Ceisteanna Parlaiminte

GLAS Applications

Charlie McConalogue

385. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19892/18]

Bord Bia Staff

Charlie McConalogue

387. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new staff hires and replacement staff, respectively, recruited in Bord Bia since the Brexit referendum in June 2016 by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19949/18]

State Bodies Data

Charlie McConalogue

388. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of new staff hires and replacement staff recruited since the Brexit referendum in June 2016 in State agencies and bodies under his aegis (details supplied) by year, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19950/18]

State Bodies Funding

Charlie McConalogue

389. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of funding allocated to Bord Bia, Bord Iascaigh Mhara, Teagasc and the Marine Institute by capital and current allocations in each of the years 2014 to 2017 and to date in 2018. [19951/18]

Live Exports

Charlie McConalogue

390. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the amount of revenue that would be forgone in each category (details supplied) in the livestock sector if the fee amount for each was reduced by percentages, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19952/18]

Nitrates Action Programme Implementation

Charlie McConalogue

401. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Exchequer funding allocated for the nitrates action programme in each of the years 2018 to 2021; the 2018 funding allocation, by current and capital funding; the number of full- and part-time staff working directly on the programme in his Department; and the annual running costs, including staffing costs, for his Department, in tabular form. [20174/18]

Departmental Programmes

Charlie McConalogue

402. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the Exchequer funding allocated to the sustainability support and advisory programme in each of the years 2018 to 2021; the 2018 funding allocation, current and capital; the number of full- and part-time staff working directly on the programme in his Department; and the annual running costs, including staffing costs, for his Department, in tabular form. [20176/18]

Agriculture Schemes

Charlie McConalogue

403. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to introduce a scheme for farmers to further reduce ammonia and nitrogen emissions following the completion of the projects (details supplied); and if his officials carried out exploratory work in this regard for potential schemes and associated costs. [20178/18]

CLÁR Programme

Charlie McConalogue

429. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development the level of CLÁR funding which will be made available under each strand in 2018; the level of funding under each strand which was granted in 2016 and 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19726/18]

CLÁR Programme

Charlie McConalogue

430. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when a decision regarding the 2018 CLÁR funding allocations will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19727/18]

Nitrates Action Programme Review

Charlie McConalogue

495. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the Exchequer funding allocated to the nitrates action programme in each of the years 2018 to 2021; the 2018 funding allocation by current and capital funding; the number of full and part-time staff working directly on the programme in his Department; and the annual running costs, including staffing costs, for his Department in tabular form. [20175/18]

Departmental Programmes

Charlie McConalogue

496. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government the Exchequer funding allocated to the sustainability support and advisory programme in each of the years 2018 to 2021; the 2018 funding allocation by current and capital funding; the number of full and part-time staff working directly on the programme in his Department; and the annual running costs, including staffing costs, for his Department in tabular form. [20177/18]

Consumer Protection

Charlie McConalogue

125. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation if her attention has been drawn to certain commercial practices in the car rental industry which have been rejected by Governments in other states (details supplied); the steps she is taking to address them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19388/18]

GLAS Data

Charlie McConalogue

214. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in receipt of GLAS 1, 2 and 3 who have received their 2017 balancing payment by county in tabular form; the number of persons that have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting the 2017 balancing payment; the number of GLAS recipients that have yet to receive the 2017 balancing payment by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19405/18]

Agri-Environment Options Scheme Data

Charlie McConalogue

215. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons in receipt of AOES payments who have received the 2017 balancing payment by county in tabular form; the number of persons that have passed all payment approval checks and are awaiting the 2017 balancing payment; the number of AOES recipients that have yet to receive the 2017 balancing payment by county; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19407/18]

Commonage Framework Plans

Charlie McConalogue

216. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to lift the requirement that final commonage plans must be in place before the final 15% GLAS 2017 payment is made due to serious cash flow difficulties on hill farms due to the fodder crisis. [19408/18]

Hospital Services

Charlie McConalogue

291. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health his plans to provide a clinic in Letterkenny University Hospital for the administration of injections for macular degeneration (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18958/18]

Medicinal Products Availability

Charlie McConalogue

319. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the status of the provision of a drug (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19115/18]

GLAS Payments

Charlie McConalogue

326. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in respect of a GLAS payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18642/18]

Community Services Programme

Charlie McConalogue

405. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Rural and Community Development when the community services programme administered through Pobal will be open to new applications; if a Tidy Towns committee will be eligible to apply for staff through this programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18966/18]

Common Agricultural Policy Review

Charlie McConalogue

1. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps he is taking at European Union level to ensure a fully funded Common Agricultural Policy post 2020 and to prevent cuts to the existing budget in the next programme over 2021 to 2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18460/18]

Brexit Supports

Charlie McConalogue

29. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the operational details of the various Brexit loan schemes announced in budget 2018 for farmers, fishermen and food businesses in 2018; and when it will open for applications. [18297/18]

Trade Agreements

Charlie McConalogue

38. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the latest Mercosur talks at EU level; and the steps he is taking to protect beef farmers here by ensuring that beef does not form part of the final Mercosur deal. [18299/18]

GLAS Data

Charlie McConalogue

44. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the breakdown between the number of farmers who have received their 2017 GLAS 1, 2 and 3 and AEOS advanced and balancing payment; the number who have not received their advance and balancing payment in tabular form; if all information technology issues have been addressed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18300/18]

Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations

Charlie McConalogue

45. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the steps is he taking at EU level to build support for a fully funded CAP post 2020; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18296/18]

Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Review

Charlie McConalogue

47. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the ANC review with regard to redesignation using a set list of bio-physical criteria; if the new approach must be introduced from January 2019; if his Department completed mapping of all ANC lands; the specific actions that have been completed to date by officials; the actions that remain outstanding; the timeframe for remaining actions; and when final ANC data will be submitted to the EU Commission in 2018. [18298/18]

Trade Agreements

Charlie McConalogue

168. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the trade agreement agreed in principle between the EU and Mexico; the offensive and defensive interests for Irish agriculture in this deal; the increased market access in quantitative terms for European agriculture produce in each sector including the import duties and tariff rate quotas that will apply for exports into Mexico; and the market access in quantitative terms for Mexican agriculture produce in each sector including the import duties and tariff rate quotas that will apply for its exports into the EU. [18479/18]

Ministerial Meetings

Charlie McConalogue

169. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the bilateral meetings he has had since 1 January 2018 with agriculture Ministers from other member states in which he discussed CAP funding post 2020; the date of each meeting in which this was raised, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18480/18]

Common Agricultural Policy Negotiations

Charlie McConalogue

170. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on a report (details supplied) that the European Commission will propose a cut of 6% in CAP funding; and his further views on national co-funding of Pillar 1 or a higher co-funding of Pillar 2 to make up a shortfall in CAP funding as some farm organisations have proposed. [18481/18]

Trade Agreements

Charlie McConalogue

171. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his views on the fact that the EU has moved to ban imports from 20 Brazilian meat plants; and his plans to ensure that his counterparts at EU Council level reject a Mercosur agreement that has beef and poultry as a component. [18482/18]

Agriculture Scheme Administration

Charlie McConalogue

172. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the date under EU CAP regulations that all balancing payments under RDP schemes such as GLAS and sheep welfare must be issued for eligible participants in a calendar year. [18483/18]

EU Funding

Charlie McConalogue

173. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of the ex ante assessment for the use of financial instruments in the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund operational programme; the timeframe for completion; if the evaluation will be published; the number of the seven ex ante assessment steps which have been completed to date from the financial instruments in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18484/18]

Agriculture Schemes

Charlie McConalogue

174. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an overview of the sustainability support and advisory programme; and the criteria for interested applicants. [18485/18]

GLAS Data

Charlie McConalogue

175. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of GLAS+ participants; and when their contracts will end. [18486/18]

European Investment Bank Loans

Charlie McConalogue

176. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when farmers will be able to access the €400 million fund to support investment in Europe’s agricultural sector via the European Investment Bank; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18487/18]

Food Labelling

Charlie McConalogue

177. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position of Ireland in respect of draft EU origin labelling legislation. [18488/18]

Vacant Sites Levy

Charlie McConalogue

249. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government his plans to issue a circular clarifying the criteria regarding the vacant site levy designation for agricultural land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18525/18]

National Broadband Plan Implementation

Charlie McConalogue

37. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the status of the commitment to provide high-speed broadband to each house and business in County Donegal; the deadline for same; the number of homes and businesses which have access to high-speed broadband; the number of additional homes and businesses which received access to high-speed broadband in 2017; the number which will receive access in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17842/18]

Disabled Drivers and Passengers Scheme

Charlie McConalogue

89. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance his plans to amend the criteria for the disabled drivers and passengers scheme; his further plans to make amendments following recommendations from the Ombudsman (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18242/18]

GLAS Payments

Charlie McConalogue

189. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a GLAS payment will issue to a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18241/18]

Road Projects Status

Charlie McConalogue

50. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the progress of the A5; the details of his engagement with his counterpart in Northern Ireland on this project; the funding that will be made available for this project; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17764/18]

Road Projects Status

Charlie McConalogue

53. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the status of the Bonagee link road project in County Donegal; when the project will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17765/18]

Schools Building Projects Status

Charlie McConalogue

170. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills the status of a school project (details supplied); if the project will go to construction in 2019; if the funding required will be ring-fenced in view of the recent announcement of 40 new school projects for the east of the country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17404/18]

Student Grant Scheme Eligibility

Charlie McConalogue

230. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Education and Skills if there are supports offered to assist a person (details supplied) with the cost of an online masters degree which will be accredited by an Irish university; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17831/18]

Hospitals Funding

Charlie McConalogue

94. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health if approval will be forthcoming for a request for additional funding of €1.8 million from Letterkenny University Hospital to enable it to open an additional 20 bed ward and staff it appropriately in order to address a chronic issue with persons waiting on trolleys for hospital admission; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16351/18]

Hospitals Funding

Charlie McConalogue

99. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Health the engagement he has had with the HSE and Saolta in relation to a request to make additional funding of €1.8 million available to Letterkenny University Hospital to hire the staff necessary to enable it to open an additional 20 bed ward; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16352/18]

EU Budget Contribution

Charlie McConalogue

117. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Finance if he will address a matter (details supplied) relating to an increase in the overall contribution to the EU budget as a percentage of GDP. [17278/18]

Beef Exports

Charlie McConalogue

281. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the timeframe for finalising a veterinary health certificate with the general administration of quality, supervision and quarantine, AQSIQ, for Irish beef access to China; when an inspection visit by the Chinese certification and accreditation administration to approve individual processing plants for export will take place in 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17267/18]

Beef Exports

Charlie McConalogue

282. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the progress made on receiving access for Irish meat products such as beef, lamb and pigmeat to China; the remaining stages in the approval process outstanding; and the approximate timetable for all stages to be completed and full access granted. [17268/18]

Farm Data

Charlie McConalogue

283. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the average age of a farmer in Ireland; the average EU age in this regard; and the number of farmers by age group (details supplied) in tabular form. [17269/18]