Results 9,921-9,940 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hardship Grant Scheme (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the Hardship Grant Scheme, assistance is available from my Department to eligible herdowners who are restricted under the TB and Brucellosis Eradication Scheme. The scheme is designed to alleviate the additional feed costs incurred by eligible owner(s) whose holdings are restricted during the period from the 1 November to 30 April, subject to a number of eligibility conditions. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Technology Adoption Programme (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: In order to facilitate processing and timely payment of both the 2013 Beef Technology Adoption Programme and the 2013 Sheep Technology Adoption Programme, it is necessary that there be a constant and consistent supply of necessary data and documentation to my Department from the Programme Facilitators. To this end, a schedule for submission of the returns in question was agreed and notified;...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Issues (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: With regard to the movement of terriers between Ireland and the UK, trade in live animals is regulated under EU legislation and it is not open to me to prohibit this trade provided these regulations are complied with. If the individual concerned has actual evidence that individuals are engaged in activities that are illegal either here or in the UK, they should pass it on to the relevant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (30 Apr 2013)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2012 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2012. During processing, an over-claim error was identified on one of the parcels declared. However, this issue has now been resolved and payment will issue to the nominated bank account as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010 and full payments totalling €1,666.65 and €4,999.98 issued in respect of 2010 and 2011 respectively. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The implementation of the Birds Directive and the Habitats Directive, under which Special Protection Areas (SPA’s) and Special Areas of Conservation (SAC’s) are designated, is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht. Farmers can be compensated under the Natura 2000 Measure of Ireland’s Rural Development Plan 2006 –...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in December 2007 and received payments for the first five years of their contract. REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. These checks have now been completed in this case and the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the difficulties being experienced by some farmers as a result of recent unseasonable weather, with difficult conditions experienced on farms last summer having been compounded by an extended winter. In light of the difficulties experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder supplies, last week I announced the allocation of €1 million to fund the Imported Fodder...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: There are a number of Special Protection Areas (SPA) designated for the protection of the hen harrier where restrictions apply to planting and other developments. Any future afforestation within the SPA must take into account the results of recent Hen Harrier breeding and distribution surveys, the availability of suitable habitat, existing forest cover, age profile of existing forests, and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Hardship Grant Scheme Eligibility (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the Hardship Grant Scheme, assistance is available from my Department to eligible herdowners who are restricted under the TB and Brucellosis Eradication Scheme. The scheme is designed to alleviate the additional feed costs incurred by eligible owner(s) whose holdings are restricted during the period from the 1 November to 30 April, payments are subject to the schemes criteria. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Special Areas of Conservation Designation (1 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: As previously advised the application referred to is in respect of a site located within Kenmare Bay which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive (Natura 2000 site). All applications in ‘Natura’ areas are required to be appropriately assessed for the purpose of environmental compliance with the EU Birds and Habitats Directives. My...

Topical Issue Debate: Fodder Crisis (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I thank the Deputy for raising this issue because it presents me with the opportunity to clarify a number of matters. It is rare that I am asked during a Topical Issue debate to do something which I already did the day before. However, that is the case in this instance. Yesterday, we extended the deadline relating to the transport subsidy for an additional week until 10 May. That said,...

Topical Issue Debate: Fodder Crisis (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: On each occasion I give an answer, I am presented with further requests. This is a serious matter and the Department and the industry have responded to it together in a very comprehensive way. Help is on the way for the many farmers who continue to experience significant shortages of fodder. In an extreme situation, we will intervene and feed their animals until they can afford to do so....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check of all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed before any payment can issue. Successive EU audits have made it absolutely clear that compliance with the Regulations must be strictly adhered to and that all...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fish Quotas (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: I understand that the Deputy is referring to correspondence he submitted to me on 26 March 2013 on behalf of mussel farmers in Lough Foyle who are having trading difficulties. That correspondence notes declining market prices for mussels and the lack of a mussel seed spat fall in Lough Foyle in recent years and requests assistance for growers. Mussel seed spat fall is a naturally occurring...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Funding (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides funding, where exchequer funds allow, for the development and repair of Local Authority owned piers and slipways under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme. Coastal Local Authorities were invited to submit applications for projects in both of years of interest to the Deputy, 2012 and 2013. Applications received from Mayo Co Co were as...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Funding (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department administers the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Capital Development Programme. The programme funds capital works at the six State owned Fishery Harbour Centres and, subject to available exchequer funding, the programme also provides grant aid to coastal Local Authorities for development and repair works at marine facilities in their ownership. The table below...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Compulsory Purchase Orders (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: My Department has received a Compulsory Purchase Order from Donegal County Council in respect of the area referred to by the Deputy. The matter is currently under consideration within my Department.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Expenditure (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: Grant-aid is available for the purchase of mobile handling equipment for the sheep sector under the TAMS Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Equipment Scheme. The grant-rate is 40 per cent and the maximum eligible investment ceiling is €25,000, i.e. a maximum grant of €10,000 per holding. The application forms and terms and conditions of the Scheme are available on my...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (2 May 2013)

Simon Coveney: In response to difficulties currently being experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder, I introduced a scheme on the 24th April last - the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme - under which €1m is being made available to assist in transport costs associated with importation of forage from abroad. The Scheme is operated by my Department through the Dairy Co-operatives/Milk Purchasers. The...