Results 7,361-7,380 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned is an applicant for aid under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. His application for payment is currently being examined within my Department and the outcome will be notified to the person concerned as soon as possible.

Written Answers — EU Funding: EU Funding (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The total package negotiated in the context of the reform of the EU sugar regime was worth in excess of €310m to Ireland. The former beet growers are beneficiaries under all three elements of the package. The first element is the compensation for the reduction in the minimum price of beet, which has been already incorporated in the Single Payment with effect from 2006. It is worth...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy may be aware, the allocation of milk quota to new entrants has been a feature of the milk quota regime for a number of years. New entrants under 35 years of age received preferential access to milk quota from a specially created priority pool under the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme until 2007, and the same priority pool arrangement is a feature of the new Milk Quota Trading...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016. Payments under the Scheme have already commenced to those farmers who have satisfactorily completed work under the Scheme.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Since 1 June 2002 to date, there were no instances where personal data held by my Department or any agency under its auspices, was compromised in any way. The review by my Department of data security procedures announced by the Tánaiste on 22 November 2007 is completed. No significant shortcomings were found. On an ongoing basis my Department reviews its data security procedures with a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named on a number of occasions, following which enquiries are ongoing regarding the issues raised. The person named will be contacted again as soon as matters are clarified.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the question relates to payment for the organic farming supplementary measure in REPS 3. The person named first joined REPS in 2001 and his contract started on 1 August 2001. He applied to transform to REPS 3 in September 2004, using the streamlined transformation arrangements in place at the time. He was allowed to transform to REPS 3 and his new contract was backdated...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, 2006 was the first year of reporting compliance with the 3% employment target under the Disability Act 2005. My Department used the 'Count Me In' survey, prepared by the Department of Finance and the NDA, to collect this data. Of the employees that responded to the survey, 4.1% indicated that they had a disability as defined under the 2005 Act. This information is...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 885 and 887 together. To the end of December 2007, 253 civil servants had decentralised to my Department's offices in Portlaoise. To the end of December 2006, the number was 187. To the end of December 2007, 80 civil servants had decentralised to my Department's offices in Clonakilty. The move to Clonakilty is now substantially complete. The Government's...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: To the end of December, 253 civil servants had transferred to my Department's offices in Portlaoise under the decentralisation programme. 70 of these were assigned to Portlaoise from outside Dublin. The move of the Department's Fisheries function to Clonakilty is now substantially complete. Of the 80 posts moved, 53 were assigned from outside of Dublin. A revision to the Department's...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: All current quota management arrangements have been put in place following detailed consultation with industry representatives. I am always prepared to consider any alternative proposals from industry for improving the management of quota allocation.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: The dumping overboard of unwanted fish from a fishing vessel, usually referred to as discarding, is a complex problem and is a feature of many fisheries, particularly those that involve a mix of species (for example, cod, haddock and whiting). In a mixed fishery, one species may be the target of fishing activity, but other species may be caught accidentally in the fishing gear. This can...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Any restrictions regarding the carryover of quota in various fisheries from one month to the next or from one period to another are in place with the agreement of industry representatives. These arrangements are discussed in detail at regular meetings between my officials and industry representatives and all proposals from industry are, as far as possible, accommodated. I am always prepared...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Any restrictions currently in place regarding the carryover of quota in various fisheries from one month to the next or from one period to another are there with the agreement of industry representatives. These arrangements are discussed in detail at regular meetings between my officials and industry representatives and all proposals from industry are, as far as possible, accommodated. I am...

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: One of the requirements of the Flood Strategy Review Group Report, was that the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources advise the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Office of Public Works on 'impacts and sensitivity of erosion and coastal flood risk in relation to planning and development', as well as providing assistance in the...

Written Answers — Coastal Protection: Coastal Protection (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: In 2002, the Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources (DCMNR) began a review of coastal protection requirements with a view to adopting a more long-term strategic, structured approach to the issues involved. The National Coastal Protection Strategy Studies in pilot areas have been completed and studies are being extended into new areas. In the pilot area information was...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Doonbeg Pier is owned by Clare County Council and responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. However, in late 2007, my Department invited Clare County Council to submit its proposals for inclusion in the Fishery Harbours & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2008. An application for funding for the development of Doonbeg...

Written Answers — Alternative Energy Projects: Alternative Energy Projects (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Support for the development of an alternative industry to sugar processing is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment and the relevant state agencies. Notwithstanding this and the fact that responsibility for the promotion and development of renewable energy rests with the Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources, I did meet with...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (31 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2007. The person named has 80.03 standard entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme, and he declared 79.69 hectares of land on his 2007 application form. In order to receive payment in respect of standard entitlements an applicant must have an "eligible hectare''...