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Seanad: Road Network (7 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I assure the Senator that the issues he has raised will be brought to the attention of the Minister for Transport.

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: This is a long-standing case involving leasing arrangements put in place initially in 1937. Following refurbishment of the pier in the late 1990s, the Port of Cork indicated a wish to alter the leasing arrangement with a view to ultimately acquiring the freehold of the area of foreshore in question. At a meeting between officials of my Department with representatives of the Port Company...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The proposal referred to by the Deputy would require an appropriate foreshore consent under the Foreshore Acts. In line with normal procedures, my Department requires that planning permission be obtained before consideration is given to an application for a foreshore consent. This requirement is of general application. The Department's consideration of this case remains open pending...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The level of services provided at Howth Fishery harbour Centre are constantly appraised and upgraded in accordance with its designation as a Fishery Harbour Centre and the requirements of stakeholders and harbour users. An Invitation to Tender for the operation of a Food and Beverage (Non-Alcohol) Unit at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre has recently been published in the national press, on the...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Responsibility for coast protection rests with the property owner whether it is a Local Authority or a private individual and in this instance it would rest with the property owners, i.e., the Irish College and the five local farmers. My Department's Coastal Protection Programme provides funding to projects managed by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and also provides for the...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The criteria for planting are based on the Forestry Schemes Manual, a comprehensive suite of environmental guidelines including fisheries, landscape, archaeology, biodiversity, harvesting and forest protection, and the Code of Best Forest Practice (all available on the Department's website). The criteria vary from site to site and each application is examined by the Forest Service for...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The end-2008 deadline for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a strict condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. I have no plans to approach the EU Commission to alter the terms of the state aid approval.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The 2007 National Reserve was advertised on 16 May 2007 with a closing date of 8 June 2007. On initial examination of the Department's records it appeared that up to 8,000 farmers could qualify under the special sheep measure of the National Reserve but up to 11 June only 1,000 farmers had applied under this category. The deadline for applications was then extended to the 22 June 2007. In...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: There is no grant-aid available from my Department for the construction of cattle underpasses.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: Kilcummin Pier is owned by Mayo 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 Mayo County Council to submit proposals for inclusion in the Fishery Harbours & Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme for 2008. An application for funding for a new slipway and hard standing...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I presume the Deputy is referring to the end-2008 deadline for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006. This is a strict condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme and I have no plans to approach the EU Commission to alter the terms of the state aid approval. All claims for payment must therefore be...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The EU Commission has proposed a Thematic Strategy for the Sustainable Use of Pesticides. The Strategy includes a number of initiatives to reduce the impact of pesticides including a revised and extended Regulatory system for plant protection products. Council Directive 91/414/EEC requires that all plant protection products be approved, following risk assessments, before being placed on the...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of payments made by my Department is set out in the following table. Year Average no. of days for payment to issue 2004 18 days 2005 23 days 2006 18 days 2007 22 days 2008 (to date) 18 days The table indicates the number of days which elapsed between receipt of invoices in the Department and the issue of payment. Payments made by...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The 2007 National Reserve was advertised on 16 May 2007 with a closing date of 8 June 2007. On initial examination of the Department's records it appeared that up to 8,000 farmers could qualify under the special sheep measure of the National Reserve but up to 11 June only 1,000 farmers had applied under this category. The deadline for applications was then extended to 22 June 2007. In...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: On 16 May 2007, a comprehensive package of aid measures was announced for the sheep sector in Ireland, including a specific range of grants to encourage on-farm investment in that sector. These grants were made available to sheep farmers under the Farm Improvement Scheme which was introduced on 12 July 2007. The Scheme was suspended for new applications on 31 October 2007 as applications...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The mixed grazing supplementary measure is available to farmers joining REPS 4. Out of 3,787 applications for REPS 4 received up to today, 241 applicants have indicated that they wish to participate in the mixed grazing measure. Eleven of these applications have been approved and paid to date. In total my Department has issued some €9,000 to the farmers. I am currently considering...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted a REPS 4 plan in December 2007. If it is a valid application, he will start his REPS 4 contract from 1 January 2008 and will receive 75% of his 2008 full year's REPS payment when all administrative checks for REPS and the 2008 Single Payment Scheme are completed. In practice, this will be in early autumn. The remaining 25% payment will go out when the last of the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have no plans at present to introduce a Scheme to aid the purchase of harvesting machinery for bioenergy crops. In 2007, I introduced a new Bioenergy Scheme offering establishment grants of up to €1,450 per hectare to farmers to plant willow and miscanthus. Some 800 hectares were grant aided in 2007. One of the main advantages of these crops is that harvesting operations can be carried...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 355 and 356 together. REPS is a agri-environmental measure, and for that reason payments to farmers must be costed and justified on the basis of quantifiable environmental benefits that go beyond keeping land in good agricultural and environmental condition and observing the statutory management requirements of the Single Payment Scheme. No element of the...

Written Answers — Cereal Sector: Cereal Sector (8 May 2008)

Brendan Smith: The concept "conservation agriculture"in the context of tillage undoubtedly embraces at least the principles of minimal soil disturbance, permanent soil cover with plants or residues and the use of crop rotations and cover crops. Minimal soil disturbance by the use of alternatives to ploughing is increasingly being practised in Ireland. The current Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS...

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