Written Answers Nos 758-774
758. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department maintains statistics on the wastage rate in the greyhound racing industry regarding the number of dogs every year deemed surplus to the industry's requirements and either rehomed, euthanised or illegally killed; and if so, if he will provide these statistics for each of the years 2010 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [12844/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraBord na gCon is a commercial State Body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 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 question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for Bord na gCon.
In line with Dáil procedures this request can be made directly to Bord na gCon using the dedicated email address: oireachtasqueries@igb.ie.
759. 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. [12862/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe above named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2017.
Administrative checks involving a number of sections within the Department take place on all GLAS claims. All cases must clear validation checks before payment can issue.
Issues arose with this case concerning the Natura and Traditional Hay Meadow actions. A solution has now been identified and the case is expected to clear validations this week. Once this case clears these validations the 2017 advance payment will be made. GLAS payments are being made on a weekly basis.
760. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a BPS payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12863/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted a 2017 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraint Schemes application on 11 May 2017. EU regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases remote sensing (satellite) inspections, be completed before any payments issue.
The application of the person named was selected for a remote sensing eligibility inspection. This inspection, which included a field visit to determine the position on the ground, identified over-declarations in area exceeding 10% of the area claimed. This resulted in the area determined being reduced by 1.5 times the difference between the area claimed and area determined, as required under the governing EU regulations. The final position was that no payment was due under the 2017 Basic Payment/Areas of Natural Constraints Schemes.
A letter detailing the initial inspection findings issued on 15 January 2018 and afforded the person named the opportunity to submit comments on the findings within 14 days. While comments were received from the person named these were received after the 14 day period and the inspection outcome was finalised. A letter detailing the final outcome of the inspection issued on 6 February 2018.
A review of the case is currently being undertaken taking account of the comments received and this process is on-going. The person named will be notified directly of the outcome of this review as soon as possible. In the event that there is any change to the inspection outcome following this review, any monies due under these schemes will be processed promptly.
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.
761. Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to raise the ceiling on TAMS investment to greater than €80,000; his views on whether this ceiling is very low when considered against the expected standard of building; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12884/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThere are no plans to raise the TAMS II ceiling from the current level of €80,000. It should be noted that in the case of eligible farm partnerships the overall investment ceiling is raised to €160,000. In addition, the investment ceiling under the LESS Scheme is not subject to the overall TAMS II investment ceiling.
762. Deputy Niamh Smyth asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a GLAS payment will be reviewed and expedited for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12912/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraA review by the director of agriculture appeals office of the decision of the appeals officer has been requested in this case in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture Appeals Act, 2001. The outcome of this review will be notified to the person named by the director of the agriculture appeals office in due course.
763. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his attention has been drawn to allegations of wrongdoing in the horse racing industry which have been referred to An Garda Síochána by the Joint Committee on Agriculture, Food and the Marine (details supplied); his views on his Department or the committee seeking an update from An Garda Síochána in respect of this case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12913/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraHorse Racing Ireland is a commercial State Body responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry.
As the Deputy refers to potential allegations of criminality which are to be reported to the Gardaí, it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this matter.
764. Deputy Michael Fitzmaurice asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) will receive BPS and area of natural constraint payments for 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12949/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme and Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received under the herd number supplied on 11 May 2017. Payment due under both schemes has issued to the applicant.
765. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if information (details supplied) will be provided in relation to land eligibility and the basic payment scheme by county in each of the years 2016 and 2017, in tabular form. [12973/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information is not readily available in the level of detail requested by the Deputy. However every effort will be made by the Department to give a comprehensive reply which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
766. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the most common causes or areas in which overclaims were made in 2016 and 2017. [12974/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is assumed that this question relates to the Basic Payment Scheme and Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme. Over-claims arise where the land area found by the Department during processing exceeds the area declared by the applicant. The most common causes of these over-claims include:
- farmers failing to make sufficient deduction for ineligible land such as land covered by scrub, farm buildings, roadways, yards, house sites etc.;
- farmers failing to check their maps at application stage to ensure that they have removed any land no longer farmed by them for example where a lease has come to an end and someone else is now farming the land.
Every effort should be made by applicants to make sure their application is accurate.
767. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if information (details supplied) will be provided by county in each of the years 2016 and 2017 in tabular form. [12975/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information is not readily available in the level of detail requested by the Deputy. However every effort will be made by the Department to give a comprehensive reply which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
768. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown of the cross-compliance breaches in 2016 and 2017 by the 13 different statutory management requirements and seven good agricultural and environmental condition standards in tabular form. [12976/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information is not readily available in the level of detail requested by the Deputy. However every effort will be made by the Department to give a comprehensive reply which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
The deferred reply under Standing Order 42A was forwarded to the Deputy.
769. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the value of penalties recouped by county in each of the years 2016 and 2017 by scheme (details supplied) in tabular form. [12977/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe information is not readily available in the level of detail requested by the Deputy. However every effort will be made by the Department to give a comprehensive reply which will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.
770. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if an island of Ireland geographical indication, GI, approved at EU level in operation on the last day of the transition period must be recognised in UK law after withdrawal, following the European Commission’s draft withdrawal agreement with the UK published on 28 February 2018 regarding Article 50 and GIs. [12978/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recent weeks the EU Commission has published drafts of the EU/UK Withdrawal Agreement and the negotiating guidelines on the framework for the future relationship for consideration and agreement by member states, before forwarding to the UK as part of the negotiation process.
Ireland has three all-island Geographical Indications (GIs) - Irish Whiskey, Irish Cream and Irish Poitín – which are protected under EU Regulation 110/2008 on the definition, description, presentation, labelling and protection of geographical indications of spirit drinks.
Article 50 of the draft withdrawal agreement proposes that geographical indications protected under EU Regulation 110/2008 will, from the end of the transition period, be entitled to use a right in the UK, granted under UK law, which provides for at least the same level of protection as that provided under the relevant EU law.
The negotiations with the UK on the Withdrawal Agreement will be conducted on this basis.
771. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on references to agriculture and fisheries under Article 125 in the main text and Article 5 of the protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland published as a protocol as part of the European Commission’s draft withdrawal agreement with the UK published on 28 February 2018; and his further views on reference to reciprocal fishing rights published in the EU Council's draft guidelines of 7 March 2018 following the European Commission’s draft withdrawal agreement with the UK published on 28 February 2018. [12979/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn recent weeks the EU Commission has published drafts of the EU/UK withdrawal agreement and the negotiating guidelines on the framework for the future relationship for consideration and agreement by member states, before forwarding to the UK as part of the negotiation process.
From an Irish perspective the two documents, while still works in progress, reflect the engagement this Government has had with both the task force and other member states since the referendum vote some 20 months ago. I particularly welcome the determination expressed in the withdrawal agreement to have as close a partnership as possible with the UK in the future.
On fisheries, our priorities have been to avoid any decoupling of fisheries issues from the rest of the negotiation and to ensure that the current mechanisms for access and quota determination are preserved. These priorities are reflected in the documentation referred to above, as a result of co-operation between my Department, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the Commission Task Force.
On the agriculture-specific aspects of Article 5 of the Protocol on Ireland and Northern Ireland, these provisions are in accordance with our desire to ensure that the commitments made by the United Kingdom in the EU-UK joint report of December 2017 in relation to the avoidance of a hard border are reflected in the withdrawal agreement. More specifically, the protocol provides the necessary legal provisions to implement the backstop of maintaining full alignment in Northern Ireland with those rules of the single market and customs union necessary to protect North-South cooperation and to avoid a hard border, in the event that a solution in this regard is not arrived at through the wider EU-UK future relationship agreement or through specific solutions put forward by the UK government.
772. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the projects mentioned in the National Development Plan 2018 to 2027 that come under his Department's remit or bodies under its aegis; and the estimated completion dates for each project in tabular form. [12982/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in the National Development Plan, the vast majority capital expenditure under my Department’s remit is through multi-annual programmes which comprise of demand-led schemes which co-fund a very wide range of projects by operators across the Agriculture, Food and Marine sectors. There will also be funding for a range of enhancements over the period of the NDP for publically owned infrastructure such as in our fishery harbour centres and research and innovation facilities and equipment.
Table 1 sets out the estimated completion dates of specific projects mentioned in the NDP:
|
Project Name |
Estimated Completion Date |
|
Haulbowline Island Remediation |
2021 |
|
Replacement Specialist Research Vessel |
Not yet determined |
|
National Food Innovation Hub |
2019 |
|
Prepared Consumer Food Innovation Centre –Stage 1 |
2018 |
773. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the cost to his Department of negative interest rates on deposits held; the details of same for agencies under his aegis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11732/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe total amount of negative interest paid by my Department in respect of deposits since the introduction of these charges in May 2017 is €3,757. This amount includes deposits held by my Department in respect of the Environment Fund.
Information in respect of bodies and agencies under the aegis of my Department is a day to day matter for those organisations and my Department does not have the information sought by the Deputy. I will, however, request the relevant agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department to respond directly to the Deputy in the matter.
774. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the amount spent by his Department on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns from January 2017 to date in 2018, by year, month and company engaged in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11762/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department's remit includes complex policy areas, oversight of State regulation and service provision across key strategic services such as energy, environment, climate change and public broadcasting, as well as regulation of sectors such as mining and hydrocarbon exploration. Given the technical complexity, economic significance and community interest in these areas, there is a requirement to disseminate information and to address specific issues as they arise. My Department therefore necessarily incurs some expenditure on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns from time to time. In procuring these services, my Department always seeks to ensure value for money and keeping expenditure to the minimum necessary.
The information requested in the Question is set out in the following table:
|
Spend on third party public relations advice, communications advice, online advertising and public awareness campaigns January 2017 to date |
||||
|
Type of advice/campaign |
Company engaged |
Year |
Month |
Cost (inc of VAT) |
|
Provision of Communications Advice in respect of National Waste Campaign |
Mandy Johnston Communications |
2017 |
August |
€4,750 |
|
Provision of Communications Advice in respect of National Waste Campaign |
Focus Advertising |
2017 |
August |
€15,585 |
|
Public Awareness-Radio Advertising in respect of National Waste Campaign |
PHD Media |
2017 |
September |
€67,070 |
|
Public Awareness-Radio Advertising in respect of National Waste Campaign |
PHD Media |
2017 |
October |
€73,925 |
|
Provision of Communications Advice in respect of National Waste Campaign |
Mandy Johnston Communications |
2017 |
November |
€2,450 |
|
Provision of Communications Advice in respect of National Waste Campaign |
Mandy Johnston Communications |
2017 |
December |
€1,500 |
|
Developing Social Media Content in respect of National Waste Campaign |
Focus Advertising |
2017 |
December |
€30,750 |
|
Public Awareness-Radio Advertising in respect of National Waste Campaign |
PHD Media |
2017 |
December |
€98,732 |
|
Public Awareness-Radio Advertising in respect of National Waste Campaign |
PHD Media |
2017 |
December |
€103,250 |
|
Provision of Communications Advice in respect of National Waste Campaign |
Mandy Johnston Communications |
2018 |
February |
€2,850 |
|
Newspaper advertising (placement) for Trading Online Voucher Scheme Awareness |
Independent Newspapers Ltd |
2017 |
January April |
€3,075 €6,150 |
|
Radio advertising (placement) for Trading Online Voucher Scheme Awareness |
PHD Media (Ireland) Ltd |
2017 |
April June July |
€12,551 €20,551 €10,182 |
|
Radio advertising (production) for Trading Online Voucher Scheme Awareness |
Cawley NEA/TBWA |
2017 |
April June |
€6,547 €1,953 |
|
Newspaper advertising (placement) for Trading Online Voucher Scheme Awareness |
Mediavest Ltd |
2017 |
June August December |
€35,192 €9,552 € 6,948 |
|
Newspaper advertising (design) for Trading Online Voucher Scheme Awareness |
Doggett Group |
2017 |
February June |
€ 67 € 147 |
|
Tidy Towns magazine – Clean Air Award, Sustainable Award and Climate Change Award |
Ashville Media Group Ltd |
2017 |
May |
€12,300 |
|
Newspaper advertisement of Clean Air Strategy public consultation |
Mediavest Ltd |
2017 |
April |
€6,337 |
|
Newspaper advertisement of Medium Combustion Plant public consultation |
Mediavest Ltd |
2018 |
January |
€3,029 |
|
Anti-Litter and Anti-Graffiti Awareness Grants Scheme |
None – this is an awareness grant scheme in conjunction with local authorities. The Scheme is majority funded by DCCAE with the remaining contribution coming from local authorities |
2017 |
October |
€865,071 |
|
Local Agenda 21/Local Environmental Partnership Fund press advertisements |
Mediavest |
2017 |
July |
€5,834 |
|
Design and Printing of Logo for Climate Award for Tidy Towns Competition |
Clever Cat Design |
2017 |
June |
€664 |
|
Design of Tidy Towns Climate Awards Leaflets (Climate Award Winners Leaflet; and a Joint Climate Air Quality Leaflet) |
Clever Cat Design
|
2017 |
September |
€940 |
|
Design of Tidy Towns Climate Award Information Leaflet |
Clever Cat Design |
2017 |
September |
€547 |
|
Sponsorship of Climate Award for Tidy Towns 2017 (for Department of Community and Rural Development) |
Department of Community and Rural Development (payment to DCRD) |
2017 |
August |
€5,000 |
|
Every Day Power Use Pull Up Display for National Ploughing Championships (Can be reused annually) |
Doggett Group Creative Communications |
2017 |
September |
€98.40 |
|
What's a Watt Pull Up Display for National Ploughing Championships (Can be reused annually) |
Green Room Media / Tony Harris Design |
2017 |
October |
€405 |
|
Pedal Powered Scalextric Display for National Ploughing Championship (3 days use) |
Red Hot Productions |
2017 |
October |
€5,535 |
|
Funding for Green Schools Climate Action and Awareness Programme 2017-2018 (3 invoices) |
An Taisce Green Schools |
2017 |
January to December |
€97,974 |
|
Design and Production of Children's Climate Change materials |
Clever Cat Design Limited |
2018 |
February |
€2,312 |
|
Funding for Green Schools Climate Action and Awareness Programme 2017-2018 |
An Taisce Green Schools |
2018 |
January to March |
€48,533
|
