Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

Brexit Supports

Charlie McConalogue

375. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the full details of the aid package for beef farmers he has proposed to the European Commission to cover the retrospective Brexit beef price losses, which stand in excess of €100 million; the precise details on the amount of aid in euro he has sought from both the EU and the Exchequer; the time period covered; the number of beef producers involved; the amount of aid per head for steers, heifers, young bulls and cows; the way in which he plans to award this aid to farmers; if it will be in the form of a direct payment to farmers based on the number of cattle they have sold; and when he expects farmers will receive payment. [20362/19]

Food Imports

Charlie McConalogue

376. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of non-EU maize in euro and volume imported here annually over the 2016 to 2018 period; and if his attention has been drawn to the negative impact this has on the income of tillage growers here that are left with stores full of barley due to the importation of feed. [20363/19]

Agriculture Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

377. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons participating in schemes (details supplied) who have received an advanced 2018 payment, by county, in tabular form; the number of persons who have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting their 2018 advanced payments; the number still to receive their advanced payments; the number of persons participating in the schemes who have received a balancing 2018 payment by county; the number of persons who have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting their 2018 balancing payments; the number still to receive their balancing payments; the amount in 2018 advanced and balancing payments that still have to be paid out by scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20364/19]

Future Growth Loan Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

378. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of the €1 billion loan scheme for young farmers that will be ring-fenced for Irish young farmers; the lending rates that will apply; the minimum loan amount; the financial institutions that will provide the fund here; and when it will open for applications. [20365/19]

Agriculture Industry

Charlie McConalogue

379. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers nationally referred to as the forgotten farmers (details supplied) by county, in tabular form; and the estimated full-year cost of increasing the value of entitlements to the national average for these farmers. [20366/19]

Agriculture Industry

Charlie McConalogue

380. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the funding avenues available to accommodate the forgotten farmers under the specific disadvantage category of the national reserve and the approval of the European Commission; and if he has made such a request to the European Commission. [20367/19]

Agriculture Industry

Charlie McConalogue

381. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is technically possible to accommodate the forgotten farmers group under the specific disadvantage category of the national reserve by using unused funds from Pillars 1 and 2 to finance; and if it is possible under the CAP to transfer funds from Pillars 1 to 2 and vice versa to fund such initiatives. [20368/19]

Agriculture Industry

Charlie McConalogue

382. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he and his EU ministerial counterparts are seeking increased funding flexibilities in order to accommodate forgotten farmers (details supplied) under the specific disadvantage category of the national reserve; if the proposed capping of BPS payments is agreed if proceeds from such capping would be permitted to fund forgotten farmers into the national reserve; and if this avenue has been confirmed with the European Commission by him. [20369/19]

Carer's Allowance Appeals

Charlie McConalogue

474. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection when a person (details supplied) in County Donegal will receive payment and be issued with arrears in respect of carer's allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20449/19]

Brexit Supports

Charlie McConalogue

1. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a compensation package will be introduced for beef farmers in view of the significant decrease in prices and incomes since autumn 2018 from the impact of Brexit; and if a formal application has been submitted to the EU Commission for exceptional or market disturbance aid. [20275/19]

Beef Industry

Charlie McConalogue

13. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the price beef farmers are receiving for their produce from factories; the details of recent discussions at the beef forum; the actions and deadlines agreed; the steps being taken to protect beef farmers from a hard Brexit and a Mercosur deal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20060/19]

Programme for Government Initiatives

Charlie McConalogue

21. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the programme for partnership Government commitment to seek recognition from the European Commission for forgotten farmers as a group with specific disadvantage under the national reserve in the same way that old young farmers are provided for. [20059/19]

Livestock Issues

Charlie McConalogue

31. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason farmers are not paid for the fifth quarter, that is, the remaining pieces of an animal carcass which are not being used for meat production. [20057/19]

Beef Industry

Charlie McConalogue

36. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a compensation package will be introduced as a direct mitigation measure from the decrease in prices experienced by beef farmers since autumn 2018 from the impact of Brexit. [20056/19]

Brexit Supports

Charlie McConalogue

41. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the contingencies being operationalised and supports that will be in place to safeguard farmers here and the agrifood sector for all scenarios including a no-deal hard Brexit; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20058/19]

Tax Reliefs Availability

Charlie McConalogue

47. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance further to Parliamentary Question No. 136 of 16 April 2019, his views on a matter (details supplied). [20283/19]

Special Educational Needs Service Provision

Charlie McConalogue

58. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills when a decision will be made on an application form in respect of a student (details supplied) in County Donegal under the assistive technology scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20189/19]

EU Funding

Charlie McConalogue

127. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the estimated annual cost and seven year cost if the Exchequer were to step in and fill the deficit caused by the proposed cut to the pillar 2 rural development programme allocation of Ireland and the specific reduction in respect of current LEADER programme funding for the next CAP following the publication of the 2018 MFF proposals for the 2021-2027 period; the maximum co-financing rate permitted for member states under LEADER for the amount of national Exchequer funding permitted over a full CAP and RDP window; the EU and national Exchequer co-financing rates; and the individual amounts under the 2014-2020 LEADER Programme. [20280/19]

GLAS Issues

Charlie McConalogue

128. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if it is possible under EU parameters to introduce an area based agri-environmental scheme. [20281/19]

Beef Industry

Charlie McConalogue

129. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he has submitted a request to the EU Commission for exceptional or market disturbance aid for beef farmers in view of the significant decrease in prices and incomes since Autumn 2018 from the impact of Brexit. [20282/19]