Results 2,561-2,580 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department promotes the establishment of new forests through a range of attractive support measures, namely the Afforestation Grant Scheme, the Forest Environment Protection Scheme and the Native Woodland Scheme. These schemes provide 100% establishment grants and annual premiums for up to 20 years. During 2007 and 2008 my Department provided grants totalling €550,000 under the Wood...

Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following a full review and consultation with the sector, the FEPS scheme has been amended and 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 €150/ha rate for plantations between 5 and 8 ha, and €200/ha thereafter. At the other end of the scale, a standard rate of €200/ha applies for all...

Written Answers — Forestry Industry: Forestry Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The review of the main elements of the 1946 Forestry Act has now been completed. 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 drafting. Any additional amendments of existing forestry...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The primary responsibility for renewable energy rests with the Department of Communications Energy and Natural Resources (D/CENR) and my Department is participating in a new Renewable Energy Development Group established by D/CENR to consider the challenges and opportunities facing the Irish renewable energy sector. A sectoral sub-group on Bioenergy has been established to prepare a...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food recognises the crucial role that research can play in the development of biofuels and biomass in Ireland. In recent years, our support for research in this area has been greatly enhanced under the Department's Research Stimulus Fund Programme. Under Stimulus Calls in 2005, 2006 and 2007, 13 projects were awarded grant assistance of almost...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Government's Bioenergy Action Plan provides a platform for the development of bioenergy sources in Ireland. My Department implements the agriculture related actions in the Action Plan to increase the share of bioenergy derived from the agriculture and forestry related sectors. The measures include a National Energy Crop Premium worth €80 per hectare and an EU premium worth €45 per...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: In February 2007, my Department launched a new Bioenergy Scheme providing establishment grants to farmers to grow miscanthus and willow. The grants are worth €1,450 per hectare. Some 1,800 hectares were grant aided in 2007 & 2008. The third phase was launched in December 2008 and will support the planting of a further 1,800 hectares in 2009. In addition to establishment grants, farmers...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The new Organic Farming Scheme, under the Rural Development Programme 2007 to 2013, aims at encouraging producers to respond to the market demand for organic food. It was launched in August 2007 with a 17% increase in payment rates in line with the Towards 2016 Agreement. One significant change in the new Programme is that organic producers can obtain organic support payments without having...

Written Answers — Organic Farming: Organic Farming (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Bord Bia continually assists producers and market organisers on sales, marketing and product development and its guide on "Alternative Routes to Market" provides action plans and guidelines to assist growers and food entrepreneurs who wish to set up in business through Farmers' Markets, farm shops and box schemes. Bord Bia has also developed the exceptionally successful market in Farmleigh in...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Monitoring Committee for the 2005-2007 Charter of Rights for Farmers met a number of times under an independent chairman, Dr. Noel Cawley. For each meeting of the committee, officials of my Department provided updates on progress on meeting the commitments covered by the Charter. In general, the farming organisations were satisfied with the results. A new Customer Charter is currently...

Written Answers — Departmental Correspondence: Departmental Correspondence (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is in regular contact with the farming organisations to ensure that their views on the paperwork associated with the various schemes operated by the Department are taken into account.

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department supports Bord Bia in promoting the marketing of quality food on a range of markets and in communicating directly with international buyers via market/sector specific publications and events regarding the qualities, systems and production values of our agri-food production including horticulture. Bord Bia has developed a programme of Quality Assurance Schemes in beef, beef,...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The interdepartmental group has been established and has held two meetings to date. Membership comprises representatives of my Department and the Departments of Finance; Foreign Affairs; Communications; Health and Children; Enterprise, Trade and Employment, and Environment and Local Government. A number of issues of cross departmental nature were discussed including CAP/WTO, energy costs,...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Increased engagement with the food sector is ongoing through three high level groups established on foot of the Agri-Vision Report (the Food Industry Committee, the Agency CEO Group, the Agri-food Research Subgroup), as well as the Interdepartmental Group established under the Programme for Government. The objective of these groups is to ensure that all elements of the food sector are...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following on from the series of six regional food fora, a National Conference on Local Food was held in Mullingar in November 2007. This was a joint initiative by my Department and Bord Bia and aimed to raise awareness of local food, provide practical information for those involved in local food production and address some of the issues highlighted at the Regional Food Fora. The audience...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: The centre of excellence for small businesses (Bord Bia Vantage — Centre of Excellence for Small Business) was formally launched in November 2007 and continues to service the market development needs of small business through a comprehensive one-stop shop website signposting the best on-line resources available to assist small enterprises and providing advice on better practice marketing...

Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: In addition to the wide range of services provided by the Bord Bia Centre of Excellence for small businesses, the development of small and medium enterprises is also supported by the following Bord Bia and Department initiatives: Alternative Routes to market: Bord Bia has incorporated direct routes to market into its new Centre of Excellence for Small Business and produced a comprehensive...

Written Answers — Young Farmer Supports: Young Farmer Supports (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: A number of measures are aimed at supporting the early transfer of farms and relieving set-up costs, including: 100% stamp duty relief on transfers of agricultural land and buildings to young trained farmers; 100% stamp duty relief on land purchased by young trained farmers; 100% stock relief for four years for young trained farmers; 90% agricultural relief from Capital Acquisitions Tax; New...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: Stamp duty relief for young trained farmers was renewed in Budget 2009 for a further four years until 31 December 2012.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (27 Jan 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1252 and 1253 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. My Department has taken significant steps in assisting farmers to meet their obligation...