Results 16,941-16,960 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 538 and 540 together. The total number of applications received under the 2007 and 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Schemes was 106,427 and 104,783 respectively. The number of farmers, who claimed in excess of 34 eligible hectares under the 2007 Scheme, was 35,162 and the amount paid on areas in excess of that limit was €28.4 million. The final figures for the 2008...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Department paid €10.15m to the Animal Collectors in 2007 in respect of the collection of 250,000 animals. The amount paid up to the 30th September 2008 was €10.345m in respect of 251,000 animals. In 2007 €13.64m was paid to four approved plants for the rendering and disposal of 62,000 tonnes of fallen material. In 2008 up to the 30th September 2008 the amount paid was €10.9m in...

Written Answers — Suckler Cow Quota: Suckler Cow Quota (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: In the "Towards 2016" Partnership Agreement, a commitment was made to provide Funding of €250 million in support of a suckler scheme to encourage appropriate development on suckler farms in line with national & EU priorities and to assist adaptation to market requirements. Based on the very significant level of participation, the cost of the scheme, at a rate of €80 per cow, will be some...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (21 Oct 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 as normal.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following table sets out the average number of working days lost per employee in my Department due to sick leave since 2003: Year 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 Average No. of days lost 5.58 4.68 5.89 5.70 4.64

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Ongoing human resource management in Agencies under the remit of this Department is an operational matter for the agencies and I have no function in the matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Cost Neutral Early Retirement (CNER) was introduced by the Minister for Finance in 2005. This is a facility which allows established staff to retire between 50 and 60 and un-established staff to retire between 55 and 65 with immediate payment of pension and lump sum. These benefits are subject to actuarial reduction to take account of early payment of the lump sum and the longer period over...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Ongoing human resource management in Agencies under the remit of this Department is an operational matter for the agencies themselves. Grade 2005 Age 2006 Age 2007 Age 2008 Age H.E.O. 1 58 1 51 1 54 Clerical Officer 6 44-55 2 47-52 3 52-57 3 46-53 Sup. Ag. Officer 1 59 Tech. Ag. Officer 2 52-59 1 50 1 61 Staff Officer Forestry Inspect. 1 59 Totals 6 — 6 —...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Seafood Development Operational Programme which was adopted by the EU Commission on the 9th September 2008 was allocated €42.26 million of European Fisheries Funds for the period 2007-2013. This Operational Programme will only involve schemes which are co-funded by EFF monies. Following intense negotiations between Department and the EU Commission these co-funded monies were allocated...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The aquaculture licensing function is dealt with by the Coastal Zone Management Division of the Department which is headed by a Principal Officer. There is a substantial backlog in licence applications at present. This is due in large measure to the fact that many of the existing licences were granted for a period of 10 years on foot of the Fisheries (Amendment) Act 1997 and are therefore...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Ireland supports generally initiatives brought forward at EU level in relation to the development of the aquaculture sector. Each individual initiative is examined carefully and a broad view is taken on deciding our position. While we are generally supportive of many of the provisions in the French paper on aquaculture, some aspects were not in line with Ireland's policy position in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Grant aid of €65,280 was paid to the company in question in July 2005. It is a condition of the award of this grant aid that the beneficiary must not dispose of the equipment without the written authorisation of my Department, or abandon the investment, for a period of four years from the date of payment. The company has indicated that it will not dispose of the equipment in question and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person named is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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.

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (21 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department does not have a role in setting prices at meat processing plants. The Sheep Strategy Development Group recommended the introduction of a quality based pricing system and I understand this is currently under discussion between processor and producer representatives. Efforts to increase rewards for better quality animals include trials on mechanical grading which were...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (21 Oct 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. The issue was debated in detail by the Dail last week and all farmers...

Written Answers — Departmental Appointments: Departmental Appointments (16 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: I can confirm that all persons appointed to positions under the Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 were appointed legally and in accordance with the regulations set out in the Act.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (16 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has concerns regarding the works undertaken by Mayo County Council at Achill Sound and specifically that all the terms of the Foreshore consent issued may not have been complied with. My Department's Engineering Division has been in close contact with the Council regarding this matter and has specified certain measures regarding the works which remain to be completed. The works...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: Rather than a single scheme to support sheep farmers, there is a series of measures in place, based on the recommendations of the Sheep Strategy Development Group report. These measures, which were announced by my predecessor, form a comprehensive package of support to address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the sheep industry as a whole. Good progress is being made in...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (16 Oct 2008)

Brendan Smith: The EU Commission is currently conducting a review of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme across the Community. Council has mandated the Commission to conduct the review, with the intention of introducing a new system with effect from 2010. The proposal represents a move away from designation based on socio-economic factors, (declining rural population, low productivity and low farm incomes), to a...