Written Answers Nos. 461-467
461. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the way in which persons (details supplied) will be assisted with a scheme application; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33469/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe persons named have been a participant in the Sheep Welfare Scheme since the first year of the scheme.
As set out in the terms and conditions of the scheme, as part of an administrative control process, each year a percentage of farmers are requested to return their Scheme Action Record book and supporting documentation, such as receipts or invoices relating to the completion of the selected actions, to the Department.
Where the Scheme Action Record Book has not been received by the Department, this will be seen as a breach of the scheme obligations and will result in no payments for the relevant scheme year and a 20% administrative penalty based on the overall amount which would have been payable in the scheme year will be imposed.
Applicants are advised in the terms and conditions of the scheme that in the event that a query arises as to the receipt by the Department of an Action Record book, an applicant will be required to produce proof of postage in the form of a Registered Post receipt or a SwiftPost receipt. A certificate of postage is not accepted as proof of postage.
The persons named were selected as part of this administrative control check for year 5 of the Sheep Welfare Scheme. My Department has no record of receiving the Scheme Action Record book from the persons named as required under the terms and conditions of the scheme.
An appeal has been received by my Department and is now being examined. It may be necessary to write to the person named to request additional supporting information, such as proof of postage as outlined above.
The persons named will be notified in writing of the decision of the review. If they are not satisfied with the outcome of this appeal, they will have the option of submitting a further appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office.
462. Deputy Michael Lowry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if his Department will provide the necessary funding to pig farmers in respect of increased input costs, including in fuel, feed, fertiliser and energy; if he has received and reviewed the recently published document by an organisation (details supplied) concerning the pig industry in Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33501/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy officials are currently reviewing the report on the Pig Industry & Ireland's Economy, referenced by the Deputy. My Department have had ongoing discussions with stakeholders on the situation currently being faced by the pig farming sector in general and are monitoring the situation closely. Significant support has been made available to the pig sector in the context of the current market disturbance.
In February, I announced the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme (PEPS), with a fund of up to €7 million, for commercial pig farmers. This was an urgent, short-term response to assist producers that would be viable but for the extreme current circumstances, and allow space for a more medium-term adjustment to market signals. Farmers were able to receive a payment of up to €20,000 per farmer. All payments have now been processed.
On 23rd March, the EU Commission announced the adoption of exceptional adjustment aid to producers in agricultural sectors which have been impacted by Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine. The aid provided for was granted as a measure supporting agricultural markets following the transfer of funds from the reserve for crisis in the agricultural sector. The exceptional aid allocation to Ireland was €15.8 million in EU funding and there are detailed requirements and conditionality attached to this allocation; set out in Commission Delegated Regulation 2022/467 of 23rd March 2022.
The Government approved my proposal to allocate €2.8 million of this EU funding to support the Irish horticulture sector, with the remainder dedicated to supporting the pig sector. On 13th June, I announced the opening of applications for the Pig Exceptional Payment Scheme 2 (PEPS2). A total fund of €13 million is being made available for this voluntary scheme for pig farmers, to support the viability of this important sector. Details of the scheme, which is open for applications until 11 July, are available on my Department's website:
www.gov.ie/en/service/0067f-pig-exceptional-payment-scheme-2/
463. Deputy Imelda Munster asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the amount allocated to the town and village renewal scheme since 2016, by year; the amount returned to her Department by local authority; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33271/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Town and Village Renewal Scheme (TVRS) is part of a range of measures to support the revitalisation of rural Ireland. The programme is funded under Project Ireland 2040 as part of “Our Rural Future”. The Scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the local authorities. Since the introduction of the Scheme in 2016, almost €113 million has been approved for more than 1,400 projects across the country.
In May I launched the 2022 Scheme and this year's Scheme will place particular emphasis on projects that bring vacant and derelict buildings and sites back into use as multi-purpose spaces. The scheme will also prioritise regeneration of town centres, parks and green spaces, and remote working. The Scheme will support these objectives and will encourage more people to return confidently to town and village centres to work, shop and socialise. The closing date for the submission of applications is 22nd July 2022.
Under the TVRS, approved projects are funded by each local authority from their own resources. The local authorities then submit claims to the Department to recoup these funds. In general, funding would be returned to the Department where ineligible funding is identified through project control inspections or where projects are decommitted. The data on returned funding is currently being compiled and will issue to the Deputy once completed.
The table at the link outlines the funding approved per local authority under the TVRS for each year since the Scheme was introduced in 2016.
464. Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has received an application from a local authority (details supplied) under the CLÁR scheme; and when she expects to be in a position to make announcements with regard to these applications. [33314/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe CLÁR programme provides funding under a number of different measures for small-scale infrastructural projects in designated rural areas that have experienced significant levels of de-population over a defined period.
I launched this year's programme in February with a total budget of €7 million. This represents an increase of €1.5 million on the budget for the 2021 CLÁR programme. The programme is now closed for all measures and applications are being assessed.
I can confirm that under CLÁR Measure 1, 'Developing Community Facilities and Amenities', an application by the group referred to by the Deputy has been submitted by the relevant local authority for assessment by my Department. I hope to make an announcement on the successful Measure 1 projects later this year.
465. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if she has made a final decision on whether there will be a reduction of 20% and 50% for students and children to the fares that islanders pay for subsidised ferry and air services to the islands, similar to the fare reduction introduced on mainland bus and rail services; the reason for the delay in making this decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33440/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe sustainability of the communities on our off shore islands is a core objective of the Government, as set out in its ‘Rural Development Policy 2021-2025, Our Rural Future’. The policy acknowledges the importance for island communities of access to reliable, safe and affordable connectivity services to and from the mainland.
Contracts for connectivity services are procured by the Department of Rural and Community Development on the open market through the procurement process. This ensures that all providers are treated equally and that the selection process is fair and transparent for all.
The Department of Transport recently introduced a fare reduction scheme that sees an average of 20% reduction on PSO public transport services that are managed by the National Transport Authority (NTA).
Therefore the scheme covers public transport services operated by Iarnród Éireann, Bus Éireann, Dublin Bus, Luas, Go-Ahead Ireland and TFI Local Link.
It is important to note that other subsidised transport services managed by the Department of Transport, such as the PSO air service to Donegal and Kerry, are not covered by the scheme.
Similarly, the subsidised transport services managed by the Department of Rural and Community Development to the off shore islands do not qualify for the scheme.
Unlike the services managed by the NTA, offshore islands have a mix of subsidised and non-subsidised transport services.
While my Department is, of course, open to examining ways of ensuring that island transport services are affordable, it is concerned that the introduction of a fare reduction scheme for subsidised services could bring the existing contracts and procurement processes into disrepute.
All of the contracted air, ferry and cargo services managed by my Department are procured in an open and fair procedure. Providing a fare reduction scheme for chosen suppliers could have the potential to undermine those procedures and may also lead to reduced services to the islands, particularly with regard to non-subsidised services and other private operators who may be placed at a disadvantage.
As the Deputy is aware, my Department has sought advice from the Attorney General in relation to the matter. Officials have been engaging in this regard since early March and there has been regular contact in order to progress the matter. I understand my Department has recently received a response from the Office of the Attorney General, which is currently being considered by my officials.
466. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the new LEADER programme will be announced and the terms and conditions for the programme published; if non-local community development committee groups will be eligible to apply to run the scheme in all areas; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33445/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra467. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development if, due to the exclusion of the offshore islands, there will be two lots under the new LEADER programme in Galway, one covering the east of the county and one covering Connemara; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33446/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 466 and 467 together.
The LEADER programme is one of the key interventions of Our Rural Future, the Government’s Policy for rural development launched last year.
Preparations for the design and delivery of the next LEADER programme from 2023-2027 are well underway and there is ongoing engagement between my officials and stakeholders in this regard.
Decisions relating to all aspects of the programme including the structure of Local Action Groups and the areas to be covered by the Local Development Strategies will be considered as part of the ongoing programme design phase.
It is proposed to hold the Local Development Strategy /LAG selection process over two stages. The selection of the LAGs cannot commence until the CAP Strategic Plan (CSP) is approved by the EU Commission, which is expected to happen later in the year. However, the first stage, which is an expression of interest by eligible groups, could commence in advance of the CSP approval in order to be ready to launch the second stage once the CSP is approved.
I have announced an indicative budget of €180 million for the LEADER programme for the period 2023-2027. When taken together with the €70 million already provided for 2021 and 2022 under the Transitional LEADER Programme, a total of €250 million will be made available for the 2021 - 2027 period, thus maintaining the level of funding provided for the 2014-2020 programming period.
The ongoing engagement and consultation with stakeholders, combined with the funding allocation of €250 million indicated, will ensure that the LEADER programme from 2023 will continue to support and further develop our rural communities and businesses and will underpin the continued contribution of the LEADER approach in delivering on the Government’s vision for rural Ireland.
