Written Answers Nos. 1118-1134
1118. 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. [16195/18]
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.
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. Department officials are working proactively to complete the checks to allow for the issue of payments. Once this case clears validations the 2017 advance payment will be made. GLAS payments are being made on a weekly basis.
1119. 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. [16201/18]
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. The 2016 payment was made less the payment due for two Hen Harrier Actions. The outstanding payments for 2016 will be processed in due course according to the regulatory requirements.
The 85% 2017 Advance Payment has been made in full for 2017 including the GLAS+ Advance Payment.
1120. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of individual registered and unregistered greyhound pups born each year to litters registered with organisations (details supplied) in each of the years 2010 to 2017. [16253/18]
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.
I will request officials in my Department to refer the question to Bord na gCon for direct reply to the Deputy.
1121. Deputy Clare Daly asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of unregistered greyhounds rehomed directly by the Irish Greyhound Board in each of the years 2010 to 2017. [16254/18]
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.
I will request officials in my Department to refer the question to Bord na gCon for direct reply to the Deputy.
1122. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of an application by a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16255/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe GLAS payments due to person named are fully up to date.
1123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the official policy and protocols regarding the seeking of application for planting forestry in a special area of conservation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16364/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe overall aim of the European Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) is to maintain or restore the favourable conservation status of habitats and species which are threatened throughout Europe and deemed highly sensitive to change. These habitats and species are listed in the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive (Directive 2009/147/EC). Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) and Special Protection Areas (SPAs) – also known as Natura sites – are designated to afford protection to the most vulnerable of these habitats and species. As such, SACs and SPAs are a key component in the protection of rare and endangered habitats and species, both in Ireland and at a European and international level.
One of the key protective measures under this European legislation is the requirement under Article 6(3) and 6(4) of the Habitats Directive to apply an appropriate assessment procedure, to consider any possible impact on the conservation objectives of a Natura site that might arise from a plan or project, before a decision is taken whether or not to allow that plan or project to proceed. The application of appropriate assessment in Ireland is governed by the European Communities (Birds & Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477 of 2011).
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine is listed as a 'public authority' under these Regulations. Therefore, this Department is required to carry out a screening for Appropriate Assessment, and the Appropriate Assessment itself, if deemed necessary, in relation to all such applications for afforestation. For further information on how this procedure is applied to afforestation applications, please see Section 20 of the Department's Forestry Standards Manual at https://www.agriculture.gov.ie/media/migration/forestry/grantandpremiumschemes/2015/ForestryStandManNov15050116.pdf.
1125. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason the office of his Department in Ros'a Mhíl, Contae na Gaillimhe is not included as a transfer location in the central list of locations that civil servants can express a preference to transfer to; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16421/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraI understand from the Human Resources Division within my Department that this office is listed as a transfer location under the Civil Service Mobility Scheme at the following address:
Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Zone 19), Sea Fisheries Protection Authority, The Pier, H91 K765, Co. Galway.
Ros a Mhíl is located at Zone 19 on the map pertaining to Civil Service Mobility which may be accessed through the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform (DPER) website at the following address: http://hr.per.gov.ie/civil-service-mobility/
1126. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of clerical officers and clerical assistants in his Department on temporary contracts by years of service; if these officers will be offered permanent positions in the Civil Service when they have served a fixed period of time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16422/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraCurrently my Department recruits temporary clerical officers (the clerical assistant grade no longer exists) from specific recruitment processes run by the Public Appointment Service. This recruitment process is solely aimed at meeting short term business requirements only and is not for the purpose of filling permanent positions. The Department also recruits clerical officers for permanent positions through the Public Appointments Service.
My Department avails of workforce planning processes to identify the critical resource needs required to deliver our business goals. Staffing needs are constantly monitored, including those involving temporary Clerical Officers.
1127. Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a GLAS payment for a farmer (details supplied); the reason for the delays in processing this payment, which are placing undue financial hardship on the person and the person's family and business; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16454/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 2 with a contract commencement date of 1 January 2016 and has received all payments in respect of 2016.
Administrative checks involving a number of sections within the Department take place on all GLAS claims. My Department is making every effort to complete the checks required and once this case clears validations the 2017, advance payment will be made. GLAS payments are continuing to issue on a weekly basis.
1129. Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the range of specific financial or advisory supports available to small indigenous and artisan food producers from his Department and agencies under its auspices, specifically for marketing, promotion and branding. [16513/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraFood Wise 2025, the strategy for the Agri-food industry acknowledges the unique and important position of the artisan food sector in both the rural and national economy and its positive growth prospects and recommends actions to support the sector to realise its potential. These include supports for artisan food businesses, a pipeline for new entrants to the Artisan Food Market at Bloom, promoting meet the buyer opportunities, delivery of small business specific consumer and market insights, and programmes to assist producers to extend business reach and festival markets.
Supports for the artisan food sector are available from the development agencies. Many artisan businesses have participated in the Food Academy programme developed by Bord Bia, Local Enterprise Offices and Musgraves/SuperValu; the Food Works programme (developed by Bord Bia, Teagasc and Enterprise Ireland for start-up food entrepreneurs) and from technical assistance from Teagasc.
In terms of small food businesses in general, close to 500 food companies with a turnover of €100,000 to €3.5m are registered with Bord Bia for supports and services. These owner managed businesses produce high-end products with a strong focus on the domestic market.
The farmhouse cheese sector alone includes over 50 cheese-makers producing more than 150 types of cheese valued at over €12 million per annum at farm gate level. The sector is innovative with over 17 new farmhouse cheeses developed in the past year. My Department has supported a three year Bord Bia farmhouse cheese programme under the EU Promotion regime.
Farmers markets remain a valuable entry point for many potential food entrepreneurs and those building a local and visitor customer base. In the past year Bord Bia ran workshops for market managers to support the development of this important local route to market. Feedback was highly positive.
My Department provides bursaries for the UCC Diploma in Speciality Food Production, a food science and business course for food producers, potential start-ups and those interested in developing businesses and /or promoting the artisan sector. Bord Bia, Teagasc and the FSAI contribute to the work of the Diploma. Over 180 students have graduated; many are successfully running small artisan and speciality food businesses.
Growth prospects for the sector are positive overall, driven by increased consumer interest in the provenance of food, environmental concerns, health and a desire to support the local economy.
There is also provision in the Rural Development Plan (RDP), for funding to support new and existing artisan, micro and small food producers to address emerging challenges through investment in areas such as market development, competitiveness and innovation. This funding will be delivered using the LEADER methodology.
1130. Deputy Catherine Martin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps that have been taken to explore new crop production techniques such as paludiculture by his Department since responsibility for this action under the national peatlands strategy was allocated to it and to the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment. [16675/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Minister for Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, announced the publication of the National Raised Bog Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) Management Plan 2017-2022 in December 2017.
This is the first national plan for Ireland’s raised bog SAC network and together with the National Peatlands Strategy (2015) and the Review of Raised Bog Natural Heritage Area Network (2014) form the Government’s approach to the management of Ireland’s peatlands.
The independently chaired Peatlands Council was established to assist the Government and stakeholders regarding certain issues related to the management of Ireland’s peatlands and was specifically requested to oversee the drafting of a National Peatlands Strategy.
The National Peatlands Strategy sets out how to sustainably manage and protect/conserve our national peatland resource. This strategy estimated that Irish peatlands store some 1,566 million tonnes of carbon, representing approximately 64% of the total soil organic carbon stock present in Ireland.
The direction Ireland takes in managing its peatland is and will be informed by best scientific knowledge. I am aware that extensive research on the role and functioning of peatlands has been undertaken and further work is on-going. The future use of Ireland’s peatlands will also be influenced by national, EU and international legal considerations and obligations.
DAFM operate several schemes which incorporate standards which ensure the sustainable use of land, the maintenance of natural resources and limiting climate change, for example, the Basic Payment Scheme and other area based schemes such as the Greening Payment, the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme (ANC) including Islands and the Green Low Carbon Agri Environment Scheme (GLAS). Monitoring and implementation of these standards is carried out through cross-compliance inspections thereby ensuring that agricultural land is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition.
1131. D'fhiafraigh Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív den Aire Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara cén uair a dhéanfar cinneadh ar athbhreithniú atá iarrtha ag a Roinn ar chinneadh a rinne an tOifigeach Achomhairc maidir le hachomharc a rinne feirmeoir i gContae na Gaillimhe (sonraí tugtha); cén fáth a bhfuil moill fhada ar an gcinneadh; an bhfuil an litir dar dáta an 5 Deireadh Fómhair 2017 a chuir an feirmeoir chuig an Oifig Achomhairc á cur san áireamh san athbhreithniú atá ar siúl agus an dtabharfar seans don fheirmeoir a chás a chur os comhair an Oifigigh Achomhairc uair amháin eile ag éisteacht ó bhéal, mar atá iarrtha aige; agus an ndéanfaidh sé ráiteas ina thaobh. [16676/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraDheimhnigh an Oifig Achomhairc Talmhaíochta neamhspleách gur iarradh ar athbhreithniú ar chinneadh an Oifigigh Achomhairc. Is gnách go ndéileáiltear le hathbhreithnithe san ord a fhaightear iad. Fuarthas roinnt iarrataí ar athbhreithniú ar chinntí an Oifigigh Achomhairc sula ndearnadh an iarraidh a rinneadh agus tá iad seo á bpróiseáil faoi láthair. Cuireadh an t-achomharcóir ar an eolas ar na forais a bhain leis an iarraidh ar an athbhreithniú agus tugadh cuireadh dó a bhreathnóireacht ar na forais siúd a sheoladh ar aghaidh. Déanfar breithniú ar fhreagairt an achomharcóra a bhí ina litir dar dáta an 5 Deireadh Fómhair 2017 mar chuid den athbhreithniú a dhéanfar ar chinneadh ar an Oifigigh Achomhairc nuair a chuirfear tús leis an athbhreithniú sin. Maidir lena iarraidh ar éisteacht ó bhéal, dheimhnigh an Oifig Achomhairc Talmhaíochta gur thit éisteacht ó bhéal ar achomharc an achomharcóra amach an 23 Feabhra 2017 sular eisíodh cinneadh an Oifigigh Achomhairc. Foráiltear san Acht um Achomhairc Talmhaíochta, 2001, arna leasú, gur féidir leis an Stiúrthóir Achomhairc Talmhaíochta cinneadh Oifigeach Achomhairc a athbhreithniú más dealraitheach dó nó di go raibh an cinneadh earráideach mar gheall go ndearnadh botún éigin maidir leis an dlí nó na fíricí. Níl aon fhoráil sa reachtaíocht ar éisteacht bhreise ó bhéal mar chuid den phróiseas athbhreithnithe ag an Stiúrthóir.
1132. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the 2017 GLAS scheme; the reason for the delay in issuing this payment in view of the fact that his Department is of the view there is no issue with the GLAS plan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16677/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named was approved into GLAS 3 with a contract commencement date of October 1st 2015 and has received all payments in respect of 2015 and 2016 scheme years.
Administrative checks take place on all GLAS claims. All cases must clear validation checks before payment can issue. My Department is working proactively to complete the checks in this case. Once this case clears validations the 2017 advance payment will be made. GLAS payments are being made on a weekly basis.
1133. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will address a matter (details supplied) regarding tillage farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16715/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe difficult and prolonged winter of 2017, and very late and wet spring, has caused great difficulties for both livestock and tillage farmers in Ireland.
Tillage farmers in receipt of the Greening payment are required to comply with the obligations that exist under the Crop Diversification and Ecological Focus Area measures. Under Crop Diversification farmers with greater than 30 hectares of arable land are required to have three crops with the main crop not exceeding 75% and the two main crops not exceeding 95%. Those with between 10 and 30 hectares are required to have two crops with the main crop not exceeding 75%
As a consequence of the extreme weather I have made a very robust case to the EU Commission for an exemption from the Crop Diversification obligations in 2018.
Officials from my Department are now in discussion with the EU Commission on how this proposed derogation would operate in practice for 2018.
1134. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when an application will be processed for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16734/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe above named was approved into GLAS 1 with a contract commencement date of October 1st 2015 and has received all payments in respect of 2015 and 2016.
All cases must clear validation checks before payment can issue. My Department is working proactively to complete the checks to minimise delays in payments. It is expected that this case will clear the validations shortly. GLAS payments are being made on a weekly basis.
