Results 6,541-6,560 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options 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. Payment will issue at the earliest possible date once these checks have been completed. Until such time as all applications have...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The new Agri-Environment Options Scheme was introduced to give farmers the opportunity to participate in a scheme which rewards actions that benefit the environment. The scheme closed to applications on 17 May, 2010 and further participation will be determined by the level of funding available to my Department. All EU funding for the scheme up to the end of 2013 is now fully committed. Any...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: Details in relation to the Department's telecommunication providers are supplied in the following table: Provider Expenditure2009 Expenditure to date 2010 Description BT Communications Ireland Ltd. €28,907.42 €11,413.40 Voice and Data Telecommunication Services Complete Network Technology Ltd. €54,674.85 €40,333.20 Data Telecommunication Services Eircom Ltd. €3,140,929.89...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department draws down energy from the Electricity Supply Board, Energia, Topaz, Bord Gais, Flogas and Natural Power Supply. Payment to these companies vary from monthly to quarterly financial agreements. In so far as the State Agencies under the aegis of my Department are concerned the issues raised in the question are a matter for the agencies themselves as part of their day to day...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Department's records indicate that in 2007, the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure applied to land on the holding of the person named above (including that deposited by animals) was 233.23 kgs per hectare, which exceeded the limit of 170 kgs per hectare set down in the Nitrates Regulations. My Department wrote to the person named on two occasions in 2008 notifying him that he had...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 22 March 2009. The Terms and Conditions governing the Scheme require, inter alia, that applicants maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare declared, for at least three consecutive months, during the calendar year of application. However, where...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: This case was adjudicated on by an Appeals Officer and a decision issued on 7th October 2010. The herdowner was deemed ineligible for the Installation Aid Scheme as he did not have sufficient owned/leased land to generate at least 20 income units within 12 months of set up. This is one of the fundamental requirements of eligibility as outlined in the terms and conditions of the Scheme. The...

Written Answers — Food Labelling: Food Labelling (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Minister for Health and Children has overall responsibility for the general food labelling legislation. Responsibility for the enforcement of this legislation rests with the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). This is done through service contracts with other relevant agencies including the Health Service Executive, the Local Authority Veterinary Service, the Sea Fisheries...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on the 13 May 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. During this visit discrepancies were found in relation to parcels H20918027, H20918028 and H21902050. As a result of these discrepancies the claimed...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department is currently engaged in an extensive revision of the terms and conditions of aquaculture licences including licences for the cultivation of salmon. All relevant stakeholders including industry representatives have been closely involved with this process. The aim of this review is to ensure that aquaculture licences remain fit for purpose in the context of the challenges and...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: Greencastle harbour is owned by Donegal County Council and the maintenance and development of the harbour is the responsibility of the Council in the first instance. My Department has, however, in recent years, project managed works on phase 1 of the Greencastle Harbour development project on behalf of Donegal County Council as well as providing funding. Some €104,000 was allocated this...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 500 and 501 together. The Sea Fishery Protection Authority was established on 1st January 2007. However, it was established under the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (the now DCENR) and did not come under the aegis of my Department until late 2007. The annual budgets for this body for each of the years concerned are: 2007 2008...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with an advance payment of 75% issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application required digitisation; immediately this...

Written Answers — Milk Prices: Milk Prices (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: Dairy farmers' incomes comprise the market price paid for milk and direct income support from the EU. There has of course been a significant increase in milk prices in 2010 compared to the previous year, and the outlook is very much more positive than it was this time last year. As Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, I am committed to developing a strong and vibrant dairy sector,...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: My overarching view is that we need a strong and adequately resourced CAP after 2013. This policy must support sustainable and competitive agriculture in the years ahead and, in particular, the development of our vision for the sector as espoused in Food Harvest 2020. We need to ensure security of food supply and maintain family farming in Europe. However, as an exporting country, we also...

Written Answers — Farm Household Incomes: Farm Household Incomes (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The most recently published data on farm incomes is in Teagasc's National Farm Survey for 2009, which estimated that average farm income for that year was €11,968. Full-time farms, as defined by Teagasc, had an average farm income of €24,214. The following table shows the equivalent figures for 2008 and 2007. Direct comparison with 2010 is not yet possible as the 2010 survey will not be...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on the 23 April 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility inspection. While all of the cases selected for ground eligibility inspection have now been inspected and a high level of payment has been achieved under the scheme, processing of a...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: In March 2009 the Government announced a moratorium on promotion and recruitment in the civil service. Under the terms of the moratorium, no posts can be filled without the prior sanction of the Minister for Finance. Accordingly, sanction has been requested from the Department of Finance to recruit officers on a temporary basis to undertake the national forest inventory. Discussions are...

Written Answers — Animal Carcase Disposal: Animal Carcase Disposal (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: Decisions regarding the type of horse an individual chooses to breed are a matter for the individual breeder. My Department has provided incentives and assistance through a range of measures down through the years, in accordance with European Commission State Aid Guidelines, aimed at improving equine quality. These measures are contained within the NDP 2007-2013. Since 2007 my Department...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned submitted a REPS 4 application in July 2009. The REPS contract was given a start date of 1 January 2010 and is currently being processed for payment together with all other 2010 applications. As the REPS 4 scheme is now closed, an extra parcel cannot be included or claimed on the plan. It is open to a participant, however, to submit an amended application including an...