mawaskow/irish_forestry_incentives huggingface dataset:
 Where a breach of cross - compliance requirements (GAEC, SM Rs) is detected or cross reported the penalty will be cumulative with any other specific breaches of OFS found.
 Any breaches of Cross Compliance detected on inspection will be cross reported and may lead to appropriate penalties on your SPS, DAS, REPS, AE OS, BFCP payments.
 In addition to the Scheme specific penalties, reductions/penalties as per SPS/IACS rules will be applied to area over -declarations.
Annex 5 – Penalties applicable to the 2012 Organic Farming Scheme Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 79 Annex 5 cont inued - Organic Farming Scheme Penalty Schedule (2012) Non-Compliance Scheme Penalty Livestock manure applied in excess of 170 kgs / Organic Nitrogen per hectare per annum 100% Use of Prohibited Pesticides 50% Use of Prohibited Chemical Fertilisers 50% Inadequate segregation/separation of conventional and organic enterprise/lands on farm 20% Increased output/income as per Business Plan not demonstrated 10% Where there is partial conversion of the holding: For crop production : the same species or not easily identifiable variety sown.
For animal production : Same species of animal on both holdings 50% 50% Products not sold as organic despite favourable market conditions 10% Failure to keep records as required 20% Use of non -organic seed /vegetative propagating material where not permitted 20% Use of allopathic (conventional) medicines where not permitted 20% Use of non -organic feed where not permitted 20% Origin of livestock not in conformity with requirements of the regulation 20% Animal housing not meeting minimum requirements of the regulation 20% Green Cover Option: not abiding by requirements 100% to apply to Green Cover Option annual payment.
Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 80 Annex 6 - Organic Farming Scheme Application Checkl ist 2013 (Admin HQ) Name: ______________________ Reps No: ______________________ Herd No: ___________ ___________ OFS Ref: OFS-RS-_______________ 1.
Date application sent to AAI for Processing of Business Plan : ___/____/____ CO Signature: ______ ______________________________ Date : ___________ Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 81 Annex 7 - Organic Farming Scheme Business Plan Check List 2013 Name: ______________________ Reps No: ______________________ N/A Herd No: ___________ ___________ OFS Ref: OFS-RS-_______________ Section A: Admin 1. Business plan submitted on required template form ?
Does the declared Income units accurately reflect the current farming enterprises (check DAFM database SPS, AIMS, AHCS Yes No Annex 7 – Organic Farming Scheme Business Plan Checklist 2013 Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 82 3.
Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 83 Annex 8 - Organic Farming Scheme Application Check List 2013 (Admin Local Office) (File to Local Office) Name: __________________ Reps No: __________________ Herd No: __________________ OFS Ref: __________________ 1.
Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 84 Annex 9 - Organic Farming Scheme A Checklist 2013 OFS A Checklist (Initial calculation of payment) Insert Year of payment, ie either 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 Applicant(s) Name:_______________________________REPS No______________ CO Section YeS NO N/A 1.
  Annex 9 – OFS A Checklist 2013 Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 85 Section B 1.
Has the applicant applied for his final year payment       3.
If there is grassland on OFS 1, does AHCS system indicate that further investigation is required before Initial Annual payment (75%) is made.
If yes , there is no further processing for Initial Annual payment (75%) until OFS2 is lodged    8.
Has applicant applied for green cover payment.
If yes, reject for green cover payment.
Where applicant is in REPS, has any Linnet (SM5) or Riparian Zone (SM4) area(s) been deducted from OFS area prior to calculation of Eligible Area For Payment    13.
On checking SPS has applicant indicated that any leased lands should be included for Organic Payment.
If yes, does the OFS 1 state that leased land is planned for a minimum of 5 years from the commencement date of the organic farming scheme    15.
Have all relevant details been entered on OFS 5M and spreadsheet and total payment calculated    21.
The payment, based on the income forgone and costs incurred, is higher for the two year conversion period which involves higher costs for the farmer eg during the conversion period there is no premium from the ma rket for in -conversion products notwithstanding that inputs are more costly and output is lower.
Participants in OFS are contractually bound to participati on for a minimum of five years, and are awarded an annual area based payment.
The annual are a based payment for the conversion period is €212/hectare per annum with the remainder of the contract period (maintenance cost) returning €106/ hectare per annum.
Failure to comply with the scheme terms and conditions will result in an appropriate penalty/sanction.
Serious breaches of Scheme conditions may lead to termination of participation and/or exclusion from the Scheme for a period commensurate with the serio usness of the breach, and the refund of monies already paid.
Monetary penalties will include interest payable at the rat e provided for under SI No 13 of 2006.
Where monetary penalties are not paid or recovered within the period requested, the Department may take whatever further action is deemed necessary for their recovery 3.
Where the percentage over -claim is greater than either 2ha or 3% (whichever is the less) but not more than 20% of the area determined, a penalty of double the difference applies — the difference in area found is doubled and the penalty is calculated using the applicable rate of payment 7.
Signed:______________________SAO Date ____________ Annex 9 – OFS A Checklist 2013 Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 86 DS Section .
If Maximum Area Finalisation Letter (MAFL) has been returned have any penalties been imposed?
Has OFS 5M and spreadsheets been completed and forwarded to Organic Unit for payment   4.
Date: _____________________ Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 87 Annex 10 – Annual Declaration of Farming Activity - OFS 2 - Payment for Year 2013 This form MUST BE completed and returned to your Local Office by 28th February 2014 , otherwise a penalty of 1% per working day will apply to the Organic Farming Scheme payments.
If the delay in submission of the OFS 2 amounts to more than 25 calendar days, the application shall be deemed inadmissible and no aid shall be granted for the 2013 year.
In this case, only complete Name and Address, AEOS/ BFCP box, REPS/Organic Farming Scheme No, and Declaration by Applicant.
I/we agree to observe and be bound by the Terms and Conditions of the scheme and to make available all required in formation to the Department of Agriculture, Food & the Marine .
I/we understand that it is the applicant's re sponsibility to acquaint himself/herself with the conditions of the Scheme.
Signature (applicant1 ): Signature (applicant 2 ): Date : _________ 1 For the first year complete from month of commencement of the Organic Farming Scheme and thereafter from the calendar year 2 Female or male horses of 2 years or older, with passport, in the organic operator's name indicating eligibility for human consumptio n and certified as organic by OCB.
Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 88 Annex 11 – Organic Farming Scheme Value For Money Review Stakeholder Consultation Summary Date : 21 August 2013 Location: Department of Finance, Tullamore, Co. Offaly VFM Review Steering Group Representatives: Brendan Ingoldsby, Dan Clavin, Kevin McGeever, Joan Furlong, Noel Collins, Fintan O’Brien, Frank Macken, N iamh Callaghan Group 1: John Purcell, John Flahavan , Mary Buckley, Vincent Cleary, Geoff Hamilton, Padraic Divilly Group 2: Gavin Lynch, Organic Trust, Gillian Westbrook, IOFGA Group 3: Pat Booth, Grace Maher, John Liston, E Mackey, Pat Lalor The consultation focus ed on six questions as follows : 1.
Are the s tated objectives of the Scheme still valid or should they be amended ?
The combined summarised responses of the various groups in respect of the above questions were: Q 1 Are the stated objectives of the Scheme still valid or should they be amended?
Annex 11 – VFM Review Stakeholder Consultation Summary Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 89 The general consensus from the stakeholder consultation was that organic farming systems do deliver in respect of enhanced environmental benefits and in respect of enhanced animal welfare benefits but that it is difficult to quantify the contribution specifically made by the OFS.
The conclusion reached was that the OFS has not convinced enoug h farmers to convert to organics and that the current payment rates do not provide sufficient incentive to encourage farmers to convert or to stay in organic production.
Notwithstanding this criticism, all the stakeholders emphasised that without the schem e farmers would not even consider coming into organic production and therefore that the Scheme is critical to longevity of organic product ion in Ireland.
It was highlighted however that the Scheme has failed to make a significant contribution to meeting the demand for organic horticultural produ ce.
Annex 11 – VFM Review Stakeholder Consultation Summary Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 90 Q4 In your experience of the OFS are there elements of the administration of the OFS which could be improved/made more efficient ?
Group 1 had no issue with administration of Scheme.
A suggestion was made that funding for the course within the payment structure of the Scheme would be welcome and on a par with previous schemes such as REPS. Group 2 stated that the date of opening of the scheme should be regularised to maximise opportunity to apply.
Department representative pointed out that the opening of the Scheme is dictated by confirmation of budget available.
This group also stated the fact that OFS is paid late/last in the overall list of schemes causes a huge pr oblem for the Sector.
A common recommendation was that a n increase in payment rates would attract more applicants.
The importance of compatibility with other schemes was raised to ensure that OFS participants are not excluded from participation by virtue of their participation in OFS.
More diversity within payment re gime on a crop g roup basis was also suggested.
The need for greater emphasis within Government policy was highlighted an d the need for higher payment rates to attract in more farmers.
Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 91 Annex 12 – Organic Farming Scheme Value For Money Review – Efficiency Staff Questionnaire June 2013 To: XXX Unit The Department is currently carrying out a Value for Money Review on the Organic Farming Scheme.
The Review of the Organic Farming Scheme forms part of the Department’s ongoing focus on increased efficiency and effec tiveness in public expenditure, and is one of a series of reviews which the Department has being undertaking in recent years.
As part of the Review, an examination of the efficiency with which the Scheme is administered is required.
This examination will look at a number of aspects of efficiency including the timeliness, throughput and cost of the Scheme.
In relation to the cost element, it will be necessary to compile data in relation to the staffing costs associated with the Scheme.
Accordingly, I wou ld appreciate if you could fill out the questionnaire attached in relation to the staffing costs associated with the Organic Farming Scheme in your Division.
National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport Low Emission Vehicle Incentivisation Taxation Policy T3, T4, T7, T19, T20 A commitment to have no new non -zero emission vehicles sold in Ireland after 2030 and no NCT certificate issued from non- zero emission cars post 2045 As Above Delivering priority public transport programmes including BusConnects, LUAS Green Line Capacity Enhancement, DART Expansion Programme and Metro Link so that increased transport demand is met by greener public transport.
In certain cases it may not be the case that a ring -fenced staffing resource is committed specifi cally to work on the Organic Farming Scheme.
Fintan O’Brien, Economics and Planning Division, Pavilion B, Grattan Business Park, Portlaoise Annex 12 –Efficiency Staff Questionnaire Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 92 Staff Costs Questionnaire Organic Farming Scheme Section A – Background Information Division: ________________________________________________ Name of officer filling out questionnaire: _______________________ Contact phone number for officer:____________________________ Area of responsibility of officer: _____________________________ Please outline briefly the nature of your Division’s involvement wi th the Organic Farming Scheme: ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section B – Identification of Staff costs Please state below details in relation to the number of staff in your division dealing with the Organic Farming Scheme in 2012.
of staff at t hat grade ______ % of their time on OFS work ________ Annex 12 –Efficiency Staff Questionnaire Value for Money Review of the Organic Farming Scheme Page | 93 Please indicate below whether there is any reason why the staffing resources committed to the Organic Farming Scheme may be significantly higher or lower than the levels in previous years _______ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Section C – Identification of Other Costs If staff in your Division had to undertake overtime directly attributable to the Organic Farming Schem e during 2012, please estimate the annual cost of this overtime: _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ If staff in your Division had to incur Travel and Subsistence costs directly attributable to the Organic Farming Scheme during 2012, please estimate the annual costs of these expenses: _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Please outline any additional details which you feel may be relevant to the exercise of quantifying the cost of administering the Organic Farm ing Scheme in DAFM _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ END
The plans will see each local authority actively translating national climate policy to local circumstances with the prioritisation and acceleration of evidence -based measures , to assist in the delivery of the climate neutrality objective at local and community levels.
•Each LACAP will act as a key instrument to strengthen the links between national and international climate policy and the delivery of effective climate action through place -based climate action 8An Roinn Comhshaoil , Aeráide agus Cumarsáide | Department of the Environment, Climate and CommunicationsLocal Authority Climate Action Plans and CAROs•The four Climate Action Regional Offices (CARO) provide for a coordinated approach on climate action across the local government system and are based on a business case developed by the local authority sector itself, with an initial focus on adaptation.
•The CAROs enable a more coordinated engagement across the whole of Government and will help to build on the experience and expertise which exists across the Local Government sector  9An Roinn Comhshaoil , Aeráide agus Cumarsáide | Department of the Environment, Climate and CommunicationsLocal Authority Climate Action Plans and CAROs•They will facilitate coordination between local authorities to promote the sharing of information , ideas and knowledge and help avoid duplication of efforts and the collaborative development of actions of scale between local authorities.
•Regular updates on the development and delivery on clearly defined KPIs will be required 10An Roinn Comhshaoil , Aeráide agus Cumarsáide | Department of the Environment, Climate and CommunicationsExample: Citizen Engagement, the National Dialogue on Climate Action & Transitioning to a Carbon Neutral Society•Transition will require changes in our society and economy.
Ireland’s International Climate Commitments Ireland also supports climate action in developing countries, in conjunction with developed country partners.
As part of the outcome of COP 21 in Paris, developed countries were urged to scale -up their level of support with a concrete roadmap to achieve the goal of mobilising US$100 billion per year by 2020 for climate action in developing countries.
The majority of this funding supports adaptation and mitigation action in developing countries through the Official Development Assistance budget of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Total funding of €45 million over 2016 and 2017 provided by the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment included support for the Green Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund, as well as to support the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
In addition to financial contributions, Ireland has support ed the IPC C through the hosting of meetings of its various working groups in 2017 and again in 2018 to advance the preparation of the forthcoming Special Report on Climate Change and Land, due to be published in 2019.
In 2017 Ireland joined the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC) Partnership, which promotes the exchange of best practice and expertise between developed and developing countries  8 3.
“sink” means: i. a process or activity (including photosynthesis), whether natural or man- made that contributes to, or assists in, the removal of one or more greenhouse gas es from the earth’s atmosphere, or ii.
an ecosystem or a mechanism (whether natural or man- made), or part thereof, that contributes to, or assists in, the removal of one or more of such gases from the earth’s atmosphere.
The fund will support initiatives that contribute to the achievement of Ireland's climate and energy targets.
The focus of the Climate Action Fund will be to support a broad range of projects that, in the absence of support from the Fund, would not otherwise be developed.
This is a preliminary estimate which will be further refined in the context of the EPA’s annual emissions projections reporting.
Annual National Transition Statement  10 41 Cross -Sectoral Measures  23 42 Annual Sectoral Mitigation Transition Statement - Electricty Generation Sector  26 43 Annual Sectoral Mitigation Transition Statement - Built Environment Sector  31 44 Annual Sectoral Mitigation Transition Statement - Transport Sector  37 45 Annual Sectoral Mitigation Transition St atement - Agriculture, Forestry and Land Use Sector  41 5.
Both the NMP and the NDP explicitly recognise that the reliance solely on Exchequer expenditure schemes is neither affordable nor adequate to meet the scale of the challenge to be addressed, and that climate mitigation action will require a targeted balance between Exchequer -supported expenditure, taxation measures, regulation and behavioural change.
In support of this, the Minister for Finance 13 announced that Ireland is committed to joining the OECD’s Paris Collaborative on Green Budgeting.
These measures would either reduce emissions of methane and nitrous oxide from agriculture or increase the level of c arbon sequestration through additional forestry and bio -energy production.
Further detail on the progress in implementing NDP commitments is set out in the relevant sectoral mitigation statements in section 4, is also included in the Update Report on the National Mitigation Plan Measures , which is published separately 17 Table 1 Key Electricity Sector Investments National Development Plan Commitment Existing National Mitigation Plan Measure NMP Measure Number Decarbonising electricity generation through the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme Alternative Energy Requirement Scheme and Renewable Energy Feed -in-Tariff Schemes 1 -3 RE1, RE2, RE3, RE4 Conversion of Moneypoint electricity generation plant to end the burning of coal by 2025 To arrive at decisions on optimal future low carbon technical solutions for Moneypoint generation plant.
Smart Metering BE21 Development of gas infrastructure projects to support regional and rural development and the low-carbon transition N/A Promotion of less energy intensive/low -carbon heating Support Scheme for Renewable Heat BE20 19 solutions, including biomass, biogas and the electrification of heat.
Support new initiatives in district heating (such as the Dublin Docklands’ District Heating Scheme) in cities and large towns, with a leading role for State bodies, for example, Gas Networks Ireland, and Local Authorities.
Public Transport Efficiency Public Sector Energy Efficiency Strategy Eco-Driving T5, T14, T22 Expand the refuelling network for alternately fuelled vehicles to address freight emissions National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport Encouraging a significant modal shift through greater levels of investment and further development of National Policy Framework on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure for Transport 21 meaningful alternatives to private car uses under the following three major environmentally sustainable transport schemes: new urban cycling and walking routes which will provide additional sustainable travel options to complement increased capacity and faster, higher quality public transport in our main cities; traffic management, bus priority and other smarter travel projects in the five cities; and pilot initiatives for low emitting technologies in the transport sector.
Active Travel Policy National Intelligent Transport Systems Strategy 22 Table 4 Key Agriculture, Forestry and Land -Use Sector Investments National Development Plan Commitment Existing National Mitigation Plan Measure NMP Measure Number Ongoing investment in relevant environmental schemes through Rural Development Programme 2014- 2020, including Beef Data and Genomics Programme, Green Low Carbon Agri -Environment Scheme (GLAS), Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (TAMS), and Organic Farming Scheme.
Forestry Programme 2014- 2020 AF10(A -I) Piloting of ‘climate -smart countryside’ projects to establish the feasibility of the home and farm becoming net exporters of electricity N/A Town -scale pilots of food and Animal Byproducts AF6 23 agricultural waste to gas in agricultural catchments for local gas networks supply and biogas production 41 Cross -Sectoral Measures Carbon P ricing The Government is committed to carbon pricing as a core element of the suite of policy measures to address and reduce greenhouse gas emissions over time.