Results 3,181-3,200 of 4,350 for speaker:Bobby Aylward

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: I will move on. I would like to ask Professor Boyle's opinion on the fodder shortage. In August and September there was a fodder shortage of about 30%. Last week, the Minister stated in the Dáil that this had decreased to just 10%. As an advisory body, what is Teagasc's opinion on farmers' position regarding the fodder shortage? Will we have an ongoing problem in the winter like we...

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: The push is on in Food Harvest 2020 and Food Wise 2025 to increase production. Are we pushing farmers to the limits, especially in the dairy industry where we have too much stock and not enough capacity? This applies in particular in the context on climate change, the weather we are having now and the changes in the seasons. Are we pushing too much without thinking about the consequences?...

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: It might not come up this year with the drought, particularly in the south east.

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: With regard the decline of the suckler herd and its viability, especially suckler-to-beef, will Professor Boyle comment on that decline and getting young farmers to continue raising suckler animals and making it a viable proposition? The amount that is realised from a suckler-to-beef herd for a livelihood makes it hard to survive. What research is done on this?

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: What is Professor Boyle's general opinion on the beef data and genomics programme? Those rearing continental breeds, especially the Charolais breeders, say the genomics scheme is destroying the animal because people are choosing small lean animals of between 22 months and 24 months for beef as opposed to the big, honest animals of years ago. This is especially the case with continental...

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: I want to move on to Brexit, which is the white elephant in the room. Does Professor Boyle believe that we are ready for Brexit? We do not know what will happen with regard to Brexit but how is Ireland's agriculture community prepared? Brexit will have a bigger effect on the agriculture community than on any other sector in Ireland. Are we prepared for it or will there be serious...

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: Are we preparing now or are we waiting for it to happen such that we will then be trying to catch up?

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: On farm safety, there were 16 farm-related deaths last year. Does Teagasc provide courses on farm safety and what initiatives has it put in place to try to stop these unfortunate tragedies occurring?

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: On the increase of €403,000 in travel and subsistence which the Comptroller and Auditor General referenced in his opening remarks, what was the reason for that increase? Are Teagasc personnel taking trips abroad and so on? I ask Professor Boyle to explain the reason for the increase.

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: It is €403,000.

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: What do the foreign trips entail?

Public Accounts Committee: Teagasc Financial Statements 2017 (4 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: Let us go back to the Minister.

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: School Transport Provision (9 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: 109. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the delays in the payment of the bus escort grant to school (details supplied) and the subsequent difficulties the current situation is causing for the students, the majority of whom have moderate to severe learning disabilities, and for the management and staff; the steps he has taken to address this...

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (9 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: 122. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the estimated cost of reversing the budget 2011 decision to increase the SUSI grant non-adjacency qualifying distance from 24 km to 45 km; if reversing same has been considered in advance of budget 2019; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40923/18]

Written Answers — Department of Education and Skills: Student Grant Scheme Eligibility (9 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: 123. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the way in which the distances for adjacent and non-adjacent third-level grants were arrived at; his plans to reform the calculation of distances to one of a mean average for the journey; his further plans to address the issue of the calculation via the shortest distance using rural roads in poor repair; and if he will make a statement on the...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: 11. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he has taken to improve broadband and connectivity services in a town (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41222/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: 13. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the steps he has taken to improve broadband and connectivity services in a town (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41221/18]

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: I ask these two questions together because they are connected and both apply to towns in my constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny. What steps has the Minister taken to improve the broadband and connectivity services in Graiguenamanagh and Urlingford?

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: It is all right to speak about colours and everything, but State intervention is urgently required in Urlingford. A significant area of the town is covered by commercial operators, but some areas that are crucial to the local economy, such as Urlingford business park, are awaiting State intervention through the NBP. A new nursing home that is due to open in the business park will cater for...

Ceisteanna Eile - Other Questions: Broadband Service Provision (10 Oct 2018)

Bobby Aylward: I accept what the Minister is saying. I tabled these questions on the basis of the information available to me, which is that these services are not available in Urlingford and Graiguenamanagh. It is all right to speak about coloured areas, blue areas and everything else, but these services must be available to new businesses that are coming into these towns. Rural towns that need...