Results 16,901-16,920 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 454 and 456 together. All fully completed applications made under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and received by my Department up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed and, if in order, payment will be made. I have no plans at present to reintroduce the Scheme for new applicants.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Early Retirement Scheme (ERS3) 2007 was suspended with immediate effect from the date of the budget. Applications received in my Department up to and including 14 October 2008 will continue to be processed.

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: An Efficiency Review Group has been established in my Department to facilitate a strategic approach in taking the necessary decisions to adhere to our budgetary allocation while also addressing the structural changes which will be necessary to enable my Department to fulfil its wide ranging remit. It is envisaged that this Group will examine all areas/activities in my Department. As this...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned was paid grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme by my Department on 24 October 2008.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant for aid under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. His application for payment is currently being examined within my Department and the outcome will be notified to the person concerned as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: There are two bonus schemes operating in my Department. The first is a scheme of performance-related awards that applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to Secretaries General. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. The table...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Where a valid application has been submitted, advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing REPS 4 can only issue when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the 2008 Single Payment Scheme are completed. This work is still ongoing with a view to beginning payment in November. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department is in ongoing contact with the Property Registration Authority to resolve the problem. Some of the documentation in question has already been provided and the remainder is in the process of being drawn up and will be completed shortly.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: In relation to young farmers, a number of farm tax measures were renewed in Budget 2009. These are part of a number of schemes and reliefs that have been put in place in recent years to bring about improvements in land mobility that will, in turn, improve productivity and efficiency, particularly for young farmers. These reliefs include the renewal of stamp duty relief for four years until 31...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of payees for the past three years under the Installation Aid Scheme is set out in the table. Year 2006 2007 2008 (to date) Payees 615 603 616 941 applications for grant-aid were received by my Department under the most recent version of the Installation Aid Scheme, the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme, prior to its suspension for new applications on 14 October 2008. Of...

Written Answers — Tuberculosis Incidence: Tuberculosis Incidence (29 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Following peer reviewed research studies that demonstrate that the culling of infected badgers leads to a significant reduction in the incidence of TB in the cattle population, it is now recognized that the pre-eminent constraint to eradication of TB in Ireland is the existence of a significant reservoir of infection in wildlife, notably the badger. The published results of, firstly, the East...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application for the person named was received in my Department on 7 July 2008. Following the provision of an additional item of documentation, the application was accepted for processing and is currently being examined. The person named will be informed of the outcome of this examination in due course.

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have set out in the following table the two special advisors appointed to me since my appointment as Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries & Food. Date of appointment Advisor Salary 7th May, 2008 Special Advisor â'¬97,747 plus 10% allowance 7th May, 2008 Press Advisor â'¬97,747

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme was paid to the above-named person on 13 October 2008.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Area Compensatory Allowance Scheme was received from the person named on the 14th May 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, this application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility inspection on the 8th August. The file is currently being processed and it is...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Valid applications received under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed by my Department.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (23 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Since the original decentralisation announcement, my Department made no specific provision for expenditure nor has there been any specific expenditure recorded in relation to the proposed move. The Office of Public Works deals with the acquisition of property for the decentralisation programme and they recently informed my Department that a site had been identified and that a price had been...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (23 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Valid applications received under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed by my Department.

Written Answers — Agricultural Schemes: Agricultural Schemes (23 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The cost of the Suckler Welfare Scheme is €250 million over the five years 2008-2012. The cost will be around €77 million for 2008, at a rate of €80 per cow. There are almost 54,000 suckler farmers currently participating in the scheme, and to remain within the €250 million budget, it will be necessary to reduce the rate of payment in future years by reference to the actual level of...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (23 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The overall cost of incremental pay increases is determined by the numbers of staff qualifying for increments and the stage in the year from which payments are made. Precise information is not readily available but the estimated cost for my Department is as follows: â'¬2,054,200 â'¬2,245,590. Incremental increases awarded by State Agencies which come under the remit of my Department are...