Results 7,681-7,700 of 7,789 for speaker:Michael Fitzmaurice

Other Questions: Organic Farming Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 11. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if payments to organic farmers processed in the Athenry office, County Galway, will be issued before Christmas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48388/14]

Other Questions: Organic Farming Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: It has been brought to my attention that organic farmers are experiencing problems with receipt of payments, particularly in County Roscommon and western counties. There is a serious problem in Athenry at the moment and it seems the person responsible for signing off on payments in Castlebar is not doing his or her work. Can the Minister update me on whether these farmers will receive...

Other Questions: Organic Farming Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: A farmer with less than 10 hectares of land cannot avail of GLAS.

Other Questions: Organic Farming Scheme Applications (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Christmas is coming, and many of the people to whom we refer are not in the agri-environment options scheme, AEOS, so this is the only payment they will receive. I ask that some of the money be forwarded to them, as it could make it a happy Christmas. Otherwise they will have to simply wait.

Other Questions: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: My understanding from a company in Dundalk which was digitising the maps and from farmers who have been checking it, is that they were told there was a delay whereas the Minister is saying there is not a delay. It is good to know that there is not a delay on the digitising of the maps. Obviously, what the Minister is saying is that other problems are holding up payment.

Other Questions: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I know that takes time. What I am dealing with specifically is the maps. My understanding is that when farmers telephoned asking about their payments they were told the maps were gone for digitisation and were not back and there appeared to be a delay.

Other Questions: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Will the Minister please look into it?

Other Questions: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 6. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the digitisation of all maps will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48389/14]

Other Questions: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Over the past few weeks, it has come to my attention that there are many farmers who have not received their direct aid scheme payments. There seems to be a problem with the digitisation of the maps. Could the Minister inform us when this will be finished and how soon the farmers will be able to get their money? If the digitisation is not done, they obviously cannot get their money.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: They must fit into a category.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: As with the single farm payment, the Minister is facilitating people with designations in the first priority category, which I understand. The second tier includes intensive and arable farmers. If we do not ensure the smaller farmer with up to 70 or 80 acres is included in tier 2, they will be pushed out. Some of these farmers came out pretty badly from the single farm payment system....

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: I am not saying the Minister is discriminating against anyone. If we consider the conditions set down, there is a stipulation for farms to have a whole farm stocking rate exceeding 140 kg livestock manure nitrogen per hectare-----

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: -----or be an arable farmer. If a farmer has 40, 50 or 60 acres but does not fit the criteria - it may be bad land - is there a facility to enter the scheme? I do not think such farmers can get into it.

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 3. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if tier 3 farmers are eligible to apply for the green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme; if the funding is in place to facilitate these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48481/14]

Ceisteanna - Questions - Priority Questions: Green Low-carbon Agri-environment Scheme (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Many farmers around the country who do not fall into the priority 1 and priority 2 categories under the new green low-carbon agri-environmental scheme, GLAS, are very anxious. Many of these farmers were in REPS. They have small farms of 30, 40, 50 or 60 acres. Currently, they are very concerned that they are not in a position to go into the first or second priority categories. Are tier 3...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Commonage Framework Plans (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 16. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if, in his discussion with hill sheep farmers, he will accept their proposals for the forthcoming GLAS and permit them to apply individually for the scheme on commonage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48390/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 26. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will make provision to allow farmers who own 10 ha of land to qualify for both GLAS and organic farming payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48387/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agrifood Sector (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 27. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will formulate a policy akin to that implemented by the former Land Commission to help maintain the viability of small family farms and thereby prevent the further depopulation of rural Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48391/14]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Grant Payments (18 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: 196. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if those involved in the young/old farmer, between 2008 and 2012, will be provided priority for single farm payment and installation aid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48482/14]

Topical Issue Debate (Resumed): Special Protection Areas Designation (17 Dec 2014)

Michael Fitzmaurice: Did the Minister of State hear what the Deputy said? In 2010, the Government stopped payments. Anybody could be on REPS, whether or not they are dedicated.