Results 13,001-13,020 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Funding (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: In developing the shape of the new system of Direct Payments in Ireland, I have been very conscious of the needs of sheep farmers, in particular those who farm on hill and commonage land. In general this group holds low value entitlements under the current Single Payment Scheme and will benefit significantly from the model of convergence that is to be applied in Ireland where those with a low...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1st September 2011 and full payments have issued in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. The person named was selected for an on-farm inspection which took place on 11th September 2013. During this inspection, issues of non compliance with the Terms and Conditions of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Offices (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: I would like to emphasise that the Tullamore office is not being closed down. The position is that the administrative functions are being transferred to the Cavan office but the Department’s vets, inspectors and technical officers will remain in place at the existing local offices to service our clients across all of the schemes that are provided from these offices. Frontline services...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Bodies Establishment (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not established any organisation or agency since 9 March 2011.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: An issue has arisen with regard to the recording of lands purchased in 2010 by the person named on my Department’s Land Parcel Identification System. My Department has issued a reply to the person named and an official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named who is now satisfied that the matter has been resolved.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Foreshore Licence Applications (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: An application by Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM) for an aquaculture licence for the cultivation of finfish near Inis Oirr in Galway Bay was received by my Department in 2012. The application and its accompanying Environmental Impact Statement are being considered under the provisions of the 1997 Fisheries (Amendment) Act and the 1933 Foreshore Act. A determination in respect of the application...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2011. Under the EU Regulations governing the 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. This application was...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agricultural Appeals Office (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Agriculture Appeals Office received an appeal from the above-mentioned on 8 October 2013. The appeal was acknowledged and a request was sent to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for the Department file and a statement on the issue on the same date. The Department file was received on 28 November 2013 and was immediately assigned to an Appeals Officer. The appellant in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme and other area related schemes, is required to carry out an annual round of inspections covering both the eligibility of the land declared to draw down payments and also cross compliance aspects, to ensure adherence with EU regulatory requirements in the areas of public, animal and plant...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Installation Aid Scheme (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The consultation paper prepared by my Department in relation to the proposed measures for inclusion in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme for 2014-2020 includes a commitment to the introduction of an enhanced grant scheme for young farmers with a specific grant rate of 60 per cent compared to the standard grant rate of 40 per cent which will be generally available under other...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The 2013 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. This inspection identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area found, resulting in an over-declaration in area of greater than 20% in respect of both the Single Farm Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme. Based...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: An application under 2013 Single Payment was received from the person named on 14 May 2013. An advance payment in respect of Single Payment issued on 16 October, however due to a change in circumstances regarding the ownership of the herd number the balancing payment due to issue on 2 December 2013 is currently withheld pending the receipt of updated bank account details. An Official from...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Investigations (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: A large number of studies and investigations have been undertaken by various state agencies into the production problems affecting the farm of the person concerned between 2004 and 2009. The farm issues were investigated by my own Department’s Veterinary Laboratory Service with the assistance of Teagasc and subsequently by the Centre for Veterinary Epidemiology and Risk Analysis...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The definition of ‘young farmer’ under the new Direct Payments Regulation that will come into force in 2015 includes the criteria that such persons are aged 40 or less in their first year of application and that they have established their holding within five years of their first application under the Basic Payment Scheme. Persons who meet the definition of ‘young...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 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 and the 75% Year 6...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Poultry Industry (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The new EU policy framework setting out the broad principles in relation to rural development for the 2014-2020 period has now been finalised. My Department has prepared a consultation paper in relation to the proposed measures for inclusion in Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and the consultation process with relevant stakeholders is due to be completed shortly. Following...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Town Trusts (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The trustees have provided details relating to the bank accounts of the public Castlerea Town Trust and my officials rely on the trustees to comply with their obligations under the trust.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: In excess of 18,000 farmers benefited under the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme, under which, to date, payments worth some €2.4 million have issued, with total expenditure expected to be in the region of €2.8 million. In light of the difficulties experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder supplies in April/May 2013, I announced the allocation of funding for an imported fodder...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farms Data (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: The number of bovines that died on farm in the last three years is set out in tabular form. Year - 2011 198,233 2012 228,382 2013 267,564 Information on deaths of other species is not available as my Department is not required to record the details of on-farm death of other species of farm animals.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (18 Feb 2014)

Simon Coveney: After a very difficult spring in 2013, weather conditions resulted in excellent production of high quality fodder across all fodder types last year. Both yields and quality of later cut hay and silage were good, while yields of specialist crops such as fodder maize and beet were well above average. Excellent conditions last Autumn provided an opportunity for farmers to extend the grazing...