Results 4,741-4,760 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1190 and 1206 together. As part of the EU Strategy for Bio-fuels, the EU Commission has just published a Report on implementation of the Energy Crops Scheme since 2005 and on how the efficiency of the Scheme could be further improved. My Department is currently studying this Report.

Written Answers — Census of Population: Census of Population (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has no immediate plans to use the figures in the 2006 Census Preliminary Report produced by the Central Statistics Office. However, it is possible that they may be used in the future.

Written Answers — Waste Management: Waste Management (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The disposal of waste materials generally is covered by the Waste Management Acts 1996 to 2005, which apply to all sectors of society including the agricultural sector, and is a matter for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Under the Waste Management (Farm Plastics) Regulations 2001, manufacturers and importers of farm plastics — that is, silage bale wrap and...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Currently, support for the growing of energy crops is provided by way of the Energy Crops Scheme, which was introduced under the reform of the CAP. Under this scheme, energy crops 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. In addition to this scheme, set aside land...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category B. Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and /or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Following the introduction of the Single Payment Scheme last year, farmers now have the freedom to choose whatever farming enterprise is most appropriate to their circumstances. Under the agreement on reform of the EU sugar regime, the Single Payment Scheme is being extended to cover sugar beet compensation. The sugar reform agreement also provides for the introduction of aid for...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Council Regulation EC No. 1973/2004 provides that any agricultural raw material with the exception of Jerusalem artichokes or chicory roots may be grown on set-aside land, provided that they are intended primarily for use in the production of the end products referred to in Annex 1 of the Regulation, which include products intended for energy purposes.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: There is considerable potential for the use of forestry-based biomass, such as thinnings, as a source of renewable energy. A pilot study is underway in Co. Clare, with funding from my Department, on the feasibility of establishing a locally-based wood fuel economy. COFORD, the National Council for Forest Research and Development, is conducting trials on the harvesting, chipping and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Revised Standard Costings which are used to calculate grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme were introduced by my Department on 9 August 2006. The revised Costings take into account, inter alia, recent increases in the price of steel. The revised Standard Costings will be applied to all letters of approval issued to applicants to commence investment works since 1 January 2006.

Written Answers — Factory Closures: Factory Closures (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: Under the EU regulations governing the EU restructuring aid for the sugar industry, decisions on the percentage of the aid to be reserved for growers and certain machinery contractors and related matters were required to be made by the Member States. Based on the recommendations of an independent expert appointed by the Government and following a rigorous public consultation process, the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The tabular statement below sets out the numbers of 2005 Single Payment Scheme applications in each county with outstanding problems, which must be solved prior to payment. In common with the coupled schemes, which the Single Payment Scheme replaced, delays in processing can be caused by many factors, including incomplete application forms, errors on applications and discrepancies...

Written Answers — Rural Development Plan: Rural Development Plan (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The new rural development programme will cover the period 2007 to 2013. A draft programme is currently being finalised and will issue for public consultation. It will also be subject to independent evaluation and a strategic environmental assessment. Following this process, the programme will be submitted for approval to the EU Commission. I have emphasised to the Commission the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category D. This category caters for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in respect of that scheme year. The person named is deemed successful under this category. A formal...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application under the Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances measure of the Single Payment Scheme. Following a full examination of the circumstances put forward, the person named was informed that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria laid down in Article 40 of Council Regulation EC No. 1782/2003, determining Force Majeure/Exceptional...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named declared two parcels of land on his 2006 Disadvantaged Areas/Single Payment Scheme application form which were also declared by another applicant. This resulted in a dual claim, which must be resolved prior to the final processing of the applications. My Department wrote to both applicants and has received responses from both. However, my Department has issued a further...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named did not farm during the reference years 2000-2002 and therefore no single payment entitlements were established for him. He applied to the 2005 National Reserve for an allocation of entitlements under Category D. This category caters for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in respect of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category B. Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1208 to 1211, inclusive, together. The Report of the Joint Committee on Communications, Marine and Natural Resources made a number of recommendations under the theme of 'Sustainable Energy Policy' to support the production of biofuels in Ireland. This included a recommendation that the possibility of providing state assistance to encourage the conversion of...

Written Answers — Cattle Movement Monitoring System: Cattle Movement Monitoring System (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: A record in respect of this animal appears on the herd profile of the person named on the Cattle Movement Monitoring System (CMMS). The records in my Department indicate that the animal in question was registered on 7 August 2001 as the dam of a female calf born in the named person's herd on 29 June 2001. However there is no record on the CMMS database that this animal ever moved from the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Sep 2006)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Categories A, B and D. Category A caters for farmers who inherited land or received land free of charge or for a nominal sum from a farmer who had retired or died by 16 May 2005 and who had leased out his/her holding to a third party during the reference...