Results 4,761-4,780 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Foreshore and Dumping at Sea Amendment Bill now before the Oireachtas will transfer certain foreshore functions from my Department to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government. In addition, the Bill will transfer responsibility for the Dumping at Sea Acts to the Environmental Protection Agency. Other than the transfer of functions, there are no significant amendments...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The holding of the person concerned has been restricted since 2 April 2008 following a post mortem check on animals sent for slaughter which disclosed TB infection in two animals. A TB skin test was carried out in May 2008 on the animals remaining in the herd and a further 9 reactors were identified. Further tests in the herd have resulted in a total of 25 reactor animals being removed....

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department had analyses conducted at the Irish Equine Centre on samples of imported poultry this year. This was specifically in the context of the gas flushing of poultrymeat. The results of these analyses are presently being assessed and any follow-up action, including dissemination of information, that is considered necessary will be taken. My Department is working in close liaison...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: While animal feed protein derived from non-GM crop varieties is available on the world market, protein feed materials derived from non-GM soya and maize are more expensive than their GM counterparts. This is due to reduced cultivation level of the non-GM varieties, and the extra costs associated with 'identity preservation' i.e. the process of segregating non-GM from GM crops. While the...

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

Brendan Smith: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008 and I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to the Scheme at this time. I have, however, made provision of €9.75 million in 2009 to meet the existing commitments under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the preceding equivalent schemes.

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

Brendan Smith: There are 5,594 County Galway farmers in the Suckler Welfare Scheme. These farmers had 75,887 animals eligible for payment in 2008. The number of animals payable for 2009 will not be known until all the measures have been completed and all the information has been returned by the farmers and processed by my Department. Under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, 3,485 farmers in Co.Galway...

Written Answers — Animal Identification Scheme: Animal Identification Scheme (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The introduction of electronic identification (EID) for sheep was agreed at EU level in late 2003. At that time, it was agreed to defer the implementation date until January 2008. The Council revisited this issue in December 2007 when it was agreed that the deadline for the compulsory introduction of EID should be set for 31 December 2009, 6 years after the original decision was taken. I...

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

Brendan Smith: Expenditure under the Farm Waste Management Scheme in County Galway since 2007 is set out in the following table: Year Amount (€m) 2007 8.771 2008 33.159 2009 (to date) 11.978 Total 53.908 Payments under the Scheme in 2009 (excluding payments under the Scheme which preceded the Nitrates version of the Scheme introduced in March 2006) have been made on an instalment basis with 40 per...

Written Answers — Animal Carcass Disposal: Animal Carcass Disposal (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The burial of dead animals on farms is not generally permitted under EU Regulations, notably Regulation (EC) No. 1774/2002. The basic legal requirement is that animals which die on farms must generally be disposed of through approved knackeries and rendering plants. Burial of fallen animals is only permissible under licence in remote areas i.e. islands and listed mountain or bog land areas....

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following are the numbers of REPS contracts in County Galway and the years in which they expire: Scheme Number (approximately) Last year of Contract Cost per year (approximately) REPS 3 1,253 2009 € 7.7 million REPS 3 1,057 2010 € 6.5 million REPS 3 3,147 2011 € 19.5 million REPS 4 25 2012 € 0.1 million REPS 4 1,237 2013 € 7.6 million REPS 4 1,473 2014 € 9.1 million...

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

Brendan Smith: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008 and I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to the Scheme at this time. I have, however, made provision of €9.75 million in 2009 to meet the existing commitments under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the preceding equivalent schemes. When the Early Retirement Scheme was suspended it became...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: In Building Ireland's Smart Economy A Framework for Sustainable Economic Renewal, the Government recognized that major on-farm investment in infrastructure would ensure more efficient and sustainable production methods in Irish agriculture. As part of this strategy, my Department has continued to make very substantial payments under the following on-farm investment schemes since the...

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Increasing the efficiency and competitiveness of milk production includes getting milk quota into the hands of those best placed to use it effectively, at reasonable cost. The Milk Quota Trading Scheme has been very successful on both fronts. Since its inception, the Trading Scheme has allowed more than 2,800 sales of quota to be conducted, accounting for the trade of 375 million litres of...

Written Answers — Agri-Food Sector: Agri-Food Sector (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Details of the projects to be supported under a capital investment aid scheme for the beef and sheepmeat primary processing sectors were announced in May of this year. 15 projects were approved for grant assistance of over €69 million. The grant awards, which are part of a strategy to ensure the long-term competitiveness of the industry, will contribute to total investment in the region of...

Written Answers — Harbour and Piers: Harbour and Piers (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Fishery Harbour & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme provides funding for infrastructural developments at the six state-owned Fishery Harbour Centres and also provides co-funding towards works at fishery harbours owned by coastal Local Authorities. In excess of €19 million was spent on the Programme in 2008 and in 2009 expenditure is expected to be in the region of €15...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–2013 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including plan checks, to be completed before the first 2009 payments issue. Processing of applications is at an advanced stage. I hope to be in a position to release the 75% payment due on valid applications in mid-...

Written Answers — Departmental Programmes: Departmental Programmes (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The legislation provides for the transfer of all property rights and liabilities held by my Department to the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government following the commencement of the Bill. The functions transferring concern the processing of certain foreshore consent applications and associated coastal management functions. There are no significant property rights or...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Industry: Aquaculture Industry (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information sought is not readily available in the format requested by the Deputy. My Department is currently examining its files and I will be glad to contact the Deputy directly regarding the matter.

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: To date in 2009 one site investigation licence has been issued by my Department in respect of a proposed test site for renewable energy projects.

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (24 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: At present my Department has approximately 45 legal cases under consideration involving either Foreshore or Aquaculture licensing. Of these, 16 cases are currently before the Courts. The remainder are at various stages of legal preparation. Pending the judicial outcome in each case it is not possible to quantify the financial implications.