Results 4,021-4,040 of 18,457 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department is currently reviewing its local office structure. No decisions have been taken regarding the future of any local office, other than the Dublin local office, already announced.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named applied to consolidate their Single Payment Scheme entitlements on 3rd May 2006. This application was successful resulting in the granting of 18.16 National Reserve entitlements. The regulations governing the consolidation of entitlements under the 2006 scheme year provide that the consolidated entitlements must be used in full for a period of 5 years and may not be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 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...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The REPS 4 2008 agri-environmental plan belonging to the person named was rejected for payment. This rejection was successfully appealed on 13th May 2009 and the file is currently being re-processed.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: This person applied for 5 animals and payment has already issued for 3 animals. Payment for 1 further animal has been approved and will issue shortly. Payment will not be made for the fifth animal as this calf and the cow were sold before all the measures were completed.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The amount spent on taxis by my Department since 2007 is set out in the following table. These figures comprise payments to both the firms with whom my Department has accounts and taxis used by officials in my Department as part of normal work related travel arrangements, both home and abroad. Year Amount Spent on Taxisâ'¬ 2007 79,418 2008 86,171 2009 to-date 26,133 The use of taxis by...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: There is no record of a formal application received in my Department under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme from the person concerned.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under EU rules payments in respect of REPS 4 are to be made in two instalments. The first instalment consists of 75% of the total payment due for the year and is paid to individual applicants once all administrative checks on all plans have been completed. The person named has received the first instalment of his payment and my officials expect to release the remaining 25 % shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under EU rules payments in respect of REPS 4 are to be made in two instalments. The first instalment consists of 75% of the total payment due for the year and is paid to individual applicants once all administrative checks on all plans have been completed. The person named has received the first instalment of his payment and my officials expect to release the remaining 25 % shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Unlike previous REPS Schemes, REPS 4 is paid on a calendar year basis. The person named received a 75% payment of € 9,000 in respect of the 7 months in which they participated in REPS 4 in 2008. Payment for a full calendar year in this case will fall due in 2009 and in successive years in the Scheme.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payment to person named issued on 28th May 2009.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payment to the person named issued on 19th May 2009.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Grant aid is available to plant native trees under the Native Woodland Establishment Scheme. Details of the scheme are available on my Department's website www.agriculture.gov.ie or by contacting the Forestry Division at Johnstown Castle Estate, Co. Wexford Lo-call 1890 200 223.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 12 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. To date, payment totalling €480 has issued in respect of 6 animals. Two further animals have been cleared for payment. A further three animals are in eligible, two have late registrations and one animal is missing the sire details. The remaining animal has not been confirmed as having been weaned....

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table. Year Nature of Bank Charges Total Electronic Fund Transfers* â'¬ Credit Card Accountsâ'¬ Purchase of Foreign Currencyâ'¬ Bank Commission chargesâ'¬ â'¬ 2006 7,848.60 371.73 237.73 411.40 8,869.46 2007 15,419.71 435.60 765.82 36.35 16,657.48 2008 **40,688.49 731.28 236.76 495.00 42,151.53 2009 (to date)...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Department is required by law to supply drinking water, conveniently accessible to all staff, in all its offices. In some cases this requirement is met through the provision of bottled water, the cost of which averaged some €5,700 per annum over the last 3 years.

Written Answers — Crop Spraying: Crop Spraying (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I am not aware of any blanket ban on crop spraying during daylight hours in the UK or in any other EU Member State. All plant protection products sold and used in Ireland must receive prior approval from my Department. The effect of a plant protection product on bees is one of the criteria assessed as part of the approval procedure. Products with an unacceptable effect on bees are...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application for the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme on 12 March 2008. With effect from 1 April 2008 the herd number was transferred into the name of another family member. Both parties have signed a Form of Undertaking agreeing that monies due will issue in the name of the original applicant. A total of 17 animals are under consideration for payment. Ten animals...

Written Answers — Meat Processing Sector: Meat Processing Sector (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 596 and 600 together. Grant aid was made available to the meat processing sector in the last 12 months under two funding programmes following detailed selection and evaluation processes. A grant aid scheme for the small meat sector, which includes small slaughterhouses and low throughput meat establishments, culminated in my Department awarding a total of...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (9 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: Scientific research conducted by the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES), indicated that the European eel stock is now outside safe biological limits. It advised that a recovery plan be developed for the whole stock of European eel and that exploitation and other human activities affecting the stock be reduced to as close to zero as possible. As required under EU...