Results 361-380 of 3,701 for speaker:Martin Heydon

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Information and Communications Technology (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department has approximately 70 WAN circuits delivered on DSL over copper. The costings for the WAN circuits on copper lines are approximately €25 per circuit per month. My Department’s Telephony Service uses 587 lines at €20,055.70 per month ex. Vat. My Department has no active copper-based lease lines. The number of lines continues to reduce as the Department move...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: There are currently 171 herdowners with ACRES overpayments outstanding, of which 97 are part of the General stream and 74 are part of the Co-operation stream. As the Deputy may be aware, it was announced in February 2024 that an interim payment would be made to support those Tranche 1 participants who had not yet received their advance payment in respect of 2023. ACRES General...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Horse Racing Industry (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) is a commercial state body established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001, and is responsible for the overall administration, promotion and development of the horse racing industry. Whilst I have not formally met with the CEO of HRI since my appointment, I have met the CEO as part of my wider engagements with the horse racing industry.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Veterinary Inspector is the recruitment level grade within the Veterinary team of my Department. Veterinary Inspectors who are newly recruited into my Department are placed on the Civil Service pay scale which, since March 2025, has a starting point of €68,683 (PPC) €72,468 (Non PPC)

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: My Department operates and maintains six designated State-owned Fishery Harbour Centres, located at Castletownbere, Dingle, Dunmore East, Howth, Killybegs and Ros An Mhíl under statute. The responsibility for the development and maintenance of local authority owned piers, harbours and slipways rests with each local authority in the first instance and their parent Department, the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Since 2020 there are no persons on secondment from consulting firms to my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I propose to take Questions Nos. 389 and 390 together. Data in relation to lengths of time that ACRES payments have been outstanding is not held by my Department. ACRES was implemented on a phased basis, with a commencement date of 1st January 2023 for Tranche 1 participants and 1st January 2024 for Tranche 2 participants. It is important to note that not all outstanding payments are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: As the Deputy has requested, the following table represents the number of farmers in each Co-operation zone awaiting the finalisation of ACRES payments in respect of the 2024 scheme year. These figures also include any participant who has not yet had their 2023 ACRES contract finalised. Burren 330 Donegal 659 East South East ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I understand that the Deputy is referring to the Landscape Action element of the Co-operation approach of the ACRES Scheme. ACRES has been implemented on a phased basis in view of the high level of participation and the range of opportunities available under the Scheme, all of which required the development of new and extensive IT functionality. Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: ACRES is the first scheme of its kind to upscale results-based payments to a national level. This is a significant change in implementing such an innovative and ambitious scheme, and it has come with complexities and challenges. There is significant work involved in the verification of payment claims, and in the calculation and issuing of payments to over 54,000 participants from all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: A total of €247.4 million has been paid to 42,631 participants (25,537 General and 17,094 Co-operation), or 95% of all ACRES participants, in respect of their participation in ACRES in 2023. Consequentially, 2,302 farmers have yet to receive their final payments for 2023. Of these, 2,008 have already received an interim payment of either €4,000 or €5,000, respectively. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: GAEC 2 (protection of carbon rich soils) is a baseline requirement under the CAP regulations and is legally required to be put in place for 2025 as part of the conditionality requirements for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) payment scheme. The proposal which my Department has submitted to the European Commission for approval aims to strike the balance between the vital...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Environmental Schemes (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: GAEC 2 (protection of carbon rich soils) is a baseline requirement under the CAP regulations, and is legally required to be put in place for 2025 as part of the conditionality requirements for the Basic Income Support for Sustainability (BISS) payment scheme. The proposal which my Department has submitted to the European Commission for approval aims to strike the balance between the vital...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Contracts (20 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: I wish to inform the Deputy that my Department has not entered any contract in respect of a hotel (details supplied) or has had any discussions, or received any offers, in respect of using this premises for any reason, since 1 November 2024. As regards the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department, the information requested is an operational matter for the State Bodies themselves. I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (19 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. A strong commitment to improved animal welfare in the greyhound...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Control of Horses (19 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to prioritise equine welfare and to build on existing inspectorate supports across the country, ensuring a consistent approach to dealing with horse welfare. My Department provides funding to local authorities as a contribution towards the costs incurred by them in operation of the Control of Horses Act, 1996. Enforcement of the Act is a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Transport of Animals (19 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: A single lifetime identification document, known as an equine passport, is required for all equines including donkeys. There are 7 passport issuing organisations (PIOs) in Ireland authorised to issue equine passports, 2 of which issue passports for donkeys. My Department has made enquiries with both of these organisations and both have confirmed that they have not received any applications...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (19 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The grant application which is the subject of this parliamentary question is currently being processed. The applicant submitted an application for payment under the National Farm Safety Measure 2024 on 9th October 2024. Officials in my Department are engaging with the applicant regarding their application. Once matters are resolved, the processing of the payment will be completed.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greyhound Industry (19 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a commercial state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine. The question raised by the Deputy is an operational matter for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Breeding (19 Mar 2025)

Martin Heydon: The Department of Rural and Community Development has policy responsibility for the Dog Breeding Establishments Act 2010. The Dog Breeding Establishments Act provides a regulatory framework for the licensing, monitoring and inspection of dog breeding establishments by local authorities and, where a serious and immediate threat exists to public health or animal health and welfare, for the...