Wednesday, 21 Oct 2020

Written Answers Nos. 262-273

Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme

Ceisteanna (262)

Paul Kehoe

Ceist:

262. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a new date will issue for persons (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31883/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I wish to inform the Deputy that the Agriculture Appeals Office operates independently of my Department.

I have been advised, however, that the records of the Agriculture Appeals Office indicate that a TAMS II appeal was received from the above named.

I am also advised that an oral hearing organised for 30th September, 2020 had to be cancelled by the appellant. The Agriculture Appeals Office has confirmed that they are currently working on a new hearing date, and once this has been agreed the oral hearing will take place.

Harbours and Piers

Ceisteanna (263)

Noel Grealish

Ceist:

263. Deputy Noel Grealish asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding available from his Department for the restoration and maintenance of piers; the process for applying for funding; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31885/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

My Department owns, operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. In addition, my Department also has responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of North Harbour at Cape Clear, as well as the maintenance of a small number of specific piers, lights and beacons throughout Ireland, in accordance with the Marine Works (Ireland) Act 1902, and piers, lights and beacons constructed under the auspices of the Congested Districts Board.

The responsibility for the development and maintenance of Local Authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each Local Authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage thereafter.

However, as part of its annual Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme, my Department provides limited funding to assist coastal Local Authorities in carrying out small scale projects for the development and repair of piers, harbours and slipways in their ownership. Between 2010 and 2019, €28.2 million in funding has been provided by my Department under this scheme.

In February of this year, coastal Local Authorities were invited to submit prioritised lists of projects for consideration to be included in the annual capital programme. In total, 164 preliminary applications for funding were received, seeking a funding contribution of €9.6m.

All applications for funding made by Local Authorities in respect of qualifying projects were then assessed, taking into account compliance with the criteria of the scheme, the priority attached to each project by the relevant Local Authority, the funding available, and the need to ensure a broad geographical spread of projects.

Under this year’s programme, funding of €3.1m has been approved to assist 10 coastal Local Authorities undertake and complete 58 development and repair projects on harbours and slipways owned by them. The maximum eligible project cost under this year’s scheme is €200,000, with my Department contributing 75% of funding and the relevant Local Authority providing 25%. The package provides funding for maintenance and repair works in addition to supporting the ongoing development and enhancement of harbour facilities, including some marine leisure developments.

Basic Payment Scheme

Ceisteanna (264)

Michael Ring

Ceist:

264. Deputy Michael Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if those that made a simple error on their BPS 2020 applications (details supplied) will be allowed to be included for payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31895/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

In order to be eligible for the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, farmers must apply for the scheme by completing the relevant section of the Basic Payment Scheme application form  using the Department’s online application system at www.agfood.ie.  Farmers may choose  not to apply for the ANC scheme in any given year for a number of reasons such as changes to their farming practice, loss of eligible ANC land through the ending of lease agreements or as a result of retiring from farming.

The application process is reviewed and refined annually to ensure that it is as clear and straight forward as possible. 

When completing the Basic Payment Scheme online application, under a heading of “Other Schemes and Activities”, individuals are requested to tick a box to confirm if they wish to apply for the ANC scheme. If they do not tick the ANC box, they are reminded that they applied the previous year  but have not ticked the box for the current application.

Farmers may appeal to my Department should they feel there are specific Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances as to why they did not apply for the ANC scheme when submitting their Basic Payment Scheme application.  Farmers should do so in writing to the address below, setting out the reasons and providing any additional supporting information/documentation that may be relevant to their appeal.  All such appeals will be considered on a case by case basis. 

The address appeals should be sent to is:

Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Buildings, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, R32RPA6. 

Forestry Sector

Ceisteanna (265, 266, 267, 268, 269, 270)

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

265. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forestry Appeals Committee has now set up multiple divisions to hear appeals; if not, when it will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31980/20]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

266. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if additional personnel have taken up their roles in the Forestry Appeals Committee; if not, when they will be in a position to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31981/20]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

267. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new persons that are being appointed to the Forestry Appeals Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31992/20]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

268. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of Forestry Appeals Committee appeal hearings scheduled for October, November and December 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31994/20]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

269. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the current backlog of 500 appeals is expected to be cleared by the Forestry Appeals Committee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31996/20]

Brendan Griffin

Ceist:

270. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if the Forestry Appeals Committee has now set up multiple divisions to hear appeals; if not, when it will do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31997/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine

I propose to take Questions Nos. 265 to 270, inclusive, together.

The implementation of the provisions of the Forestry (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act is a top priority and my Department is working hard to ensure that it is given full effect. The SIs introduced immediately on foot of the legislation have immediately implemented the provisions related to the introduction of fees and new working arrangements for the FAC.

I have also made additional appointments to the Forestry Appeals Committee (FAC).  Two Deputy Chairpersons and two Ordinary Members have been appointed.  In addition to this, two additional personnel with planning expertise have been contracted to the FAC. These are being supplemented through the provision of additional administrative staff.

The FAC is operationally independent of my Department and as such, the establishing of divisions of the FAC is a matter for the Committee, as is the scheduling of appeal hearings. They will be in direct contact with appellants and applicants when additional hearings are being scheduled.

LEADER Programmes

Ceisteanna (271, 272, 273)

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

271. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if the Leader programme will provide for new applications in 2021. [31832/20]

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

272. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the funding that has been made available for a national rural development programme as committed to in the Programme for Government to replace the current Leader programme in 2021. [31833/20]

Seán Sherlock

Ceist:

273. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the consultation that has taken place with stakeholders on the development of a transitionary Leader programme to 2023; and the way in which she plans to proceed in terms of developing a national rural development programme as outlined in the Programme for Government. [31834/20]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Rural and Community Development

I propose to take Questions Nos. 271 to 273, inclusive, together.

The LEADER programme is co-funded by the European Commission under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP). The current programming period concludes in December 2020. 

Proposals for regulations for the post-2020 CAP were launched in June 2018 by the European Commission.  However, given the protracted nature of the discussions on the CAP and the wider post-2020 Budget at EU level, there has been a delay in adopting these proposals. This means that the next EU-funded LEADER programme will not now commence until January 2022 at the earliest.

The European Commission has published proposals for transitional measures to allow for continuity between the programming periods.  The Commission's Transitional Regulation is still under negotiation and there are still a number of issues to be resolved over the coming months, including the duration of the transitional period.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to prioritise a State-led programme to bridge the gap between the current LEADER programme and the next EU programme.  My Department is currently examining the best approach to deliver on this commitment having regard, inter alia, to any transitional arrangements that may be agreed at European level before the end of this year.

Over the last few months, my Department has also listened to the views of a number of stakeholders involved in the delivery of the LEADER programme in relation to the transitional programme. 

An extra €4 million has been provided for LEADER in Budget 2021, to bring the total allocation for the programme next year to €44 million.  This money will be used to fund existing projects as they come to completion, and to enable transitional arrangements to be put in place between the ending of the current LEADER programme and the start of the next EU-funded programme. 

I hope to be in a position shortly to announce the details of the transitional programme.