Results 17,121-17,140 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The report on the future of the European Sheep Sector to the European Parliament by Mr. Liam Aylward, MEP calls, inter alia, for the introduction of an environmental payment for ewes and I have a positive attitude to this proposal. It was discussed at the recent Limoges conference on the sector in which I participated. The French Presidency are keen to develop measures to help the sector...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The environmental objectives of the Traditional Sustainable Grazing and the Mixed Grazing supplementary measures can be delivered only through a controlled grazing regime. It is possible to undertake these measures only on lands which are under the sole control of the farmer, which excludes commonage. Under the terms of the approved Rural Development Plan a farmer cannot receive payment...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned submitted an application to my Department under the Farm Improvement Scheme on 30 October 2007. These applications are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: I assume the Deputy is referring to the application by the person concerned for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. The claim is being processed by my Department and 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 (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 535 together. The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of €79 million as agreed under the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications had reached this level of funding. 12,675 applications were received from farmers prior to the closing date of the Scheme...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information sought by the Deputy is not available from my Department in the format requested. Data regarding milk producers and quota size is collected and compiled annually in my Department but on a Milk Purchaser (Co-Operative/Dairy) basis rather than on a geographical basis.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned 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 — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Sep 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...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department is that some 600 headquarters staff will move to Portlaoise, the local offices in Cork city will move to Fermoy, involving some 100 staff; and the laboratories in Cork and Limerick will move to Macroom, involving up to 100 staff. The move of the Fisheries function of my Department to Clonakilty, involving over 80 staff, is now...

Written Answers — Compulsory Purchase Orders: Compulsory Purchase Orders (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: None of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department has the power to issue Compulsory Purchase Orders.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Sep 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 strictly respect this deadline.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 542 and 543 together. The following table details the average value of the Single Payment, in respect of the 2007 Scheme, by county: County Average € Carlow 15,149.29 Cavan 7,470.43 Clare 7,943.40 Cork 13,198.27 Donegal 6,028.95 Dublin 14,311.58 Galway 6,741.57 Kerry 7,749.77 Kildare 15,780.47 Kilkenny 16,542.81 Laois 14,171.05 Leitrim...

Written Answers — Farm Income: Farm Income (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 544 and 545 together. Information on retail prices is compiled by the Central Statistics Office. However, the information requested by the Deputy is not available.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: 12,675 applications were received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 of which 487 were received in County Waterford. These applications are currently being processed up to the level of funding available. €0.014 million was spent nationally under the Scheme in 2007 whilst, to date in 2008, expenditure has been €6.518 million.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned 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 — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: Payments under the 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 24 September, with payments issuing in respect of all applicants whose applications were clear for payment at that stage. Payments continue to issue as further cases subsequently become clear on a daily basis.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has put in place a robust Information Technology infrastructure, at both the hardware and software levels, to secure portable electronic data devices. A comprehensive anti-virus software system is in place, which protects Department laptops, from email borne computer viruses. To enhance security on the Department's laptop computers, the Department has commenced a programme of...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of Department owned computer desktops or laptops or other data devices, such as blackberries and memory keys, reported lost, missing or stolen from my Department are set out in the following table: Year Lost/Stolen Recovered/Found 2002 3 Laptops were reported stolen None 2003 None N/A 2004 None N/A 2005 None N/A 2006 1 Laptop reported stolen None 2007 1 Laptop reported...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Sep 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 strictly respect this deadline.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application to join the 1988 Scheme of Compensatory Allowances in respect of Forestry. This Scheme is operational for a maximum duration of twenty years from when afforestation of Disadvantaged Land took place as per the Terms and Conditions governing the Scheme. As the person named was in receipt of an annual payment in respect of 8.5 hectares of afforested...