Written Answers

12 February 2013 Written Answers. The following are questions tabled by Members for written response and the ministerial replies as received on the day from the Departments [unrevised]. Questions Nos. 1 to 18, inclusive, answered orally. Questions Nos. 19 to 114, inclusive, resubmitted. Questions Nos. 115 to 122, inclusive, answered orally. 12/02/2013WRA00550Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments 12/02/2013WRA00600123. Deputy Seán Ó Fearghaíl asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of persons who applied for a derogation under the stocking density rules of the 2012 disadvantaged area scheme; the number who have been granted a derogation to date; the number refused and the number of outstanding appeals to be dealt with; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6993/13] 12/02/2013WRA00700Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): It will be recalled that, arising from the 2012 budgetary process, savings needed to be found in my De- partment’s expenditure for 2012 to keep it in line with government targets. Accordingly, it was necessary to adjust the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. However, rather than simply apply an across the board cut to the rates payable or reduce the maximum payable area, I decided that real efforts should be made to focus the Scheme on those farmers who are most actively contributing to achieving the aims of the Scheme, namely: ensuring continued agricultural land use, thereby contributing to the maintenance of viable rural communities; maintaining the countryside; and maintaining and promoting sustainable farming systems, which take account of environmental protection measures. I was also determined that those adversely affected by the 2012 changes should be afforded the opportunity to appeal, where they could show legitimate reasons for their inability to meet the new requirements. In total, my Department wrote to in excess of 10,000 beneficiaries under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme whose holdings had not achieved the minimum stocking density of 0.3 livestock units per forage hectare, as required under the Terms and Condi- tions of the 2012 Scheme. Provision was made for an appeals process to take account of a variety of situations, specifi- cally: Restriction on the stocking levels on the holding due to adherence to an agri-environments plan such as REPS, AEOS or National Parks and Wildlife Service plan; Farming marginal land where the level of stock that can be maintained is restricted; Illness or death in family; Outbreak 101 Questions - Written Answers of animal disease in the herd; New entrant to farming. In response, my Department received 9,635 applications from farmers seeking derogation from the requirement that the minimum stocking density on the holding should be 0.3 livestock units per hectare or higher in respect of 2011. These applications have been fully processed, with 7,086 being successful. Those, whose applications were unsuccessful, were informed of their right of appeal to the independently chaired DAS Appeals Committee. Appeals were received from 1,459 applicants, of which my Department was in a position to overturn the original decision on 547 cases, without the need to refer to the DAS Appeals Committee, on the basis of additional information which had not previously been submitted. Of the 849 appeals submitted to date to the Committee, decisions have been taken in respect of 599 cases, of which 192 were allowed, 351 disallowed and 56 requested to submit additional information. Processing of the outstanding appeals remains ongoing. 12/02/2013WRA00750Animal Slaughtering Standards 12/02/2013WRA00800124. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the procedures in place regarding the slaughtering of horses here where the horsemeat is subsequently exported; the control mechanisms that are in place in relation to the traceability of this horsemeat if it is imported back into Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6915/13] 12/02/2013WRA00900Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): All slaughter plants which are approved under the relevant EU food safety regulations, known collectively as the ‘Hygiene Package’, are entitled to export the meat they produce. EU law provides for the free movement of goods between Member States. On that basis, meat and meat products, such as horsemeat, produced in an approved establishment, can be moved freely within the EU. Re- sponsibility for compliance with EU food safety and traceability requirements rests in the first instance with food business operators (FBOs). FBOs must have a system in place to identify the source of inputs and destination of outputs (commonly referred to as “one step forward and one step back”). The regulatory requirements are designed to ensure that meat produced in approved slaughter plants is suitable for human consumption. The same legislation applies across the EU and the same controls will apply if horsemeat is imported back into Ireland. All equines (which include horses, ponies and donkeys) are required to be identified in ac- cordance with EU and national legislation. An equine for slaughter for human consumption must be accompanied to the slaughterhouse by its passport. The passport includes information on any veterinary medicines administered to equines. The information on the passport deter- mines whether the animal can be slaughtered for human consumption. My Department has detailed procedures for the slaughter of horses in abattoirs under its su- pervision and has communicated these and the checks required both to its staff and the business operators. It has liaised with passport issuing agencies in Ireland and has developed protocols to allow abattoir operators to check the details of passports with these agencies to seek to ensure that they are valid and that only those horses eligible for slaughter are slaughtered. Where forged or tampered passports accompanying horses to slaughter are detected, it is the policy that such animals are destroyed and removed from the food chain. 102 12 February 2013 An annual audit of meat products is carried out in each Department approved meat plant. The audit includes physical identity, labelling and documentary checks. This includes product originating both in EU Member States and third countries. In addition, labelling and documentary checks form part of the routine checks conducted by Department officials. 12/02/2013WRB00200Suckler Cow Quota 12/02/2013WRB00300125. Deputy John Browne asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide the expenditure in 2011 and 2012 on the suckler cow welfare scheme; the esti- mated expenditure on suckler cow schemes in 2013 and 2014 based on the existing suckler cow welfare scheme and the new scheme he announced before Christmas; if he intends to maintain the expenditure on suckler cow schemes at the 2012 levels; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6960/13] 12/02/2013WRB00400Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The Suckler Welfare Scheme was a five-year Scheme for beef breed animals born during the period 1 Janu- ary 2008 and 31 December 2012 in herds owned by eligible participants. This Scheme was fully funded by the Exchequer. In the context of Budget 2013, I announced that, given the existing Scheme had reached the end of its projected life and achieved its aim, I had secured funding for a new support programme for suckler beef farmers to participate in a Beef Data Programme. A total of €10 million has been allocated for this programme in 2013, which is financed from unspent Single Farm Payment Funds. This programme will assist farmers in improving the genetic quality of Irish cattle and will maintain the data flow into ICBF in order to build further knowledge and more rapid progress in breeding and ultimately in profitability for farmers. In terms of support for the beef sector, I also announced that the Beef Technology Adoption Programme would be retained for 2013. This Programme, which provides for funding of €5m this year, will continue to provide farmers with better information to increase profitability on farms. In excess of €150 million has been paid to participants in the Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme since its inception. Payments amounting to €30 million were made during 2011 and a further €27.4 million during 2012. I have also made funding of €10 million available in 2013 to continue to make payments for animals, born before 31 December 2012, that become eligible during 2013. My Department believes that this provision will be sufficient to cover outstanding liabilities under the Scheme, given that payment has already been made, where possible, on animals born between 1 January 2008 and 31 December 2011. As regards those animals born in 2012, it will be some time yet before the final picture emerges given the need to establish that the qualifying criteria have been complied with, particularly the weaning requirement. In total, therefore, taking account of the other initiatives to which I have referred, a total of €25 million has been earmarked to support the beef sector in 2013. I believe that this repre- sents a significant achievement in the current challenging budgetary situation and reflects the Government’s commitment to the sector. As regards 2014, it is too early to comment meaning- fully in any specific terms, and I will review the matter in light of the budgetary situation and competing demands as preparation for the 2014 budgetary cycle commences. 103 Questions - Written Answers 12/02/2013WRB00500Animal Welfare Issues 12/02/2013WRB00600126. Deputy Michael P. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of sport horses here; the controls in place to ensure animal and human health in relation to these horses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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