Results 22,701-22,720 of 24,065 for speaker:Charlie McConalogue

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Staff (29 May 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I can confirm that no staff at TAO or SAO grades in my Department have indicated their intention to retire in 2025. Retirement notice periods in the Civil Service are governed by DPER Circular 10/2012. Staff in TAO and SAO grades are only required to give a minimum of one month's notice of intention to retire from the Civil Service. It should be noted that, following the Government...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Staff (29 May 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is committed to ensuring that a skilled and motivated workforce is in place to meet its priority business needs. Workforce planning processes are utilised to identify our requirements across all our technical grade streams and locations, and to ensure a long-term, proactive and strategic plan through which current and future staffing needs are addressed. Overall staffing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (29 May 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Processing of the eco-scheme applications for the herdnumber provided by the Deputy has been completed and they will receive their advance (70%) Eco-Scheme payment in week beginning 27th May 2024, with the balancing payment of 30% to be issued in early June 2024.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Sector Pensions (30 May 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department’s employment records indicate that this individual retired on the correct grade and payscale. My Department has liaised with the National Shared Services Office (NSSO) on this matter also, as the NSSO has responsibility for the calculation and payment of pensions to former Civil Servants. The NSSO has confirmed that the officer is being paid the correct rate of pension.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Culls (30 May 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am aware of the importance of the sustainable management of our national deer population for agriculture, as well as for our nature ecosystems. The increased populations of deer in some parts of the country has led to a reduction in biodiversity and an increase in road traffic accidents. In response to this my Department, along with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 May 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: In December 2023, almost 4,300 farmers in the Co-operation Project (CP) stream of ACRES applied for 43,910 Non-Productive Investments (NPIs) as part of their participation in the scheme. This reflects the huge interest farmers continually demonstrate in supporting the habitats and species found on their farms. NPIs - using the right action in the right place - can contribute to the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 May 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Payments for the Agri-Climate Rural Environment Scheme (ACRES) General stream commenced in December last, and by the end of February, the majority of participants had received payment. On 9th February 2024 I announced that an interim payment would be made to support those Tranche 1 participants who had not yet received their advance payment in respect of 2023. I made a further...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (30 May 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Work is continuing on the calculation and processing of ACRES year one payments, and these payments are expected to commence in early June. ACRES General advance payments commenced on December 15th 2023, and approximately 19,719 farmers were paid a total of €88.356 million by early February 2024. Due in particular to the additional complexity associated with payments to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Industry (12 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The practice of vermicast where the earthworms are being commercially farmed falls under the EU Animal By-Products regulations and as such operators are required to register with my Department. I am aware that my Department has recently met with and are actively engaging with potential operators from this sector.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: EU Meetings (12 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I wish to advise the Deputy that the information requested is set out in the attached table. ]

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Flexible Work Practices (12 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: My Department is committed to embracing opportunities for remote and blended working, to build a more dynamic, agile and responsive Civil Service, while sustaining strong standards of performance and high levels of productivity. I believe that blended working can increase flexibility, improve health and well-being, and add to the range of work-life balance initiatives the Civil Service can...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes (12 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The person named received approval to proceed with an investment under the Low Emission Slurry Spreading Scheme (LESS), which is a measure under TAMS 3. A claim for payment was submitted on 25th March 2024. My Department has commenced the processing of all payment claims submitted under TAMS 3, and it is anticipated that payments will issue later this month where there are no issues with...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I am fully committed to the promotion and retention of the family farm model in Ireland. It is something unique and valuable. It is the heartbeat of our rural economy and the promotion of the family farm has been at centre of all my major initiatives as Minister, including almost €10 billion of investment on Irish farms under the CAP strategic plan. Implementation of this plan is...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I welcome the fact that the Deputy put forward a Bill and that she is focusing on the family farm model. However, the fact that the collaborative system we have developed over the past 20 years, starting with former Minister for Agriculture, Deputy Brendan Smith, and Food Harvest 2020, followed by the ten-year strategy under Food Wise 2025. The most recent ten-year strategy Food Vision 2030...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Agriculture Industry (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I agree with the Deputy on the importance of protecting and supporting family farm income. There have been more part-time farmers over the past ten, 20 or 30 years. Whether farmers are part-time or full-time, my objective has been that through the schemes and income generation opportunities we deliver in government, we make it worth their while. Food Vision 2030 is a very strong programme,...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: I thank Deputy Stanton for raising this issue. As Members know, I opened the very popular solar capital investment scheme, which is a measure under TAMS 3, for applications in February of last year. This scheme provides grant aid of 60% with a ring-fenced ceiling particular to this solar TAMS, of €90,000. Solar PV systems grant-aided under TAMS 3 include solar PV panels and solar PV...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: This is something Deputy Stanton and I discussed before. The position is that electricians completing the prescribed form must provide details confirming that they are registered Safe Electric Ireland electricians.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The electricians completing those forms must provide those details. That is the position.

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: Any PV installer included on my Department's solar PV registered installer list is required to submit a completed solar PV installer registration form as well as an up-to-date certificate of public insurance or employer's liability. As already stated, it is also a requirement that the electrician has completed the training courses in solar PV implementation as well as those relating to...

Ceisteanna ar Sonraíodh Uain Dóibh - Priority Questions: Renewable Energy Generation (13 Jun 2024)

Charlie McConalogue: The position is that any electrician completing the prescribed form must provide details confirming they are currently registered with Safe Electric Ireland. I would like to facilitate a further meeting between Deputy Stanton and my own officials. If there is any level of confusion here, I want to make sure it is addressed. I thank the Deputy for raising this matter and for digging into...