Results 22,561-22,580 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted a 2014 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ scheme application on 15 May 2014. EU Regulations governing the administration of these schemes require that full and comprehensive administrative checks, including in some cases Remote Sensing (i.e. satellite) inspections, be completed to confirm eligibility under the schemes. The application of the person...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: This plantation was inspected four times since 2012 by the Department and had failed each inspection due to ongoing trespass by animals. A fifth inspection, carried out in May 2015, confirmed the trespass issue has now been resolved and the plantation is now up to standard. The applicant should be aware that trespass is a serious matter and that this site may be subject to random...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: A Department review of the non-productive capital investment claims submitted by applicants under AEOS was undertaken in 2014.  This review identified irregularities with documentation submitted for reimbursement in some of these claims. A full Department investigation was then initiated, which in turn led to the matter being referred to the Gardaí.  Payments to applicants...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The new Rural Development Programme (RDP) 2014-2020 will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving a more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. The RDP has been developed on the basis of extensive stakeholder consultation, and while it does not include a measure directly providing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Funding (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The position is that my Department does not have a grant aid scheme for the development of livestock marts.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Payments (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an applicant under the TAMS Dairy Equipment Scheme. I am pleased to say that payment of €12,598.45 has been approved in this case and will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: In accordance with the EU regulations governing the ‘Young Farmer’ priority category of the National Reserve, a ‘young farmer’ is defined as follows: - S/he is aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme; - S/he is setting up an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up such...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2013 and 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2013 and 6 May 2014 respectively. Payment has not yet issued for these applications, as the holding has not satisfied the scheme minimum stocking requirements for the scheme years in question. As the person named is deceased , my Department has requested the representatives of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Appeals (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Agriculture Appeals Office have advised that the person named lodged an appeal with the Agriculture Appeals Office on 23 February 2015 in relation to the Agri- Environment Options Scheme. A decision letter issued to the person named on 12 June 2015 . The person named was also advised that it remains open to them to raise any issue with the matter with the Office of the Ombudsman.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Payments (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: In order to comply with EU requirements, the 2013 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme application of the person named was selected for a ground eligibility inspection. The inspection identified discrepancies between the areas declared and the area found resulting in an over-declaration in area of greater than 50%. Based on the terms and conditions of the schemes this...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Penalties (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that a number of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. Following an appeal from the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was deemed necessary to progress the matter. This check confirmed the 2013 area over-declaration...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Eligibility (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The main compensation scheme for farmers whose herds are affected by TB is the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme which provides, in general, for compensation for cattle removed as reactors to be paid on the basis of current “Market Value”. The maximum amount payable in respect of any individual bovine animal removed under the scheme is €2,800, except in respect of one...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Data (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: At the outset, I would like to welcome the fact that almost 27,000 applications were submitted in the first tranche of GLAS applications, which is very much in line with the projections I made when launching the scheme. All GLAS applications will now be assessed and approved in line with the priority environmental assets and pre-determined selection criteria. Until this process is completed...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below: Scheme Numbers in scheme now Numbers left scheme in 2015 End date of scheme REPS 845 3 31/12/15 AEOS 1 7,459 1 31/12/15 AEOS 2 5,889 3 31/12/16 AEOS 3 5,783 0 31/12/18

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fishery Harbour Centres (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: I am pleased to inform the Deputy that two properties at Howth Fishery Harbour Centre were made available by competitive public tender yesterday, 15thJune. Details of the competition can be viewed on my Department's website. My Department will continue to review its property portfolio at Howth with a view to making further properties available for tender in due course.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme revealed that one of the land parcels declared by the person named contained ineligible features. However, while the person named was notified of this decision and of his right of appeal, to date no such appeal has been received. It remains open to the person named to appeal, should he so wish....

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Data (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department has received 785 Beef Data and Genomic Programme applications from Longford and 884 from Westmeath. The initial validation process on all applications is being finalised and I expect that approval letters will shortly issue.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Career Breaks (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The staff currently on career break in my Department is broken down by period of time by both staff number and the Full-Time Equivalent (FTE): Period Number FTE 0-6 months 6 5.5 6-12 months 4 3.5 1-2 years 9 7.6317 2-3 years 8 6.8 3-4 years 3 3 4-5 years 4 3.5 5 years + 9 7.4

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is available in the Ministers’ Information Centre on my Departments website at

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Public Relations Contracts Data (16 Jun 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department does not employ external public relations firms. Public relations advice is provided by my Department’s Press Office.