Results 27,621-27,640 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: There is no record of an application having been received in my Department from the person named.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Administration (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: In developing the shape of the new system of Direct Payments in Ireland, I have been very conscious of the needs of sheep farmers, in particular those who farm on hill and commonage land. In general sheep farmers holds low value entitlements under the current Single Payment Scheme and will benefit significantly from the model of convergence that is to be applied in Ireland where those with a...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Appeals (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: Agri–Environment Options Schemes in common with other E.U. funded schemes, are run in accordance with the relevant E.U. regulations and all applications are subject to controls, including on-farm inspections. Where possible, these inspections are carried out in conjunction with other inspections so as to minimise the inconvenience for farmers. Every effort is made to expedite the...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Appeals (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: A total of 50,000 overclaim letters have issued, not all of which relate to financial reductions and in excess of 10,000 appeals relating to land eligibility issues have been received by my Department. Of these, 1,600 cases have been finalised and applicants have been notified of the outcome of their appeal. 1,350 cases have been sent to the local inspectorate for land verification checks...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The total budget allocated for Agri Environment Schemes in 2014 is €184 million. To date in 2014 a total amount of €57.11 million has issued in respect of REPS, AEOS and Organic Schemes.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Programme for Government Implementation (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: I have provided, in the schedule beneath, the implementation update on the commitments in the 2011-2016 Programme for Government for which my Department has primary responsibility. The timeline for delivery of these commitments is the lifetime of this Government but the Deputy will be aware that the nature of these commitments is such that ongoing development and progress is the norm. ...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Beef Industry Issues (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: As the Deputy will be aware questions of price are matters to be determined between the purchasers and the sellers of cattle and it is neither appropriate nor possible for me to intervene directly on these issues. I am aware of the issue raised by the Deputy but I also note that there are relatively few of these calves in the country, as cross-breeding is relatively limited and operated in...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from 1 September 2010 and full payments have issued in respect of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 Scheme years. During a 2013 inspection, the person named was found to have a non-compliance in respect of the Planting of New Hedgerow action. An appeal received from the person named was unsuccessful and...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Rural Development Programme Projects (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The new Rural Development Programme 2014-2020 (RDP) will be a key support in enhancing the competitiveness of the agri-food sector, achieving more sustainable management of natural resources and ensuring a more balanced development of rural areas. As you are aware I have recently published a consultation document on the new RDP, which sets out a range of proposed measures for inclusion. The...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Review (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: There is an ongoing review at EU level of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (DAS). DAS (now to be known as Areas of Natural Constraint) is to be delineated by Member States using soil and climatic criteria, as proposed by the Commission, as follows: - Climate, including Low Temperature and Heat Stress; - Soil, including Drainage, Texture & Stoniness, Rooting Depth and Chemical...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Payments (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: A total of 26,821 applicants have now received a total of €152.33m under their REPS4 contracts in respect of their 2013 payment. Of this amount 26,478 have received their full 100% payment. The remaining 343 participants will receive the balance of their payments this week. Files in respect of a further 2,389 participants remain under examination and officials within my Department are...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Forestry Grants (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The recent storms have indeed been damaging to Irish forests particularly in the south of the country. Early indications suggest however that less than 1% of the forest area and approximately 1% of the forest volume was blown down in the storm of 12 February. Whilst direct financial support is not being provided to those whose forestry was destroyed in the storm, a taskforce, chaired by Mr...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: An application for Single Farm Payment was received from the above named on the 8 May 2013. This application was selected for inspection. As a result of that inspection five parcels were found to have been over claimed. The claimed area of these parcels was reduced in accordance with the inspection findings. As the named person applied for more land than he held entitlements for he did not...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Semi-State Bodies Remuneration (25 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide this information in the required time. I will forward it to the Deputy as soon as it is available.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agri-Environment Options Scheme Applications (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS 3) with effect from 1 May 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 are well under way...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Greenhouse Gas Emissions (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The Irish agricultural production system is already recognised as being one of the most efficient in the world. The European Commission’s Joint Research Centre (JRC) has found that Irish dairy production has the joint lowest carbon footprint in the EU. The footprint of Irish beef is also below the EU average. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has also found...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Animal Welfare Bodies (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: My Department provides funding to animal welfare organisations, including the DSPCA, to assist them in their work in animal care. Each recipient of aid is provided with a code of practice on recommendations to promote sound welfare and management practices, including the maintenance of records of all rescued, re-homed and euthanised animals. Organisations are also asked to note the advice of...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Payments (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: The 2010 Single Payment application in respect of the person named was amended and cleared for payment following a successful appeal. Officials in my Department have made the necessary arrangements to facilitate payment and I expect payment to issue to the nominated bank account of the person named in the coming days.

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Single Payment Scheme Eligibility (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: In order to be eligible for payment under the Single Payment Scheme, and other area based schemes, an applicant must comply with the Cross Compliance requirements for all lands declared on their application, whether the lands are owned or rented. An applicant also accepts that they are responsible for any breach with these requirements for the full Scheme year. It is noted that the person...

Written Answers — Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine: Agriculture Schemes Penalties (13 Mar 2014)

Simon Coveney: It is not possible to provide the comprehensive range of data requested by the Deputy at this time. The data will be forwarded directly to the Deputy as soon as it is available.