Results 16,661-16,680 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Additional documentation has been requested from the person concerned. Until this documentation is received, the application cannot be processed any further.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My officials have asked the person named to submit her REPS record sheets for examination. This is a normal requirement. The initial request by my officials was made on 19 September last but not all of the required documentation was submitted. My Department wrote again to the person named on 28 October and I understood that the outstanding documents are to be submitted this week. The...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (11 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The original Government decision on the decentralisation of the Department was that some 600 headquarters posts would move to Portlaoise; some 100 posts in the Cork local offices would move to Fermoy; and that some 100 posts in laboratories in Cork and Limerick would move to Macroom. The decision regarding Bord Bia was that it would move to Enniscorthy involving some 80 posts. The Fisheries...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have detailed as follows the number, grade and salary details of staff located in my Constituency and Department Offices who deal with representations from my constituency: Department Office Number of Staff Grade Salary Scale 3* Clerical Officer (Higher Scale) €24,255 to €38,397 1 Personal Secretary €30,566 to €45,416 *Two of whom are involved in work-sharing arrangements. ...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy is set out as follows. Minister of State Sargent Department Office Number of Staff Grade Salary Scale 1 Personal Secretary €46,558 – €64,296 Constituency Office Number of Staff Grade Salary Scale 1 Personal Assistant €46,558 – €64,296 2 Staff Officers €34,941 – €46,342 2 Temporary Clerical Officers €23,174 – €37,660...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (6 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The individual in question originally applied for an Aquaculture Licence on 23 February 2006 and subsequently withdrew the application on 24 January 2008 due to the unsuitability of the site for the cultivation of shellfish. An application for an alternative site was received on 24 January 2008. My Department's advisors have some concerns about the suitability of this site and my Department...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (6 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Officials from my Department together with officials from BIM and the Marine Institute met with representatives of the Dundalk Cockle fishermen recently to discuss the current situation in Dundalk Bay and the possible re-opening of the cockle fishery. It was agreed that BIM and the MI would continue to work closely with fishermen on a management plan for the fishery. I am not aware of...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The European Court of Auditors and the European Commission both carried out audits on REPS earlier this year. The Commission has requested additional information which is currently being collated within my Department and will shortly be forwarded to the Commission. The outcome of the audit will not be known for some time.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department uses the Human Resource Management System (HRMS) to record and monitor absences. This system allows analysis of absence and the production of statistics on total and average number of sick days in a given time period, by grade, and by location, and enables my Department to estimate the direct salary cost of absence. The Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General is currently...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Government, in its announcement of 14th October 2008, advised that it had reviewed the decentralisation programme and identified priority elements on which implementation should proceed. Having considered the progress and commitments already made, the costs involved, the expectations of staff and the business readiness of organisations to transfer to new locations, the Government...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Early Retirement Scheme 2007 was suspended for new applications with effect from 15 October 2008. The limiting of the suspension of the Scheme will be considered at the earliest opportunity but with regard to the general budgetary constraints.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: In deciding my Department's allocation for 2009, I have chosen to protect the Rural Environment Protection Scheme, including the 17% increase in rates, and to ensure that it can continue to accommodate farmers wishing to join in 2009. This reflects the value I place on a scheme that meets environmental imperatives and consumer demands for environmentally friendly food production. The...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: There is no record of an application received in my Department under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS3) 2007 from the persons concerned.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Applications under the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS3) 2007 and the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme received in my Department up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed, and if they are in order payment will be made.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The cost of financing the Early Retirement Scheme for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 is outlined in Table 1: Table 1 Year Expenditure € 2005 61,835,263 2006 54,678,585 2007 53,348,930 Table 2 shows a breakdown by county of applications made under the previous Early Retirement Scheme (2000–2006) and under the current Scheme in the year 2007 (the applications under the current...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. The European Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect this deadline strictly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have made provision of €56.7 million in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming and the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme but for the present, it has been necessary to suspend new applications for these schemes. The limiting of the suspension of the Schemes will be considered at the earliest opportunity having regard to the general budgetary...

Written Answers — Commonage Framework Plans: Commonage Framework Plans (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The issue referred to arises from the implementation of the EU Habitats and Wild Birds Directives, which is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Destocking as set out in the Commonage Framework Plans was implemented in Ireland in 2003. In the light of scientific assessment, in subsequent years, of the condition of one Special...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2008. The Terms and Conditions governing the scheme require, inter alia, that applicants maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare declared for at least three consecutive months. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Press Office functions are carried out by a Press and Information unit of the Corporate Affairs Division in my Department which also performs a range of other functions. The provision and dissemination of information in relation to the wide range of schemes and services operated by my Department to my Department's various stakeholders is a particularly important and central activity of the...