Results 7,221-7,240 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named successfully applied under the New Entrant measure of the Single Payment Scheme. Subsequently, the person named applied to be considered for an allocation of entitlements under Categories A, B and C of the 2005 National Reserve. 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...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: As a result of environmental damage on commonages due to overgrazing by sheep, Ireland was required by the European Commission to put in place comprehensive measures to deliver environmentally sustainable farming practices as a condition of making REPS payments to commonage farmers. Over 4,000 Commonage Framework Plans, covering approximately 430,000 hectares, were prepared by agricultural...

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The number of staff in my Department provided with a Blackberry device or similar mobile e-mail equipment is 94. 87 staff have been provided with Blackberry devices and 7 staff are piloting a 'push email' solution on mobile-phones.

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has in place twenty one (21) databases to support its work. Twenty (20) databases are operated and hosted within the Department. One (1) database, which is shared with other Departments, is hosted by another public sector organization that provides hosting facilities.

Written Answers — Departmental Communications: Departmental Communications (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has invested significantly in IT over the past number of years and has successfully delivered many new IT systems to underpin its operations and to provide greater internal efficiencies, controls, and enhanced customer service. At any time there is a large programme of IT initiatives being progressed. The details requested by the Deputy in relation to the IT projects delivered...

Written Answers — Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The setting of policy in relation to the offsetting of carbon dioxide emissions from Ministerial travel is a matter, in the first instance, for my colleague, the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I understand that he, on foot of the commitment in the Programme for Government on carbon offsetting official air travel, is developing a scheme for use by all Government...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department has put in place a robust Information Technology infrastructure, at both the hardware and software levels, to ensure that all data (including personal data) is safe from hackers. A complex infrastructure consisting of firewalls, routers, and specialized software has been deployed to protect against intrusion by hackers, etc. As a further measure, the Department has put in...

Written Answers — Management Information Framework System: Management Information Framework System (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to answer Questions Nos. 659 and 660 together. The Management Information Framework has been fully operational in my Department. However, evaluation and improvement of the system is on-going and work is currently in hand to integrate into the system the fisheries related responsibilities which have been transferred to my Department. The main component of the Framework is the SAP...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The REPS agreement in question was between the Department and a third party, not the person named. Consequently the debt involved is not a matter for the representatives of the person named but for the third party concerned. I have asked my officials to communicate directly with the third party concerned to progress this matter.

Written Answers — Beef Imports: Beef Imports (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The report of the visit in March of the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) to Brazil was published in October. The progress in the implementation of the recommendations of that report will be assessed by the FVO. In this context of a further FVO mission was undertaken in November. At my request the matter was discussed recently by the Standing Committee on the Food Chain and Animal Health...

Written Answers — Registration of Title: Registration of Title (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The vesting order for the person named is completed and is currently being sealed and will be lodged with the Property Registration Authority within a week.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 1 May 2007. During processing of the application, it was necessary for an official of my Department to request additional information from the person named, which has now been supplied. Accordingly, full payment (€4,456.75) under the 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue to the person named...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (11 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The harbour at Ballycotton is owned by Cork County Council and responsibility for its development rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. My Department does, however, co-fund approved capital works under the Fishery Harbours and Coastal Infrastructure Programme, subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and overall national priorities. Funding of €900,000 was approved...

Written Answers — European Directives: European Directives (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The European Court decision referred to relates to the Wild Birds Directive. The implementation of this Directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. I am aware that the European Commission services are concerned about the condition of the vegetation on some commonages in Galway which had been damaged by overgrazing. The...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned has submitted three applications for grant-aid under the Farm Improvement Scheme. These applications are currently being considered within my Department. Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 will be processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named established 41.21 entitlements during the Single Payment reference period. In 2006, he applied for and was accepted under the Consolidation measure of the Single Payment Scheme. His entitlements were consolidated to 34.64. However, in processing the consolidation, it came to light that a plot of land of 0.27 hectares had been sold by the person named. Under the rules of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named with regard to the documentation required to release payments in this case as the applicant is deceased. My Department will process the applications on receipt of the requested documentation.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted the annual Application For Payment form on 4th December 2007 and it is being processed in accordance with Charter of Rights for Farmers guidelines.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application to transfer entitlements under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme to the person named was received on 27 November 2007. Upon examination of the application, it was necessary for an official of my Department to contact the person named and seek clarification on certain matters. Upon receipt of the requested information the application will be further processed.

Written Answers — Tourism Promotion: Tourism Promotion (13 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Coillte is developing 34 sites around the country under the Forest Recreation Infrastructure Programme administered by Fáilte Ireland under the National Development Plan. This initiative includes the development of walking trails, mountain bike trails, upgrading of forest parks and upgrading Coillte's recreation website "Coillte Outdoors". Donadea Forest Park is the only area in Kildare...