of the amended regulatory provision was implemented for scheme applicants that commenced in the 2010 to 2013 period, is almost 1,900 in 2018 and just over 2,500 in 2019.
751. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 422 of 8 March 2018, the regulatory provision that would have to be changed to permit the use of Exchequer funding to supplement the national reserve or the young farmers scheme. [12754/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulation 1307/2013 sets out the basis for the establishment and replenishment of the National Reserve and also the financing of the Young Farmers Scheme. Article 30 of EU Regulation 1307/2013 sets out the basis for the establishment of the National Reserve, while Article 31 of EU Regulation 1307/2013 sets out the basis for the replenishment of the National Reserve.
The financing of the Young Farmers Scheme is provided for under Article 51 of EU Regulation 1307/2013.
752. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine further to Parliamentary Question No. 422 of 8 March 2018, the exact deadline given by the EU Commission for member states to submit eligible ANC areas according to the new biophysical criteria ahead of 2019; and the final date for Ireland to make an amendment to the Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 to the Commission to ensure the new criteria apply to the 2019 ANC scheme. [12755/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFurther to amendments introduced in the Omnibus Regulation the new Areas of Natural Constraint scheme must be introduced in 2019. My Department is in ongoing discussion with the EU Commission in relation to this matter. As part of these discussions, the EU Commission has indicated the objective of finalising the agreement of the new basis for the Scheme in advance of applications being made for the Scheme in early 2019.
753. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if Ireland will be implementing a new sector specific income stabilisation tool as provided under EU Regulation 2017/2393. [12756/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraEU Regulation 2017/2393 came into force on 1 January 2018 and introduced a new sector-specific income stabilisation tool under article 39a of the Rural Development Regulation 1305/2013. The sector-specific income stabilisation tool, in the form of financial contributions to mutual funds, provides compensation of up to 70% to farmers of a specific sector for a severe drop in their income i.e. a drop in income of at least 20%.
Ireland's 2014-2020 Rural Development Programme (RDP) was approved by the Commission in 2015 and is based on a thorough analysis of needs and priorities identified over a lengthy period of consultation with stakeholders. The income stabilisation tools were not programmed under the RDP and there are no plans to introduce a sector-specific income stabilisation tool. The budget available under the RDP is fully committed and I anticipate that the entire €4 billion will be spent and that the €2.19 billion of EU co-funding will be drawn down.
Ireland's 2014-2020 RDP addresses the broader issue of risk management via the following schemes:
- Measure 1 - Knowledge Transfer Groups have incorporated financial and risk management issues into the outputs and actions to be delivered by the scheme.
- Measure 2 - Targeted Animal Health and Advisory Services (TASAH) targets a number of core areas where the economic rationale for managing the risk of animal disease is particularly prominent.
- Measure 4 - Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS) includes a specific strand of support for Animal Welfare and Farm Safety.
Outside of the 2014-2020 RDP, the Basic Payment Scheme increases income and reduces income variability. On the taxation side, the Minister for Finance and I have agreed that officials from our Departments will examine the issue of income stabilisation from a taxation perspective and report later this year. ##
754. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a matter (details supplied) will be addressed regarding the green certificate course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12819/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraTeagasc deliver the Green Cert on a fulltime, part-time and distance education basis. It is accredited by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI) an independent State agency responsible for promoting quality and accountability in education and training services in Ireland.
In 2016, Teagasc and QQI undertook a comprehensive review of the Green Cert to ensure that it continues to achieve its purpose and reflects the changing requirements of Irish farming. This review process was led by a Standards Review Group on behalf of QQI and included extensive industry consultation and stakeholder input. The Review Group recommended strengthening the Green Cert across many key areas, in particular, grass management, animal breeding, health and safety and sustainable farming approaches. As a result, Teagasc must deliver extra module content for the part-time and distance education Green Cert courses.
Teagasc was obliged to submit its updated Green Cert programme to QQI for formal validation and in doing so demonstrate that it is of adequate duration to meet the revised award content. Validation from QQI has now been obtained and, Teagasc plans to roll out the new Green Cert programmes over the course of 2018.
755. 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. [12821/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of 1 October 2015 and has received full payments in respect of 2015 and 2016 including GLAS Plus payments.
Once an outstanding BPS issue is finalised the GLAS application will be processed for payment. GLAS payments are issuing on a weekly basis.
756. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an appeal regarding cross compliance by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12837/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was the subject of a Nitrates inspection on 9 and 22 February 2017, carried out by my Department on behalf of the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government. This inspection identified a range of non-compliances with the cross compliance requirements under the Nitrates Regulations. Due to the level and serious nature of the non-compliances determined an intentional penalty of 100% was applied to the 2017 Direct Schemes payments. The person named was notified of this decision on 13 March 2017.
The person named sought a review of this decision on 8 March 2018 and the matter is currently being examined by officials in my Department. The person named will be notified of the outcome of this process. ##In the event that the person named is dissatisfied with the outcome of this review, the decision can be appealed to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office, within 3 months.
757. Deputy Tom Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a TAMS II payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12838/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicant in question submitted a payment claim under the Young Farmer Capital Investment Scheme of TAMS II on 29 January 2018. A number of deficiencies in the supporting documents provided were noted. A query letter issued to the applicant on 16 February 2018 advising of the action needed to correct the deficiencies with the claim. No documents have since been uploaded to correct the issues outlined in the query letter. The application cannot proceed until the applicant addresses the deficiencies outlined in the query letter.
