Results 3,401-3,420 of 18,450 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. I have also announced that a special ex-gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the deferred...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The first phase of the REPS 4 payment will issue to the person named within the next ten days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 949 and 981 together. The agreement concluded with pig processors in December involves making available a facility of €180 million from the public finances to assist processors in funding the recall and destruction of certain pork products from the market and product in storage. To date my Department has paid a total of €42m to processors as interim...

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: In view of the shortfall in willow applications, my Department has reviewed the ceiling for miscanthus and agreed to issue additional 'approvals' subject to respecting the overall 1,800-hectare ceiling for the Bioenergy Scheme (2009). Approvals will be issued shortly.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: No formal application for the Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming was received from the person named. In June 2008, she indicated through her legal representatives that she intended to apply for the Scheme. She did not meet certain eligibility requirements, however, and her legal representatives sought to have her exempted from these because of her particular circumstances. My...

Written Answers — Ministerial Staff: Ministerial Staff (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 952 and 953 together. There are no drivers employed directly by me. Under a long-standing arrangement, all Government Ministers and certain other State officials are provided with a State car, which is driven by a member of An Garda Síochána from a pool of Gardaí which are allocated on a full-time basis to Ministers. These Gardaí provide personal...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: It is intended that the annual forestry premium payment will issue to this applicant during the first week of April 2009.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named applied on 6 cows under the Scheme. Payment of €400 in respect of 5 calves has issued to date. The remaining calf will not qualify for payment as its birth was registered outside the statutory requirement of 27 days from the date of birth. Correspondence in relation to this matter has issued to the person named.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: 1,247 farmers in County Mayo received payment under the Farm Waste Management Scheme between 1 January 2006 – 31 December 2008 (including payments under the Scheme which preceded the Nitrates version of the Scheme introduced in March 2006).

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: 1,004 applications from County Mayo remained to be processed to full payment stage under the Farm Waste Management Scheme at the beginning of 2009. Grants in respect of these applications will be made on a phased basis with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. A...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007-13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The first phase of the REPS 4 payment will issue to the person named in the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under the provisions of the relevant EU regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme, in order to draw down his or her full Single Payment, an applicant must declare an eligible hectare to accompany each entitlement. Furthermore, where entitlements were not claimed for a three-year period they revert to the National Reserve. The person named had initially established 41.82 entitlements,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The file of the person named is currently being examined in respect of eligibility criteria. It is expected that this examination will be completed within the next ten days and the amount of the payment, if the application is found to meet the eligibility criteria, will depend on the precise details of the outcome.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: 2057The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. I have also announced that a special ex gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food laboratories carry out a broad and in-depth range of laboratory tests to support DAFF's requirements in the areas of animal health, plant health and food and feed safety. While DAFF laboratories have the capacity to carry out most of the tests to meet these requirements, for cost efficient reasons, some tests are outsourced. In relation to...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The deal I secured in the Health Check of the CAP negotiations last November is worth a potential €80 million in additional payments to farmers over the coming years. In addition, the increase in milk quota will deliver some €100 million worth of additional milk production by 2014. This is enormously positive for the sector and, while there are also elements in the package that I do not...

Written Answers — Agriculture Sector: Agriculture Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: At the Councilof Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels on 29 September 2008, the issue of Climate Change was included in the agenda at my request. I voiced my concerns about the challenge posed by the EU's Climate Change proposals for agriculture and the food sector in Ireland and throughout the E U. I reminded my colleagues of the vital role of EU agriculture in underpinning food...

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 966 and 967 together. Teagasc has prepared a development strategy for the Irish pig industry, which identifies the issues facing the sector and makes certain recommendations. The 'Pig Industry Strategy Steering Group', which includes representation from my Department and all sectors of the industry, has been established for the purpose of furthering those...