Results 5,881-5,900 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has adjudicated that the Sworn Affidavit received from the person named with regard the Single Payment Scheme 2009 confirms proof of postage to the Department of the appropriate Single Payment Scheme application form before the 15th May 2009 i.e. the deadline for receipt of applications. The appropriate payment will now be made to the person named.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The six designated Fishery Harbour Centres, including Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre, are managed via a statutory fund, known as the Fishery Harbour Centres' Fund, which the Comptroller & Auditor General audits on an annual basis. The most recent audited accounts available are for the year ended 31/12/2006 and show the total income for Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre for that year to be...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The harbour at Killybegs is designated as a Fishery Harbour Centre under the Fishery Harbour Centres Acts 1968 (as amended) and is managed and operated by my Department in accordance with these Acts. These Acts provide for the establishment and operation of the Fishery Harbour Centres to promote, develop and carry on sea fishing, fish processing, fishing related activities and matters...

Written Answers — Food Safety Standards: Food Safety Standards (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Ensuring that foods marketed in Ireland are safe and compliance with relevant food safety legislation is the responsibility of the individual food businesses. Enforcing the legislation is the responsibility of the Food Safety authority of Ireland (FSAI), which delegates that activity to various official agencies under service contracts. In accordance with its service contract with the FSAI,...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: It is clear from on-going communication between officials of my Department and representatives of relevant stakeholders including Local Authority Veterinary Inspectors, Animal Welfare Organisations and the Horse Industry that horse welfare problems continue to be reported including a risk of abandonment of horses. My officials are continuing to engage with the relevant stakeholders in an...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Grant-aid under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was paid by my Department to the person concerned on 29 April 2010.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I understand that the relevant payments have now been made to the person in question.

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department does not have detailed records in all cases of the previous employment history outside the civil service of staff members and therefore details of pension entitlements of staff currently employed in my Department as a result of previous employment in the public sector are not available.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Restaurants in Agriculture House, Dublin, Johnstown Castle, Wexford and Government Offices, Portlaoise, are operated by independent commercial companies. The food sourced for these canteens is of Irish origin. The operation of such facilities in the State agencies under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the agencies themselves as part of their day-to-day activities.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: I am aware of fishermen's concerns regarding the seal populations in and around our coasts. With regard to the role that the seal plays in the conservation of fish stocks, seals eat a wide array of fish and invertebrates. I am informed that their diet appears to vary considerably depending on location, time of year and the abundance of available prey. Insofar as management of the national...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: For some time recently, the processing of REPS payments has been delayed in my Department's local offices in Kerry because two vacant supervisory posts remained unfilled in line with the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the civil service. My Department has now put arrangements in place to resolve the situation. This will enable the processing of claims to proceed and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: For some time recently, the processing of REPS payments has been delayed in my Department's local offices in Kerry because two vacant supervisory posts remained unfilled in line with the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the civil service. My Department has now put arrangements in place to resolve the situation. This will enable the processing of claims to proceed and...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named regarding the dual claim of one land parcel under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme, following which the case is now being further reviewed. The person named will be advised of the outcome of the review shortly.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payment of the Early Retirement pension to the person named commenced on 28 February 2010. Arrears of pension backdated to 1 October 2009, the date of valid application, were included with the first payment.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within ten working days.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The total area of land owned by Coillte is 426,500 hectares with an additional 3,000 hectares on long term lease and 12,500 hectares under the company's management through farm partnerships – this equates to 442,000 hectares. Some 80 % of Coillte's land is under forestry. Details are not readily available as to areas specifically earmarked for or currently utilized for alternative...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. Queries arose on the application from the person named and my officials requested that an amended plan be submitted. This plan was received on 12 April 2010 and my...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application for the Single Payment Scheme 2009 which was received, in my Department, on 20th November 2009. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Single Payment Scheme 2009, all applications received after 9th June 2009 incur a 100% late penalty. An appeal in connection with this 100% late penalty is currently being dealt with by the Agriculture Appeals Office....

Written Answers — Bovine Movement Certificates: Bovine Movement Certificates (11 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: Following the closure of the District Veterinary Office, Ennis, my Department have written to all herdowners who were previously dealt with from that office and advised them that their files will now be administered from the District Veterinary Office, Limerick. In view of this change, herdowners based in County Clare who require movement permits should contact the District Veterinary Office...

Written Answers — Forestry Inventory: Forestry Inventory (11 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: In 2007, the Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food completed a National Forest Inventory in Ireland. This inventory involved a detailed field survey of Ireland's forests and woodlands. The purpose of the National Forest Inventory is to record and assess the composition and condition of the entire forest estate, both public and private, at national level. To...