Results 26,401-26,420 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Data (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The number of staff who retired, left or otherwise departed from their employment between 1 July 2013 and 31 December 2013 was 34 (31.20 full time equivalents ), with an expected annual saving of €1,549,035. The number of staff who retired, left or otherwise departed from their employment between 1 January 2014 and 31 August 2014 was 72 (69.79 full time equivalent ), with a expected...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Staff Recruitment (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The number of new staff hired in the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013 was 14 Full Time Equivalents (FTE) with a current annual cost of €546 , 821.520, and for January – August 2014 was 11 FTE with a current annual cost of €384,590.74. This Department is currently involved in a Workforce Planning process in which the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Farm Inspections (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The 2012 Single Farm Payment/Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme application was selected for a Ground Eligibility inspection. This inspection initially identified discrepancies between the area declared and the area found resulting in an intentional over-declaration in area of greater than 20% being determined. This resulted in no payment being made in respect of the Single Payment Scheme...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Turbary Rights (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Preliminary work was commenced a number of years ago on the formulation of a scheme for the allotment of over one hundred turbary plots in Kilbride Bog. Considerable resources are required both administratively and on the ground to fully operate a scheme of this kind and completion of the scheme has not been possible in the last number of years. Available resources are currently deployed in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Land declared under the Single Payment Scheme is required to be eligible, as defined, in the given year of application. Applicants are advised to only apply on eligible land; furthermore, in order to receive full payment, an applicant is required to declare one eligible hectare in respect of each payment entitlement held. Land which previously had been deemed ineligible in one Scheme year...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Appeals (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: To date, no appeal against the overpayment notified has been received by my Department. The applicant has been informed of this and has been made aware of the procedures to follow in order to make an appeal.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: I am acutely aware of the challenges faced by suckler farmers in Ireland and the impact which declining beef prices have had on farm incomes in the sector in recent months. Against this backdrop, I announced details of an investment package worth up to €40m in 2014 aimed at sustaining a critical mass in the suckler cow herd, the seedbed for our beef industry. This package includes:...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 stMay 2013. 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 before any payment can issue. These checks have been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Premium Payments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The 2014 annual forestry premium for this contract was paid 8 thAugust 2014 and payments under the contract are now up to date.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 stMay 2013. 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 before any payment can issue. These checks have been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under the Single Payment scheme, in order to receive full payment, an applicant must declare one eligible hectare for each entitlement held. Under the 2013 scheme, while the person named held 34.93 entitlements, as he only declared 26.82 hectares of eligible lands, payment was made on the basis of the declaration made. A review of the land parcels declared by the person named under the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (17 Sep 2014)

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 necessary to progress the matter. The person named was notified of the outcome of the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Fodder Crisis (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: In excess of 18,000 farmers benefited under the Imported Fodder Transport Scheme, under which, to date, payments worth in excess of €2.7 million have issued, with total expenditure expected to be in the region of €2.9 million. In light of the difficulties experienced by farmers in sourcing fodder supplies in April/May 2013, I announced the allocation of funding for an imported...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named w as approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1stMay 2013. 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 before any payment can issue. These checks have been...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the 2011 Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 2) with effect from the 1 stSeptember 2011 and full entitlements have issued in respect of the 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme, 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: Animal Welfare (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: Under the Control of Horses Act 1996 , the Oireachtas has given Local Authorities extensive powers, including powers for the enactment of bye-laws for the control and welfare of horses in the local authorities’ functional area and, by extension, protection of persons and property. My Department provides financial support to local authorities to assist their work in implementing the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Applications (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: In order to comply with EU requirements, the named person’s 2013 Single Farm Payment /Disadvantaged Areas’ Scheme application was initially selected for a cross-compliance inspection . This inspection identified breaches in relation to sheep identification and registration requirements and also Good Agricultural & Environmental Conditions requirements. This resulted in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Departmental Expenditure (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department is not party to any such administrative arrangements.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (17 Sep 2014)

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. Following an appeal from the person named, a visit by a Department official to verify the position was necessary to progress the matter, the results of which are now being finalised. In the event of a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Land Parcel Identification System (17 Sep 2014)

Simon Coveney: The data sought by the Deputy are currently being compiled and will be furnished directly to the Deputy immediately it becomes available. Under the Terms & Conditions of the Direct Aid Schemes, which includes the Single Payment Scheme, farmers are obliged to declare only eligible land when making their applications, are to exclude ineligible features such as roads, buildings,...