Results 1,501-1,520 of 18,449 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of â¬79 million as agreed under the Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications had reached this level of funding. I have no plans at present to reopen the Scheme to new applications.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Hill Farmers scheme was a special category under the 2005 National Reserve. This catered for farmers with commonage land who were prevented from expanding their sheep production during the 2000-2002 reference period pending publication of the Commonage Framework Plans in 2003. One of the qualifying criteria was that the existing Single Payment must have been less than â¬6,000. Some...
- Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: Applications for all offshore energy projects are assessed by my Department following consultation with the Marine Licence Vetting Committee (MLVC) as well as other statutory consultees. The MLVC comprises scientists and technical experts fully qualified to assess the application and advise the Department. The policy in considering such applications requires assessment of a number of issues...
- Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: There have been proposals to consolidate and streamline the Foreshore Act 1933 under active consideration in recent years by the former Department which had responsibility for marine functions. The proposals, which of necessity are quite complex, have been further developed since the transfer of these functions to my Department. The proposals are intended to provide a modern, effective and...
- Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre is one of six Fishery Harbour Centres which are owned and managed by my Department. In 2005 a new â¬50 million harbour development was opened at Killybegs Fishery Harbour Centre. This new harbour is capable of accommodating large vessels. The fishing industry at Killybegs is a significant contributor to the local economy and my Department is anxious to...
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The REP Scheme is operated by staff in three offices in the Galway region: Galway City, Tuam and Loughrea. The number of staff working on the REP Scheme in those offices is as follows: Grade Number in Grade Salary scale Regional Inspector 1 â¬61,054 â â¬87,016 Area Superintendent 1 â¬53,047 â â¬68,096 District Superintendent 4 â¬37,085 â â¬61,616 Supervisory Agricultural...
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: Following the payment of a second forestry premium in September, I understand that all payments due in respect of this contract are now up to date.
- Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The production and marketing of poultry come within the scope of the EU common organization of the market. Duties are payable on imports of poultry from non-EU countries and export refunds are in place for certain categories of poultry exports. A temporary financial support scheme was introduced for poultry producers who suffered losses arising from the fall-off in consumer confidence when...
- Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The 30-day pre-movement test was introduced in 1998 to curtail the spread of Brucellosis following an upsurge in the disease. The veterinary advice at the time, which continues to apply, was that the movement/buying-in of cattle was deemed to be a major contributory factor in the spread of the disease and the 30 day test has contributed significantly to the effort in reducing the incidence...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The report on the future of the European Sheep Sector to the European Parliament by Mr. Liam Aylward, MEP calls, inter alia, for the introduction of an environmental payment for ewes and I have a positive attitude to this proposal. It was discussed at the recent Limoges conference on the sector in which I participated. The French Presidency are keen to develop measures to help the sector...
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The environmental objectives of the Traditional Sustainable Grazing and the Mixed Grazing supplementary measures can be delivered only through a controlled grazing regime. It is possible to undertake these measures only on lands which are under the sole control of the farmer, which excludes commonage. Under the terms of the approved Rural Development Plan a farmer cannot receive payment...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The person concerned submitted an application to my Department under the Farm Improvement Scheme on 30 October 2007. These applications 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: I assume the Deputy is referring to the application by the person concerned for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. The claim is being processed by my Department and I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 534 and 535 together. The Farm Improvement Scheme was introduced by my Department in July 2007 with funding of â¬79 million as agreed under the 2006 Partnership agreement, Towards 2016, and was suspended on 31 October 2007 as applications had reached this level of funding. 12,675 applications were received from farmers prior to the closing date of the Scheme...
- Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The information sought by the Deputy is not available from my Department in the format requested. Data regarding milk producers and quota size is collected and compiled annually in my Department but on a Milk Purchaser (Co-Operative/Dairy) basis rather than on a geographical basis.
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: There are two bonus schemes operating in my Department. The first is a scheme of performance-related awards that applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to Secretaries General. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. The...
- Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department is that some 600 headquarters staff will move to Portlaoise, the local offices in Cork city will move to Fermoy, involving some 100 staff; and the laboratories in Cork and Limerick will move to Macroom, involving up to 100 staff. The move of the Fisheries function of my Department to Clonakilty, involving over 80 staff, is now...
- Written Answers — Compulsory Purchase Orders: Compulsory Purchase Orders (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: None of the State Bodies under the aegis of my Department has the power to issue Compulsory Purchase Orders.
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Sep 2008)
Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. The European Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to strictly respect this deadline.