Results 21,901-21,920 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Rationalisation Programme (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I very much appreciate the important contribution that Teagasc advisors make in providing advice and support to farm families. My Department has been actively working with Teagasc to ease staffing difficulties in the organisation. We recently secured approval for Teagasc to proceed with four priority appointments in the advisory service including the appointment of a drystock advisor in West...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Tuberculosis Eradication Programme Administration (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Herds containing animals in which tuberculosis is suspected at post-mortem examination are restricted in accordance with Directive 64/432/EEC which requires that “Appropriate post-mortem, laboratory and epidemiological examinations shall be carried out on the carcase of the suspect animal. The status of the herd will remain suspended until such time as all laboratory examinations have...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Food Exports (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Feedback from exporters eligible to export beef to the US indicates that exports to date had reached approximately 330 tonnes by early September. This would have an approximate value of €2.1m. This is a very encouraging start to this trade particularly given that the trade to date is confined to the market for intact cuts as we currently await approval to ex port beef intended for...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under European Commission regulations all applications must be administratively checked before any application can be approved into the scheme. Almost 27,000 GLAS application s were submitted and final checks will be carried out in October and farmers will then be notified in writing of the outcome of their application. Until this process is complete it is not possible to determine...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The closing date for the Beef Data & Genomics Programme was 5 June 2015. My Department received 29,531 valid applications. Of these, 724 have subsequently withdrawn from the Programme.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Administration (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to say that GLAS Commonage Advisors have already been appointed to 1,800 Commonages, while appointments to the remainder will be made very shortly. Where Commonage Advisors have been appointed, preparation of commonage management plans can commence and I am aware that fieldwork has already been carried out in many cases. In addition, some 200 applications were in respect of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Teagasc Rationalisation Programme (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Teagasc is the main provider of further education in agriculture, food, horticulture, forestry and equine studies. Its policy is to accommodate all students that require places. Interest in part- time and distance education courses (Green Cert) is exceptionally high, at present, due to the education requirements of the Young Farmers Scheme and the National Reserve. My Department approved the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Scheme (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The persons-named were approved for grant-aid towards the installation of milk-cooling equipment under the terms of the Dairy Equipment Scheme, which was part of the TAMS 1 package of on-farm investment measures introduced under the last Rural Development Programme. In line with the procedures laid down, all TAMS 1 grant applications are subject to a pre-payment inspection to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Payments (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The calculation of tax liabilities is a matter for the Revenue Commissioners in the first instance. However, for the purpose of means-assessments, the Department of Social Protection disregard the first €2,540 received under either REPS or AEOS and 50% of the balance. I do not anticipate any change to the existing situation for GLAS payments.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 525 and 526 together. Ownership of animals whether kept as pets or for farming purposes imposes on the owner a legal responsibility to protect the health and welfare of every animal in their care including making provisions for necessary costs that may be incurred for veterinary fees. In this context, the cost of veterinary care is primarily a commercial...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment Scheme application on 14 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks , including in some cases on farm inspections be completed to confirm eligibility under the schemes. The application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Cásanna Dlí (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Ag cruinniú an Chomhchoiste Oireachtais Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara ar 30 Meitheamh, ghlac mé de chúram an Coiste a sholáthar le soiléiriú ar an mbreithiúnas Ard-Chúirte ar an gcás atá i gceist. Scríobh mé chuig Cathaoirleach an Choiste ar 16ú Iúil chun an t-eolas seo a sholáthar, tuigim gur scaipeadh an t-eolas...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Deputy will be aware that t he EU Commission in its letter dated 14 May 2014, proposed a 2% flat rate financial correction for Ireland of €181.5 million arising from its Conformity Clearance audits in 2009, 2010 and 2012. The payments audited covered the period from 2008 to 2012 during which over €9 billion was paid to farmers in Ireland under the Direct Payment Schemes. I...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Appeals (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Agriculture Appeals Office has indicated that 406 appeals have been received by that office to date in 2015. The table below provides a breakdown of all appeals currently at hand that are yet to be determined. Scheme Total Single Payment Scheme 99 Rural Environment Protections Scheme 56 Agri-Environment Options Scheme 37 Nitrates 29 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme 14 Farm...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Irish dairy co-operatives and PLCs export their produce to some 130 countries and of course, some 60% of Irish dairy output is marketed through a joint co-operative venture “The Irish Dairy Board” which was rebranded as “Ornua” earlier this year. These companies have already proven their capability on international markets and I am confident they will continue to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri - Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from the 1 st May 2013. Issues arose in relation to the splitting of land parcels, which required an amendment to the applicant’s Single Payment Application, and prevented the file from progressing towards administrative check.  These amendments were successfully...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is currently examining approximately 400 cases that submitted invoices from one particular company to verify and support claims under the non-productive capital investment action of AEOS. It is known that in some cases the invoices submitted were for greater amounts than actually paid by the participants. Funding provided under the scheme comes partly from the EU and partly...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Felling Licences Applications (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named applied for a General Felling Licence to clear fell 2.92 hectares and to perform a first thinning on 4.36 hectares. On 28thJuly 2015, he was granted a General Felling Licence authorising him to clear fell the area for which he had he applied. With regard to thinning, the Forestry Inspector recommended that “the applicant should not thin at this location due to high...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Funding (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: Leenan Pier is owned by Donegal County Council and responsibility for its development, repair and maintenance rests with the Local Authority. That said, under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme this Department has in previous years provided funding for the development and repair of Local Authority owned harbours piers and slipways subject to exchequer...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Scéim Aoníocaíochta (22 Sep 2015)

Simon Coveney: I gcómhthéacs Scéimeanna Íocaíochta Dhíreacha agus Bearta Forbartha Tuaithe a sheachadadh, ní mór do mo Roinn babhta bliantúil iniúchtaí a dhéanamh ag cuimsiú incháilitheacht an talún fógartha chun íocaíochtaí a tharraingt anuas agus critéir incháilitheachta scéim-sonraithe, nuair is...