Results 2,021-2,040 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have listed below the details of people appointed by myself and the two Ministers of State as requested: Minster Brendan Smith Name and Grade Responsibility Location Salary Scale Elected or Member of State Boards Dermot Ryan Special Adviser Adviser Department €86,168 – €100,191 + 10% allowance No Philip Hannon Press Adviser Media Adviser Department €86,168 – €100,191 No...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I outlined my Department's policy on AHCS1 forms in my replies to recent questions from the Deputy. With regard to the further queries from the Deputy, I do not accept that the statement in the first paragraph of the letter submitted by the Deputy that the number of AHCS1 forms is much higher than expected contradicts the assertion that "occasionally they are not identified until some time...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Commission's preliminary audit findings relate to the completeness of administrative checks on applications, the keeping of records at farm level and the scope and recording of on-the-spot checks. 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...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has this year allocated funding of €470,000 towards works at Dunmore East Fishery Harbour Centre under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2008. These include Repairs to the East Pier (Phase II), Safety & Maintenance, Upgrading of the slipway and access to the West Wharf. Due to the scale of the investment required for the future...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Agri-Vision 2015 Report sets out a vision identifying the delivery of safe, high-quality, nutritious food, produced in a sustainable manner, to well-informed consumers in high value markets as the optimum road for the future of the Irish food industry. The 160 actions in the Agri-Vision Action Plan set out a coherent strategy together with the National Development Plan (NDP) 2007-2013...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have no plans at present to reopen the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS3) 2007 to new applications. The limiting of the suspension of the Scheme will be considered at the earliest opportunity but with regard to the current budgetary constraints.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (13 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Since the programme began there has been an increase of 297 posts in Portlaoise; 220 of which were decentralised from Dublin. 84 posts have moved to Clonakilty; 33 of which were decentralised from Dublin. This is broken down by grade as follows. Grade To Portlaoise from Dublin To Clonakilty from Dublin Principal Officers 2 2 Assistant Principals 20 4 HEO/AO 48 9 Executive Officers 64...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 487 and 501 together. Arklow Harbour Commissioners applied in February 2007 for a Dumping at Sea permit to facilitate dredging at Arklow Harbour and the application was circulated to my Department's consultees in the normal way. My Department was advised by the Marine Institute that the results of a chemical analysis of samples from the proposed area to be...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has no record of an application for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme from the person concerned.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have taken place. Work on the administrative checks is at an advanced stage but cannot be completed until industrial...

Written Answers — Fisheries Statistics: Fisheries Statistics (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Since the establishment of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) on 1 January 2007, the provision of the information requested is a matter for that Authority, which is an independent statutory body. I have asked that body to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.

Written Answers — Fishing Vessel Licences: Fishing Vessel Licences (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Sea Fishing Boat Licences issued by the independent Licensing Authority for Sea Fishing Boats are not area-specific. Any Irish commercial sea-fishing vessel may engage in commercial sea fishing activities in EU non-precluded waters in accordance with the licensing conditions attaching to its sea fishing boat licence and may use the facilities of any one of the 6 Fishery Harbours, or any...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (18 Nov 2008)

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

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have taken place. Work on the administrative checks is at an advanced stage but cannot be completed until industrial...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Single Payment in Ireland is based on the 'Historical Model'. This means that the Single Payment Scheme is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during the reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002, who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid in one or more of those years and who will continue to farm in 2005 and onwards. The gross Single Payment is based on the average number of...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The National Forest Inventory, undertaken by my Department, found that there are some 397,460 hectares of forests in public ownership, which encompasses all state owned forests. This equates to some 982,000 acres.

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An estimate of the market value of the forestry portfolio is provided. I would emphasise that the results should be treated as indicative only and a more detailed valuation model supported by economic analysis and market research would be required to provide a more robust estimate of market value. As differing valuation methods were used to arrive at an estimate of market value for each of...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The estimated total value of forestry to the economy in 2007 was €828 m. Preliminary research suggests that if the processing sector is included, the total value to the economy could rise to as much as €1.886 billion.

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Employment in the forestry sector including full-time and part-time workers is estimated at 16,000 persons.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: 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. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have taken place. Work on the administrative checks is at an advanced stage but cannot be completed until industrial...