Results 7,521-7,540 of 18,593 for speaker:Michael Creed

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: European Fund for Strategic Infrastructure (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: In 2014, my Department  contributed projects for inclusion in Ireland's project list as submitted to the “EIB-Commission-Member State "Special Task Force on developing an investment project pipeline in the EU". The possible projects and project areas that were outlined at that time included: - An Agri-Food Loan Fund - Afforestation and the creation of woodland - Capital projects...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme Payments (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: An application under the 2016 Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme was received form the person named on 10 May 2016. Processing of the application has recently been finalised, with payment due to issue to the nominated bank account of the person named shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commissions of Investigation (1 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I wish to advise the Deputy that there have been no commissions of investigation within my Department from January 2004 to date.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: Ireland's rural development programme for 2014 to 2020 is co-funded by the EU's European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development, or EAFRD, and the national Exchequer. The total financial allocation for the period is approximately €4 billion, of which EU support amounts to €2.19 billion with the Exchequer funding the remainder. This significant financial commitment is a key...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I acknowledge and no one disputes the fact that Leader funding is not at the levels it was. That is a consequence of the financial climate in which the European Union found itself. Consequently, the funding for rural development under Leader was reduced significantly. In response, the Government asked how it could focus its limited resources at the front line in terms of valuable projects...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I do not think anything I can say will change the Deputy's narrative or demeanour.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I will. I was in Dún Laoghaire with fisheries local action groups, FLAGs. Deputy McConalogue knows about this because a group in Donegal covers the north west. We allocated funding from the rural development programme of over €12 million to the group. That is a multiple of what it received under the last rural development programme for rural peripheral coastal locations. I...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Rural Development Plan (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: It happened to be launched in Dublin, but the funding is for all the coastal communities from Malin Head to Mizen Head. Tipperary is not included. I did not see the Wild Atlantic way washing the coastline of Tipperary yet, but the funding covers all the coastal communities and is multiples of what it was in previous years.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: Under the rural development regulations, each member state must designate areas eligible for payments under the areas of natural constraints, ANC, scheme.  The ANC scheme replaces the previous disadvantaged areas scheme or less favoured areas scheme. The designation of eligible areas under these schemes to date has been based on a range of socioeconomic factors. From 2018, eligible...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: On the latter point on proper funding, it is something that the Government is committed to. In the programme for Government, we have provided for an additional €25 million in ANC payments in 2018. I appreciate that will not go all the way to make up the cuts in disadvantaged areas that were introduced when Fianna Fáil was last in government, but it is a step in the right...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Areas of Natural Constraint Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I appreciate the Deputy's points. No decisions have been made with regard to how the additional €25 million will be spent in 2018. The funding is additional to current payments. As it said, there will be an appeals system and engagement with stakeholders. That will come within the confines set out by the European Commission in terms of the biophysical criteria. We are several...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Young Farmers Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: In accordance with EU regulations, members states may define additional eligibility criteria as regards appropriate skills and-or training in respect of the national reserve and young farmers schemes. Since the introduction of the single payment scheme in 2005 decisions relating to the national reserve, including decisions on objective criteria, are taken in consultation with the direct...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Young Farmers Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: Successive Ministers in previous Administrations have always stipulated the educational qualification of young farmers as a criterion. We have to notify the Commission that it is an additional requirement that we are imposing so that our requirements are compatible with its requirements. The Commission has always approved the requirements that we, exercising a domestic competence, add to...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Young Farmers Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I must emphasise a point which appears to be lost on the Deputy, whether deliberately or otherwise. These entitlements are a valuable resource that farmers own. This is not Exchequer funding, so if we want to create a national reserve, we have to take it from other farmers. In targeting it at others, we have to ensure that we are targeting it appropriately, that is, at active and trained...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Young Farmers Scheme (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: These objective criteria have always been approved by the advisory committee, which is made up of farm advisory services and farmers' representatives. It is only right and proper that they would be assured that it is in the long-term interests of the industry if they are giving something from their members. New and young blood, training and educational qualifications are rational criteria...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: The introduction of a specific coupled payment for suckler cows from pillar 1 funding would involve a redistribution of funds allocated to farmers under pillar 1. This would necessitate a linear cut across payment to all basic payment scheme beneficiaries.  The annual cost of such a measure would exceed €200 million. Ireland has supported the greater market...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: The Deputy calls for €200 million to be targeted at the beef sector. While I acknowledge the sector has had a difficult year, the Deputy comfortably avoided the issue of where this funding would be found. He indicated it should be allocated from the rural development programme. It must be borne in mind that we have expenditure lines that extend until the completion of the programme...

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: I note the Deputy failed to address the issue I raised. If he calls for something of this nature, he must be specific. He referred to a figure of €200 million. He must indicate whether this money should be taken from the disadvantaged areas scheme or GLAS.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: The European Union has indicated that Ireland's drawdown of rural development programme spending is way ahead of that of all other member states.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Agriculture Schemes (2 Feb 2017)

Michael Creed: The Deputy conveniently ignores that in recent days we re-opened GLAS to bring numbers up to more than 50,000. We are committed to examining the beef data and genomics programme to identify any scope we may have in that regard. However, we are constrained by the commitments we have made in other areas. The Deputy is not being honest with those who are listening to this debate.