Written Answers Nos. 429-447
  Ash Dieback Threat
  Afforestation Programme
  GLAS Payments
  Coillte Teoranta Lands
  Departmental Staff Data
  GLAS Applications
  Fish Quotas
  Beef Data and Genomics Programme
  Traveller Community
  Single Payment Scheme Payments
  Basic Payment Scheme Appeals
  Public Sector Staff Recruitment
  Departmental Projects
  Departmental Staff Data
  Departmental Staff Data
  Departmental Staff Data
  Departmental Staff Data
  Exports Data

Tuesday, 27 June 2017

Dáil Éireann Debate
Vol. 955 No. 3
Unrevised

Written Answers Nos. 429-447

  Question No. 429 withdrawn.

Ash Dieback Threat

 430. Deputy Joe Carey   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   when he expects the policies and procedures with respect to ash dieback disease to be updated and operational; his plans regarding the reconstitution grant available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29490/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   Chalara or Ash Dieback disease is a disease of ash trees caused by the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus. The first confirmed finding of the disease in Ireland was made on October 2012 at a forestry plantation site in Co. Leitrim which had been planted in 2009 with trees imported from continental Europe.

  The Department introduced a Reconstitution Scheme (Chalara Ash Dieback) in 2013 to restore forests planted under the afforestation scheme which had suffered from or which were associated with plants affected by the disease. The Department has continued to undertake systematic and targeted surveys annually for the disease. In addition to the increase in findings in forest plantations, there is also an increasing diversity of sites where the disease is now being identified (i.e. in terms of provenance, age, area/extent, topography and species mix etc.). Over half the recent findings in forest plantations are in ash trees of native Irish origin.

  The Department has also received considerable feedback from affected landowners, Registered Forester/Forestry Companies, and other forest sector stakeholders, in relation to the increasing prevalence of the disease and aspects of the Reconstitution Scheme.

  A comprehensive review of the overall policy objectives and options of the All-Ireland Chalara Control Strategy has been finalised. As part of the review process the Department committed to revise certain aspects of its policies and procedures around the disease. The outcome of this review does not include an increase in the grant rate for this scheme. However, other changes to the scheme are as follows:

  - The mechanisms and procedures by which infected ash plantations are reported, inspected, sampled, tested, and if confirmed positive progressed for clearance or other disease management works have been streamlined;

  - The use of two different notification letters (one to the forest owner and the other to the Registered Forester on file) has been discontinued, with greater clarity given as to why the forest owners need to undertake the removal and destruction of infected ash trees or other disease control measures, as well as the financial supports available;

  - The rules in relation to where a second instalment afforestation grant is due for payment on a plantation where the disease has been confirmed have been clarified and made less burdensome for both the forest owner and his/her Registered Forester/Registered Forestry Company.

  - The timeframe given in the notification letter, which currently requires a forest owner to remove and destroy the ash trees and undertake any related sanitation actions within 8 weeks of the date of the letter, has been revised to reflect the practicalities for both the forest owner and his/her Registered Forester/Registered Forestry Company.

  A focused consultation with industry stakeholder representatives and other relevant bodies on proposed Scheme changes and related matters has been completed and the changes above have been incorporated into the scheme.

Afforestation Programme

 431. Deputy Joe Carey   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the appeal process available to a person dissatisfied with the issuance of a contract (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29492/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   An application, the subject matter of this Parliamentary Question, was received under the Afforestation Grant and Premium Scheme in October 2016.  The application was referred to the Forest Service District Inspector and the consultation bodies: An Taisce, National Parks and Wildlife Service and Clare County Council.

  Technical Approval, which is not grant approval, issued on 22 May 2017 with strict conditions attached, which are outlined below.  Details of the decision and the approval conditions were issued to those who had made submissions on the application, together with information on making an appeal against the decision, or any aspect thereof, within 21 days (from the date of the decision).

  The date for receipt of appeals has now expired and a number of appeals have been received within the 21-day time limit.  These will be reviewed by the Forestry Appeals Unit and a determination will issue to the appellant and the applicant when the review is complete.

  Conditions attached to the Approval:

  Strict adherence to setbacks from dwellings, roads and aquatic zones is required;

  Plant additional broadleaves along areas that are closer to dwellings;

  Install adequate fire lines in areas adjoining unenclosed lands.

  Specific archaeological conditions:

  A minimum exclusion zone of 30m to be established around the recorded centre point of the fulacht fiadh;

  10m buffer to be established around any remains of the historic structure.

GLAS Payments

 432. Deputy Brendan Griffin   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   his plans to address the delays in GLAS scheme payments for persons (details supplied) in County Kerry; the timeframe for these errors to be resolved; if his officials will communicate with these persons and their agricultural consultant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29524/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   The Department is continuing to review outstanding issues with GLAS applications including issues related to missing documentation and requests from applicants to review decisions made based on available information and data on Departmental databases.  The Deputy has raised queries in relation to specific applications and further details will be forwarded directly to the Deputy on these specific cases.

Coillte Teoranta Lands

 433. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   if Coillte can offer lands for sale, particularly wind farm lands; the process for such sales; the person who would authorise such sales; if he is required to sign off on or give permission for such sales; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29529/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   Coillte was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act 1988 and day-to-day operational matters, such as the management of their forest estate and land transactions, are the responsibility of the company.

The matter was raised with Coillte who advise that Coillte can offer lands, including wind farm lands, for sale and that all sales were approved by the Asset Disposal Committee. They further added that the process followed is in accordance with the requirements of the Forestry Act and the provisions of the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies and in particular the provisions relating to Property Acquisition and Disposal of Surplus Property.

Although I am not required to sign off on individual sales, Coillte as a State owned body, is subject to the Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies. The Code of Practice outlines certain procedures that should be followed in relation to the Disposal of State Assets, the company’s compliance with which is affirmed to me annually by the Chairman of Coillte.

Departmental Staff Data

 434. Deputy Brendan Howlin   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the staffing complement of his Department in whole-time equivalents as at the end of 2016. [29597/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   My Department had a staffing complement of 2963.9 Whole Time Equivalents at the end of 2016.

GLAS Applications

 435. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   when a decision will be made on a review of a GLAS 2 application submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay in issuing a decision on this review; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29638/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   The person named was unable to submit the full application he wished to in respect of GLAS 2 as there was an issue with regards the Natura 2000 designation of a parcel.  The Department was not subsequently in a position to allow a revised application to be submitted for GLAS 2.  The person named submitted and has been approved into the third tranche of GLAS which will provide him with a full five year contract commencing 1 January 2017.

The person named has sought a review of his GLAS 2 application and this review is still on-going and when it is finalised the person named will be contacted.

Fish Quotas

 436. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding mackerel fishing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29650/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   I am taking it that the Deputy is referring to the request I received from the Irish South and West Fish Producer Organisation to allocate the increase over 2016 of Ireland’s mackerel quota for 2017 entirely to the Polyvalent Segment on a 1 year pilot basis in exchange for the recipient vessels forgoing demersal fishing in order to gauge the impact on the demersal vessels.

This matter has generated a lot of discussion in the industry and I have received many representations on the matter. Having carefully considered the matter, I decided that, without prejudice, there is a case for a review of the policy on allocations between the RSW Pelagic segment and the polyvalent segment of the fleet, taking account of request by the IS&WFO. In that regard, I decided that I am restricting consideration to the increased quota for Ireland in 2017 over that in 2016.

It is important to note that I have not made any decision at this time to change the allocations between the segments in respect of this part of the quota. All relevant issues will be carefully evaluated and subject to a full consultation with stakeholders before I decide if any amendment to the policy is justified for the proper and effective management of the mackerel fishery.

The public consultation process concluded on 28 February 2017 and 353 submissions were received. All submissions are currently being evaluated.

To support transparency in this process, all views received on the Consultation Document are now publicly available on my Department’s website where consent for such publication was given by the parties in question.  Following the closure of the formal consultation process, any meeting that may be held with stakeholders will be open to all interested stakeholders that have engaged in the public consultation.

Beef Data and Genomics Programme

 437. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the status of a farm penalty in respect of a person (details supplied). [29663/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   A payment of €1,376.62, exclusive of the cost of genotyping, issued to the person named on 13 December 2016. A further payment of €83.13 was issued recently making a total payment of €1,459.75, exclusive of genotyping costs, under the Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) in respect of scheme year 2016.

  Under the Terms and Conditions of the BDGP calves are required to be retained in the herd until 5 months of age to enable accurate recording of the survey data, in particular the docility and quality of these calves. One of the calves was sold before 5 months of age.

  Department records indicate that the sire of two calves was not moved into the herd in accordance with AIM requirements.

  Non compliance with both of these requirements has resulted in a minor reduction of €26.25 being applied to the gross payment.

Traveller Community

 438. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the position regarding Traveller support and services provided by his Department in each county; the groups, agencies and voluntary bodies involved; the cost of same for each county for the past three years and to date in 2017; his plans to set up an advisory group to report on the minimum levels of support and services from his Department that should be available in each county to address the needs and the rights of Travellers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29686/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   My Department is very supportive of any initiatives for support and services for Travellers. Specifically my Department provides funding to Local Authorities to support the development of facilities for traveller horse owners and to educate young people in these areas in the care and welfare of horses. The training initiatives being pursued will improve employment opportunities for Travellers in the equine industry. Details are provided in the following table. My Department has also funded Pavee Point in 2016 in the amount of €22,700 for a research project on traveller horse ownership.

  In addition my Department is represented on the Department of Justice and Equality led National Traveller and Roma Strategy Steering Group and is responsible for specific actions linked to intergenerational learning, cultural continuity and positive self-identity for Travellers and Roma.

Single Payment Scheme Payments

 439. Deputy Shane Cassells   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the status of payments for a person (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29712/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   An application in respect of the 2013 Single Farm Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 30 September 2013 thus incurring a 100% late penalty as it was outside the time frame allowed. An appeal to waive the 100% penalty has been lodged with my Department.

I have asked my officials to carry out a full review of the material received. Upon completion of this review, an official from my Department will be in direct contact with the person named.

Basic Payment Scheme Appeals

 440. Deputy Sean Fleming   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   when an appeal will be held for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29724/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   The Agriculture Appeals Office has confirmed that the person named lodged an appeal in relation to the Basic Payment Scheme 2015 National Reserve. A decision letter issued to the person named on 6 June 2017 notifying him of the outcome of the appeal. The person named was also advised that it remains open to them to raise any issue with the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman. Alternatively, if the person named considers that an error has been made in relation to the law or the facts of the case he may request a review by the Director of the Agriculture Appeals Office.

Public Sector Staff Recruitment

 441. Deputy Charlie McConalogue   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the status of the publicjobs.ie recruitment campaign for technical agricultural officers; the place on the order of merit from stage 1 of candidates currently being called to stage 2; the number of candidates who have been employed nationally; the number of candidates who have been employed in County Donegal; the number being recruited currently; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29763/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   My Department is currently working with our recruitment partners, the Public Appointments Service to recruit a number of Technical Agricultural Officers (TAOs) to fill critical business needs in a number of locations across the country. To date 32 newly recruited TAOs have been engaged and 1 new recruit has been assigned to the Donegal region.

Departmental Projects

 442. Deputy Niall Collins   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the details and county location of capital projects announced by his Department in March, April, May and to date in June 2017. [29775/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   The information requested by the Deputy is provided in the following tables.

The following capital projects were announced under the Local Authority Harbour Development and Marine Leisure Programme 2017 ( Launched in February 2017)

Departmental Staff Data

 443. Deputy Mick Wallace   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the number of Civil Service clerical officers in full-time employment in his Department as of 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29842/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   The number of civil service clerical officers in full time employment in my Department as of 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form is as follows.

Departmental Staff Data

 444. Deputy Mick Wallace   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officers in his Department who have either retired, resigned or been promoted from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017, by county, in tabular form. [29858/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   The number of full time civil service clerical officers in my Department that have either retired, resigned or been promoted from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017, by county, in tabular form is as follows.

Departmental Staff Data

 445. Deputy Mick Wallace   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the number of full-time Civil Service clerical officer appointments made in his Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29879/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   The number of full time civil service clerical officer appointments made in my Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form is as follows.

Departmental Staff Data

 446. Deputy Mick Wallace   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the number of temporary Civil Service clerical officer appointments made in his Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form. [29900/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   The number of temporary civil service clerical officer appointments made in my Department from 1 January 2015 to 31 May 2017 by county, in tabular form is as follows.

Exports Data

 447. Deputy Charlie McConalogue   asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine   the volume and value of exports of beef, lamb, pig meat and dairy to the USA in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29925/17]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Michael Creed):   The United States has proved to be an important market for Irish pork and dairy in the past decade and exports of beef have developed well since Ireland became the first EU Member State to get market access for beef in January 2015.

  The exports of beef, lamb, pigmeat and dairy to the USA in each of the years 2014 to 2016 and 2017 to date is shown in the following table, based on a combination of CSO and USDA data. No EU Member State has access for sheepmeat and so no exports of lamb have taken place.  Regarding dairy exports, it should be noted that following strong growth between 2014 and 2016, the value of Irish dairy product exports to the United States increased by 26% in the first three months of 2017 versus the same period in 2016.