Results 5,521-5,540 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Import Costs: Import Costs (29 Mar 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the continued high cost of inputs for several farming sectors. Feed prices and fuel costs have been high for well over a year, although feed costs are now lower than in early 2011. The Government is seeking to alleviate the burden on farmers through applying an additional allowance for farmers in relation to green diesel, as announced in the budget in December. High Commodity...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The maximum level of afforestation agreed for the 2011 planting season for the special protection area in question is 45 hectares. A decision on the level of afforestation that may be permitted in this SPA for the 2012/13 planting season will be decided following consultation with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Future afforestation levels must take into account the results of Hen...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Hauliers of animal by-products, including fallen animals, are registered and supervised by my Department in accordance with national and EU Animal By-Product (ABP) Regulations, which lay down health rules as regards the use and disposal of ABP. Annex VIII of Regulation (EC) No. 142/2011 lays down detailed hygiene, temperature and traceability requirements. In particular, the regulation...

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1064 and 1118 together. Responsibility for management of the national deer herd, including for sending carcases to laboratories rests with the National Parks and Wildlife Service. However, my Department monitors the outcome of routine veterinary examination of wild deer carcasses intended for human consumption. My Department also specifically carries out...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: Dingle Harbour was designated as a Fishery Harbour Centre (An Daingean Fishery Harbour Centre) with effect from 14th May 2007. My Department has had responsibility for the management and development of the harbour from that date. The harbour was previously in the ownership and management of the Dingle Harbour Commissioners. A total of €307,000 in funding was provided for works at the...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The following is a summary of the capital investment made at An Daingean Fishery Harbour Centre from my Departments Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development programme for the years 2010 and 2011: 2010 €1,048,817 2011 €695,093 In addition to these costs there would have been costs incurred to pay staff and cover current costs. These costs would have been met from the...

Written Answers — Genetically Modified Organisms: Genetically Modified Organisms (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1067, 1114 and 1136 together. Teagasc operates as a separate non-commercial semi state body under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with their own management structure and governing Authority. The Act establishing Teagasc confers on it principal functions in relation to the provision of education, advisory and research services...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 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...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: My Department's office in Donegal Town was identified for closure as a result of a review of my Department's local office network. My Department has redeployed staff in accordance with a protocol agreed with the staff associations and has endeavoured to redeploy staff within location where possible. Unfortunately this has not been possible for all staff in Donegal Town as there are no further...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: It will be recalled that, on foot of commitments given in the 2012 Budget, significant savings needed to be found in my Department's expenditure for 2012, part of which it was decided should come from the funding assigned to the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. However, rather that simply apply an across the board cut to the rates payable or reduce the maximum payable area, I decided that real...

Written Answers — Veterinary Inspection Service: Veterinary Inspection Service (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 1071 to 1074, inclusive, together. Licensed Merchant outlets (including such outlets operated in association with a veterinary practice) selling animal remedies are subject to a licensing regime operated by my Department. Currently, around 700 premises are licensed. Under this regime, the outlets concerned are subject to routine inspections once in a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 on 1st June 2009 and has received payment in full for the first two years of his contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payment can issue. Administrative checks in respect of 2011 payments...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned submitted an application for grant-aid under the Dairy Equipment Scheme during the course of the first tranche under that Scheme which closed on 31 January 2012. The tranche concerned was heavily over-subscribed and the applications are currently being processed with a view to issuing approvals as soon as possible. The person named will be notified of the outcome in writing.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 3 on the 1st October 2006 and has received payment for four years. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. During a Single Payment Scheme inspection in 2011, an issue arose in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned submitted an application for grant-aid under the Dairy Equipment Scheme during the course of the tranche under that Scheme which closed on 31 January 2012. The tranche concerned was heavily over-subscribed and the applications are currently being processed with a view to issuing approvals as soon as possible. The person named will be notified of the outcome in writing....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: A 2012 Transfer of Entitlements application was received on 27 February 2012 requesting the transfer of 242.73 Single Payment entitlements from the estate of the first person named to the second person named by way of inheritance. The closing date for receipt of such applications for the 2012 scheme year is 15 May 2012 and the transfer application will be processed in due course according to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered eight animals under the 2011 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment issued for seven of these animals on 16th December 2011, including payment for the animal bearing tag number IE272045460121. However, an error was identified during the payment validation process regarding the animal bearing tag number IE272045490116. A letter regarding this error issued to the person...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2010 and full payment totalling €1,424.71 issued in respect of 2010. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 6th May 2011. This application was selected for a cross compliance inspection and during the course of this inspection discrepancies were uncovered that were deemed to be intentional and a penalty of 20% was recorded for breaches of the Nitrates regulations. The person...

Written Answers — Transportation of Animals: Transportation of Animals (18 Apr 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am aware of the situation in relation to the operation of the cable car to Dursey Island. The operation of the cable car to Dursey Island is the responsibility of Cork County Council. Cork County Council engaged consulting engineers to carry out studies on the cable car servicing Dursey Island following which the transportation of all animals was ceased from 30th January 2012 for a number...