Results 17,301-17,320 of 18,645 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: My Department, in conjunction with Teagasc and COFORD, have been actively encouraging the development of new markets for forest thinnings in the heat energy sector through a range of support measures aimed at creating an effective supply chain from producer to end user. In 2007 my Department introduced a new capital grant scheme to support emerging enterprises in the wood chip supply...
- Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: My Department continually promotes forestry through attractive grant incentives i.e. â 100% establishment grants and 20-year annual premiums. In 2007, my department launched the Wood Biomass Harvesting Machinery Grant Scheme and has supported the purchase of a number of large and medium-scale chipping units designed to bring critical capacity to this sector (this scheme is now closed). ...
- Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The FEPS scheme has been amended following a full review and consultation with the sector and has been rolled out as an established scheme. The threshold of 8 hectares has been reduced to 5 hectares for small farms (less than 30ha), attracting a â¬150/ha rate for plantations between 5 and 8 ha, and â¬200/ha thereafter. At the other end of the scale, a standard rate of â¬200/ha will apply...
- Written Answers — : (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The review of the main elements of the 1946 Forestry Act has now been completed and draft Heads of a Forestry Bill have been prepared. The draft Scheme of the Forest Bill, along with the Screening Regulatory Impact Analysis (RIA) and Memorandum for Government have been prepared and will be submitted to Government shortly for approval to send to the Office of the Parliamentary Counsel for...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 527 and 529 together. The potential for using energy crops to produce bioenergy was examined in the Liquid Biofuels Strategy Study published by Sustainable Energy Ireland and in the Report of the Bioenergy Strategy Group published by the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources (DCENR). The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF)...
- Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 528 and 530 together. The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (DAFF) supports research into projects in biofuel and biomass through the Research Stimulus Fund Programme. The Programme facilitates research that supports sustainable and competitive agricultural production practices and policies and contributes to a scientific research capability in...
- Written Answers — Farmers' Markets: Farmers' Markets (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: My Department is currently funding a 3-year research project on examining effective structures for Farmers' Markets in Ireland under the Research Stimulus Fund Programme. The project, which is being undertaken by the Centre for Cooperative Studies and the Department of Food Business and Development, University College Cork, will seek to establish how farmers' markets can best be structured to...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Monitoring Committee for the Charter of Rights for Farmers 2005/2007 first met on 27 February 2007 under an independent chairman, Dr. Noel Cawley. At this and further meetings of the committee, the Department provided updates on progress on meeting the commitments covered by the Charter. In general, the farming organisations were satisfied with the results. Negotiations with the farm...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: My Department is in regular contact with the farming organisations on the paperwork associated with the various schemes operated by the Department.
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: Bord Bia has in place a full programme of Quality Assurance food and horticulture schemes which it markets on an ongoing basis. The concept of Ireland, the Food Island was created by Bord Bia in 1996 as an umbrella brand to represent all facets of the Irish food and drink industry at international trade fairs. Bord Bia communicates directly with targeted buyers internationally via...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 539 and 540 together. The interdepartmental group has been established and has held two meetings to date. Membership comprises representatives of the following Departments; Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Finance; Foreign Affairs; Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; Health and Children; Enterprise, Trade and Employment; and Environment, Heritage...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: Over the 2005-2007 period, the Department launched the successful Regional Food Forum initiative to build closer links between state agencies and food businesses and to develop regional and local foods. As they developed, these fora were used to showcase local food and drinks products, research presentations on emerging market opportunities and to publish a regional trade directory of food...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 542 and 543 together. The development of small and medium enterprises is supported under my Department's capital investment scheme for marketing and processing of agricultural products and a call for proposals issued in December 2007. The sectors involved were Horticulture, Livestock Marts, and Small slaughterhouses and low throughput Meat establishments....
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: A significant number of measures are in place to encourage the entry of young people in farming. These measures are aimed at supporting the early transfer of farms and relieving set-up costs. They include: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme introduced in June 2007 which provides a grant of â¬15,000 for young trained farmers (57% higher than previous rate); 100% stamp duty relief on...
- Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: Stamp duty relief is available for farmers acquiring land, who are aged under 35 years and who have specific agricultural training. Deeds of transfer executed on or after 2 April 2007 and on or before 31 December 2008 are exempt from stamp duty where the transferee meets the conditions of the Scheme operated by the Revenue Commissioners. The purpose of this relief is to encourage the...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 546 and 547 together. Waste management is primarily a matter for the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The control authorities for water, nitrates and integrated pollution are the Environmental Protection Agency and/or local authorities. Under the Cross-compliance arrangements for the Single Payment System, this Department carries...
- Written Answers — Adult Education: Adult Education (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 548 to 551, inclusive, together. I understand from Teagasc that training programmes are delivered at eight colleges and local centres in agriculture, horticulture, horse breeding and forestry. In 2007 a total of 612 students enrolled in further level training programmes bringing the total overall number participating in these programmes to 3,353. In addition...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The National Development Plan 2007-2013 commits â¬641m to Agri-Food Research. This funding is allocated via my Department's Core Grant to Teagasc and via the DAFF public good competitive programmes in Food, Agriculture and Forestry. In addition, the Interdepartmental Committee on Research and Technological Development provided a sum of â¬40m in 2007-08 for research collaboration in areas...
- Written Answers — Research Funding: Research Funding (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: All non-Core research funding programmes i.e. FIRM (Food Institutional Research Measure), RSF (Research Stimulus Fund) and COFORD (Forestry Research) are operated solely on a competitive basis. The independent evaluation process involving international experts, coupled with the competitive nature of the programme ensures that only the very best projects receive funding. Certain standards...
- Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (10 Jul 2008)
Brendan Smith: The total budget allocation for the Fishery Harbours and Coastal Infrastructure Programme 2008 is â¬19.780 million. The 2008 Programme has been approved and the projects under the Programme are currently underway. Implementation of the Programme during the year will see significant investment at both the six Fishery Harbour Centres (which now includes An Daingean) and various Local Authority...