Results 3,821-3,840 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2011, processing of which has recently been completed, thereby allowing payment to issue under the 2011 Disadvantaged Area Scheme on 7 October 2011. The 50% advance payments under the Single Payment Scheme are scheduled to commence issuing as and from 17 October 2011. An...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2010 and received full payment for the first year of their contract. Arrangements are well advanced to issue payments in respect of 2011 and I expect that these payments will commence in November once all the necessary checks have been completed. In the event of any queries arising from these checks my Department will be in direct contact with the...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The allocation of milk quota from the National Reserve is granted on the basis of recommendations from the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal recently examined the named person's application but did not recommend him for an allocation of quota on that occasion. The named person now wishes to appeal this decision. The Tribunal will shortly commence consideration of appeals. When a...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 407 and 408 together. All Government Departments and Agencies operating under their aegis are required to operate within an Employment Control Framework set down by the Government. The information requested by the Deputy is laid out in the table. None of the State Bodies listed here has fallen below the agreed ECF ceiling and therefore, no organisation is...

Written Answers — Public Petitions: Public Petitions (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not received any public petitions during the years in question.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st November 2010. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks a query arose...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was recently informed in writing that they were approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 21 April 2011, processing of which has recently been completed, thereby allowing payment to issue under the 2011 Disadvantaged Area Scheme on 4 October 2011. The 50% advance payments under the Single Payment Scheme are scheduled to commence issuing as and from 17 October 2011.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Grant-aid under the Scheme of Investment Aid for the Improvement of Dairy Hygiene Standards was paid by my Department to the person concerned in February 2008. However, one invoice was excluded for grant-aid purposes as no tax clearance was provided in relation to the contractor who issued the invoice concerned. As it is a standard condition of all my Department's on-farm investment schemes...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 8 May 2011, processing of which has recently been completed, thereby allowing payment to issue under the 2011 Disadvantaged Area Scheme on 7 October 2011. The 50% advance payments under the Single Payment Scheme are scheduled to commence issuing as and from 17 October 2011.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in 2008 and has received full payments for the first two years of their contract. In addition, 75% of the third year payment issued on 3rd March 2011 for the amount of €7449.77. My Department is currently making arrangements to process the outstanding 25% payments to farmers in instances where penalties have been imposed, including the person named, and I...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2010. Payment totalling €1,250.00, issued on 4th October in respect of the initial 75%. Processing of the remaining 25% payment will commence shortly.

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: I assume the Deputy is referring to recent correspondence from the Cork South West Lobster Fishermans Co-Operative in relation to funding for the cooperative. This Co-operative wrote to me in April seeking funding of €50,000 over 5 years for the cooperative, to enable it to continue to fund its contribution towards payments to lobster fishermen who are members of the Co-op and who engage in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Given that payments under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme only commenced on 22 September and, to date, payments worth in excess of €169 million have issued to 77,559 farmers nationally, representing 76% of those who applied, it can readily be seen that there are no delays in the issuing of these payments. Specifically with regard to Offaly and Tipperary, the details are as follows: ...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Farmers Charter Action Plan 2009 - 2011 was agreed following discussions with the farming organisations. The Charter sets out specific delivery targets to our farmer customers and covers the following services: Single Payment Scheme; Disadvantaged Areas Compensatory Allowance Scheme; Suckler Welfare Scheme; Rural Environment Protection Scheme; Early Retirement/Young Farmers Installation...

Written Answers — Farm Inspections: Farm Inspections (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes, is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms to ensure compliance with EU legislation in the areas of the environment, food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health and ensuring that the farm is maintained in good agricultural and environmental condition. This is known as...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Since 2005 my Department has been engaged in a major change management programme, including re-organisation at all levels, facilitated by changes in the way schemes are managed, reductions in disease levels, and the advanced use of information technology. As a result the Department has been able to reduce its staffing level from 4,800 to 3,600, a reduction of 25%. The cost of running the...

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Slaughterhouses and meat processing plants operate under the approval of my Department in accordance with the terms of EU Food Hygiene Regulations. These plants are supervised by veterinary inspectors employed by the Department, assisted in their duties by technical staff (agricultural officers) and by temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) drawn from private practice on a rota basis. The...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Once all checks are successfully completed for an application, my Department then pays each case as soon as possible. This process is now well advanced....

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (11 Oct 2011)

Simon Coveney: The EU Nitrates Directive requires every Member State to implement a Nitrates Action Programme. Under the Directive each Action Programme must specify periods when the land application of chemical and organic fertilisers is prohibited. These closed periods are set out in Schedule 4 of the Good Agricultural Practice Regulations (SI No. 610 of 2011) which were introduced by the Minister for...