Results 22,801-22,820 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Installation Aid Scheme Applications (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: On 1 April 2015 officials from my Department met with a group representing farmers under the age of 40, who established their holdings prior to 2008 and who hold low value entitlements.  Following the meeting my Department carried out analysis to establish the total number of farmers in this group. It was established that this group comprises some 3,900 farmers. My Department’s...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and received payments for the full 5 years and 7 months of the REPS4 contract. His participation in the Scheme ended on 31 December 2014. REPS4 is a measure under the 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Schemes (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under the Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 the following investments have been identified as priority areas which will be targeted in the TAMS scheme:- (i) dairy equipment, (ii) a young farmer capital investment scheme. (iii) low emission spreading equipment, (iv) organic capital investment, (v) animal welfare and farm safety (specifically beef and sheep handling facilities)...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Administration (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: As per the terms & conditions for the 2014 EU Single Payment Scheme (SPS) and other 2014 area-based schemes all SPS application forms had to be lodged on-line or in paper form. If applying using a paper form, the applicants must have submitted that form directly by post, or delivered by hand, to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, SPS Co-Ordination Unit, Government...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Herd Numbers (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named established 32.33 entitlements with a total value of €363.07 under the Single Payment Scheme in 2005. The EU Regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme provide that payment entitlements must be used at least once in a two year period. ‘Used’ in this context means that one hectare of eligible land must have been declared in respect of each entitlement...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (28 May 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 under review...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Inspections (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Industry Act 1958. It has specific powers conferred on it by the Greyhound Industry (Racing) Regulations 2007, S.I. 302 2007, which set out the detailed rules under which greyhound racing is conducted. Bord na gCon has confirmed to officials in my Department that it’ drug...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Watercourses are not excluded from GLAS. However, not every watercourse which may have been included in the Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) necessarily qualifies under GLAS. REPS was a whole farm scheme whereas the GLAS is targeted at pre-determined environmental assets at individual farm level. The introduction of new regulations since the inception of REPS and in particular the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Administration (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Applicants under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015 may lodge applications on-line or by post. The on-line option is becoming increasingly popular as a secure means of lodging applications and was availed of by over 80,000 applicants in 2014. There are no specific regulations and/or Statutory Instrument that refer to the proof of postage necessary to comply with the scheme’s terms and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: 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 2012 application of the person named was selected for a cross-compliance and nominated for a ground eligibility inspection. The eligibility inspection identified...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Remuneration (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department is in the process of implementing the terms of the Supreme Court Order in the case mentioned by the Deputy. Payment of appropriate salary arrears have been made to the relevant staff currently serving in my Department. Instructions re payment of arrears in respect of staff that re-deployed from my Department have issued to the Government Departments they currently serve in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: An application under the 2013 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named 10 May 2013. Processing of this application has only recently been finalised with payment due to issue under both schemes shortly. An official from my Department has been in direct contact with the person named to clarify the position.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Applications (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Habitats for geese and swans are recognised as priority environmental assets within GLAS and farmers who commit to managing and producing a suitable habitat for these farmland birds receive priority access to the scheme under Tier 1. The maps used in defining these areas on the GLAS system have been supplied by the National Parks and Wildlife Service, who have provided the most up-to-date...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with funding of some €300 million over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years, and will ultimately bring about long-term improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the...

Written Answers — Department of Defence: Military Memorabilia (28 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The military memorabilia associated with the 4th Field Artillery Regiment was removed from Mullingar Barracks in the first instance to protect it from deterioration, vandalism and theft. Relocating it back to Mullingar Barracks into an environment which does not have the physical and environmental security needed to preserve the collection would put many of the items at risk. Custume Barracks...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Bord na gCon Inspections (27 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: Bord na gCon is the statutory body responsible for the regulation and development of greyhound racing under the Greyhound Act 1958. The Control Committee and the Control Appeals Committee of Bord na gCon are established under legislation (Greyhound Industry, Control Committee and Control Appeal Committee Regulations 2007, S.I. Number 301 of 2007 ). These committees have powers to determine...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (27 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 76 to 78, inclusive, together. The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with funding of some €300 million over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years, and will ultimately bring about...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Aquaculture Licence Applications (27 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 79 and 80 together. The application referred to by the Deputy is in respect of a site located within Lough Swilly which is designated as a Special Area of Conservation under the EU Habitats Directive and a Special Protection Area under the EU Birds Directive (Natura 2000 sites). As previously advised my Department is constrained by law from issuing or renewing...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data and Genomics Programme (27 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) forms part of Ireland’s Rural Development Programme and will provide suckler farmers in Ireland with funding of some €300 million over the next 6 years. The BDGP builds on the investment in data recording and genomics in recent years, and will ultimately bring about long-term improvements to the sector by fundamentally improving the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Harbours and Piers Maintenance (27 May 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 82 and 83 together. My Department does not have responsibility for the quay at Seanchéibh, which is owned by Galway County Council. The responsibility for its development, repair and maintenance rests with that Local Authority. My Department does, however provide funding for the small scale development and repair of Local Authority owned piers,...