Results 3,921-3,940 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Land-holding Subdivisions: Land-holding Subdivisions (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Since the commencement on 4 November 2005 of section 12 of the Land Act 2005 there is no longer a requirement to obtain my Department's consent to subdivision of an agricultural holding. Prior to that date, applications for consent were dealt with immediately, usually within a matter of days.

Written Answers — Land-holding Subdivisions: Land-holding Subdivisions (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Subdivision consent from my Department is no longer necessary since 4 November 2005, the date of commencement of section 12 of the Land Act 2005. The number of consents issued for the last five years is set out in the following table. My Department has not refused consent under the Land Acts for any application over the past five years. Year No. of Consents issued 2005 15,561 2004...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Consent to subdivision of land holdings is no longer necessary since the commencement on 4 November 2005 of section 12 of the Land Act 2005. Prior to that date, five clerical staff members dealt with general subdivision consents, along with other administrative duties. For more difficult applications, additional staff would be allocated to assist from time to time. As the processing of such...

Written Answers — Mart Transactions: Mart Transactions (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The mix-up that occurred when recording mart transaction details on the cattle movement monitoring system, CMMS, between the two tag numbers mentioned has now been resolved and the person named has been recorded as the buyer of the latter animal.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2005 single payment scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2005, as was an application to have his entitlements consolidated under the single payment scheme. The single payment could not be issued pending processing of the consolidation application, which in turn has been delayed pending the satisfactory resolution of issues concerning two land parcels...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The term "ring fencing" can be used in the milk quota context to describe two different sets of rules. The first relates to the movement of quota from a less-favoured area, LFA, arising from the transfer of dairying lands and the second concerns the distribution of milk in milk quota restructuring schemes. Where land in an LFA to which quota attaches is transferred by way of sale, lease, gift...

Written Answers — National Reserve Allocations: National Reserve Allocations (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The position is that some 17,500 farmers submitted applications to the national reserve but when account is taken of the number of farmers who applied under two or more categories, over 23,000 files have to be processed. While much work has been done in processing the vast majority of the applications, none of the applications has yet been processed to finality with national reserve...

Written Answers — Export Refunds: Export Refunds (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Irish beef exports in 2005 stood at 487,000 tonnes. All of these exports went to the UK and continental Europe except for 35,000 tonnes that went to third countries, mainly Russia. While the beef industry has in recent years become less reliant on third countries, these markets are important for specific cuts at particular times of the year. Third country beef exports attract export refunds....

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Currently 2.6% of the staff employed by my Department have a disability. My Department is committed to the employment of people with a disability and places no barriers to the recruitment of people with disabilities to vacancies that may arise.

Written Answers — State Properties: State Properties (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Coillte Teoranta publishes details of assets in its annual report and accounts, copies of which are readily available. I refer the Deputy to Note 7 in the most recent Annual Report and Accounts, 2004, which provides information concerning tangible assets under the headings of "Forests and Land", "Buildings", and "Machinery & Equipment".

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (4 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has statutory responsibility for the welfare and protection of farmed animals. The legislation governing this is the Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes Act 1984, and the European Community (Protection of Animals Kept for Farming Purposes) Regulations 2000. In addition, there is specific legislation in relation to pigs, calves and laying hens. The Protection of...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: To date the Department of Agriculture and Food has not sought, nor has it been requested to seek, a derogation from any of the provisions of the biocides Directive 98/8/EC.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Support for the establishment of small local enterprises is mainly achieved through the county and city enterprise development boards. My Department does not operate a grant scheme for enterprise establishment in this area, or for production of wood pellets. I am examining ideas for a scheme to assist with the purchase of biomass harvesting and processing equipment. The end product would be...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: In 2000 the company in question submitted a feasibility study it had commissioned on bioethanol production to the then Department of Public Enterprise, which had responsibility for energy matters at that time. My Department also received a copy of the study on a private and confidential basis. The question of obtaining a copy of the study is a matter for the Deputy to pursue with the company.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the energy crops scheme, introduced by Council Regulation No. 1782/2003, crops such as miscanthus may qualify for aid of €45 per hectare provided they are intended primarily for use in the production of biofuels and electric and thermal energy produced from biomass. The aid, payable in addition to the single payment, is granted in respect of areas where production is covered by a...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The agenda items in question relate to discussions at the EU Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health on the updated information on the foot and mouth disease situation, particularly in South America, provided by the representatives of DG SANCO. At the meetings formal presentations were not made by the representatives on the agenda items. However, they did give an oral briefing...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The Department of Agriculture and Food makes deductions from the early retirement pension where a national retirement pension is being paid to the applicant, their spouse in some cases, or where penalties have been imposed for non-compliance with the conditions of the scheme. Every effort is made to ensure the correct amounts are deducted in all cases. In the small number of cases where the...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There is no provision for additional payments to participants in the early retirement schemes concerning leased quotas. However, the Department of Agriculture and Food was aware from an early stage in the negotiations leading to the introduction of the single payment scheme of the possible implications for retired farmers who had leased their holdings. In so far as it proved possible in the...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The rate of pension payable under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming is the maximum amount of €12,075 per annum provided for by the EU council regulation under which the scheme was introduced. The maximum payable under the regulation governing the 2000 scheme of early retirement from farming is €15,000 per annum. At the time the scheme was introduced the Department of...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (5 Apr 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the 1994 scheme of early retirement from farming a total of 10,664 applications were approved for payment; of these 6,294 cases, or 59.02% of the total, received the maximum rate of pension of €12,075 per annum. Under the early retirement, ERS2, 2000 scheme 2,741 applications have been approved for payment to date; of these 1,650, or 60.19%, qualified for the maximum rate of pension...