Results 24,241-24,260 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2012 Agri Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 2013 and payment has issued in respect of the 2013 Scheme year. 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...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: In line with the renewed focus of the new EU Commission on simplification, late last month the Commissioner for Agriculture wrote to all EU Ministers requesting ideas and proposals for simplifying the CAP. The Commissioner requested initial proposals by the end of February and, given the tight time frame, I have decided against a formal consultation process at this point. Of course, I and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Common Agricultural Policy Reform (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Single Payment Scheme was replaced by the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment in 2015. The Greening Payment is an important part of the CAP following the Reform that was agreed during the Irish Presidency in June 2013. The Greening Payment will amount to approximately 30% of the overall payment made to farmers under the new Regime. The three main elements of the greening...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Administration (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Single Payment Scheme introduced the principle of ‘decoupling’ whereby the direct payment received by a farmer was no longer linked to his agricultural production. This principle remains the foundation of the new Basic Payment Scheme that will be introduced in 2015. The number of animals held by a farmer, or any other aspects of their agricultural production, has no impact...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Under 2012 and 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Schemes, there were criteria to be satisfied in relation to those applicants availing of equines to meet the minimum stocking density requirement. First, the holding itself must meet the definition of an Equine Breeding Enterprise and second, horses, in order to be taken into account for stocking density purposes, must be aged one to five years and,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: My Department recognises the importance of hedgerows and woodland habitats and their roles in biodiversity, agricultural management and potential carbon sequestration. Hedgerows are estimated to cover 3.9% of the Irish landscape. The REPS and AEOS schemes facilitated the planting of approximately 10,000 km of new hedgerows and the rejuvenation of some 3,000 more. The total area of hedgerow...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Payments of €9.18 million were made to 26,715 participants under the 2013 Beef Data Programme. My Department is currently validating the applications of remaining participants to establish the number that will be eligible for payment. When the validation process is completed, the number of eligible applicants and amount payable can be established. There are currently approximately...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Beef Genomics Scheme was launched in 2014 using national funds. To date, my Department has paid €22,030,600 to some 31,000 participants under this Scheme. While the vast majority of applicants have received their payment under the Scheme, there are a small number of cases that had not met all of the requirements when payments were issued. My Department is currently in the process...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Data Programme (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The 2015 budget includes a package of approximately €74 million for the beef sector in 2015, including a provision of €52 million for a proposed Beef Data and Genomics Programme (BDGP) which will place Ireland at the leading edge globally in the use of genomics in beef production. The proposed BDGP would deliver an accelerated improvement in the environmental...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Dairy Sector (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 148 together. At the last Council of EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in Brussels in January, I reland made the point that the continuing weakness in the global dairy market was having a severe impact on dairy farmers in Ireland and throughout the EU. While the medium term outlook was positive, it was important that the EU Commission use the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Environment Protection Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: A total of 15,776 applicants have been paid in respect of the 2014 REPS4 Scheme year in the amount of €92.487 million.The position for 2014 AEOS is set out in the table below: Scheme Amount No. of Applicants paid AEOS1 24,770,428.25 6,305 AEOS2 15,639,325.45 4,762 AEOS3 14,941,304.96 4,505 Totals 55,351,058.66 15,572 Payments are made in two parts 75% and 25%...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payments (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Payments to date under the 2014 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme have issued to some 92,957 beneficiaries worth approx €195 million. Payments are continuing to issue as further cases become clear for payment.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Programmes (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Farmers Charter Review Group is chaired by an Assistant Secretary General of the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and comprised of senior Department officials and representatives of the main farmer representative organisations. The aim of the Review Group is to agree standards and delivery targets for the schemes and services provided by the Department to all its clients...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: All GLAS applicants must engage the services of a professional advisor to prepare and submit an application. A wide range of actions is available to all farmers and it is the advisor’s function to identify those actions most suited to the farm in drawing up the application. However, where specific Priority Environmental Assets have been identified on an applicant’s holding,...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Native/Indigenous breeds are regarded as those that originate in a certain country. In Ireland, for Bovines this includes Kerry, Dexter & Irish Moiled. The Shorthorn is not regarded as a native breed and accordingly cannot be included in the Irish list of native breeds in danger of being lost to farming.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Applications (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The National Reserve and Young Farmers Schemes opened for applications on Monday 5th January 2015 in respect of the two priority categories of Young Farmer and New Entrant as set down in the EU Regulations governing the operation of the Scheme. Applicants who meet the definition of ‘young farmer’ may apply to both the National Reserve and the Young Farmers Scheme. Up to Monday...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: TAMS Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The Rural Development Programme for the 2014-2020 period was submitted to the EU Commission for approval in July 2014. The following investments have been identified as priority areas which will be targeted in the TAMS scheme:(i) dairy equipment, (iii) low emission spreading equipment, (iii) animal welfare and farm safety (specifically beef and sheep handling facilities) farm nutrient...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Projects (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The draft 2014-2020 Rural Development programme proposes the establishment of Knowledge Transfer Groups across a range of sectors, including Beef and Dairy, that will see farmer meetings facilitated by highly qualified advisors and will involve the transfer and exchange of information and best practice. All participating farmers will be required to develop a Farm Improvement Plan in the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Safety Scheme (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: Farm Safety is a critical issue facing farming today and is something that I am seriously concerned about. Statistics show that accidents on farms cause more workplace deaths than all other occupations combined. It is important for everyone to continually highlight the need for farmers to think safety first in all tasks they perform - simple behavioural changes may be all that it takes to...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: GLAS Eligibility (12 Feb 2015)

Simon Coveney: The detailed consideration of Ireland’s Draft Rural Development Programme (RDP) by the EU Commission is now at an advanced stage and the new Green Low-Carbon Agri-Environment Scheme (GLAS) is a key component of that programme. I intend to open GLAS as soon as agreement is reached with the EU Commission. GLAS+ provides for a ‘top-up’ of up to €2,000 per annum,...