Results 34,721-34,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am actively considering the possibility of re-opening Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS) to allow for the submission of applications either on an amended basis from the existing scheme and/or on a limited scale, including the possibility of re-opening for applications later in the year. The full year cost of any new scheme will have to be met in 2013 and any decision to re-open AEOS...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I propose to take Questions Nos. 473, 478 and 486 together. As a result of my Department's Local Office Reorganisation in 2009, a number of local office staff were identified as surplus. A large number of these were redeployed to other Government Departments through bilateral arrangements. Details of 61 of these officers (administrative grades) have been placed on the Public Appointments...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Under the existing arrangements, the main compensation scheme for farmers whose herds are affected by TB or Brucellosis is the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme, which was introduced in 2002 following discussions between my Department and representatives from the farm organizations. This scheme provides, in general, for compensation for cattle removed as reactors to be paid on the basis of...

Written Answers — Tuberculosis Incidence: Tuberculosis Incidence (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The information sought is set out in the table below. 2008 2009 2010 2011 Jan –June 2012 Herd Incidence 3.29% 3.40% 3.34% 3.38% 3.17% No of Reactors 405 656 396 415 144 APT 1.74 2.67 1.71 1.78 1.33 The incidence of TB in Donegal over the past four years has been below the national average. For example, the herd incidence of TB nationally in 2011 was 4.65% compared with 3.38% in...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: AEOS I My Department issued a circular on 15th April 2011 advising all participants in the Agri Environment Options Scheme that fencing materials purchased on or after 18th April 2011 must conform to standards set out Departmental specifications in S148. Materials purchased prior to 18th April 2011 were exempt from this requirement. This issue does not arise in relation to participants...

Written Answers — Services to Farmers: Services to Farmers (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Irish Cattle Breeding Federation (ICBF) was established in 1997 as a cooperative and is registered with the Registrar of Friendly Societies. Its shareholders include all stakeholders in the cattle breeding industry such as Pedigree Cattle Herdbooks, AI Organisations, Milk Recording Organisations and farmer representative organisations. The mission of the ICBF is 'to achieve the...

Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010 and 75% payment totalling €546.41 issued in respect of 2010. 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...

Written Answers — Suckler Welfare Scheme: Suckler Welfare Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered eleven beef breed animals under the 2011 Suckler Cow Welfare Scheme. It is a condition of the Suckler Welfare Scheme that in the case of herds of more than ten cows the calves must be weaned in at least two separate groups with each group being weaned at a minimum interval of five days. The person named declared that all of the eleven animals were weaned on the...

Written Answers — Single Payment Scheme: Single Payment Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 10 May 2011. This application was selected for a Cross Compliance inspection. During the course of the inspection breaches were recorded relating to the Tagging of Sheep and the failure to maintain a flock register for the previous 5 years. This resulted in a 5% penalty being...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2012 National Reserve. The 2012 National Reserve caters for farmers who commenced farming after 17 May, 2010. Applicants are required to submit a 2012 Single Payment application form detailing all lands which they are currently farming. In addition, applicants are required to meet certain criteria with...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: Seventeen aquaculture licences were issued in respect of sites located in non-Natura areas since late 2007. The low number of licences issued largely arises because the majority of areas for which aquaculture licences are sought are located in Natura areas. An additional factor is that all aquaculture applications now undergo Environmental Impact pre-screening assessment which requires...

Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The Department's consideration of this application has now been completed and the application for approval to construct a forest road has been granted. On satisfactory completion of the road, the applicant may apply for payment of the grant.

Written Answers — Howth Fishery Harbour Centre: Howth Fishery Harbour Centre (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: In my reply of 19 June 2012 I advised that there were twenty-eight leased premises in Howth Fishery Harbour Centre. Details of individual lease terms are confidential and of course commercially sensitive; however, I am arranging for a list of names of the current leaseholders to be made available to the Deputy on a confidential basis, as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The information requested by the Deputy is set out below Year Number of staff Amounts of retirement lump sum (gross) 2009 284 €18,175,021.20 2010 131 €10,340,863.95 2011 112 €8,670,776.63 2012 ( to date) 191 €14,581,297.72

Written Answers — Dairy Equipment Scheme: Dairy Equipment Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an applicant under the Dairy Equipment Scheme and submitted an application under the tranche which closed at end-January 2012. This tranche was very heavily over-subscribed and the selection of applications which are to go forward to the approval process has recently been made. The applicant concerned was not successful and the application will therefore be rolled...

Written Answers — Environmental Schemes: Environmental Schemes (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: I am actively considering the possibility of re-opening Agri-environment Options Scheme (AEOS) to allow for the submission of applications either on an amended basis from the existing scheme and/or on a limited scale, including the possibility of re-opening for applications later in the year. The full year cost of any new scheme will have to be met in 2013 and any decision to re-open AEOS...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The purpose of the changes announced to the 2012 Terms and Conditions of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is to achieve the required savings, prompted by the budgeted expenditure under the 2012 Scheme being reduced to from €220 million to €190 million. However, in order to make these savings, it is proposed to make technical adjustments to the Scheme criteria, rather than simply apply an...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The table below sets out the offices of my Department which are open to the public: Office Location Agriculture House, Kildare Street Dublin Border Inspection Post, Dublin Port Dublin Border Inspection Post, Dublin Airport Dublin Border Inspection Post, Shannon Airport Clare Unit 11 Clonminam Industrial Estate, Portlaoise Laois Kea Lew Business Park, Portlaoise Laois Eircom...

Written Answers — Marine Strategy: Marine Strategy (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The European Council recently adopted a partial common approach on the Common Fisheries Policy Reform. This is a separate matter to the national initiative which is underway to develop a integrated marine plan for Ireland, known as our "Ocean Wealth". The first step in developing this was to draft and publish the document "Our Ocean Wealth". That was then the subject of a major public...

Written Answers — Farm Assist Scheme: Farm Assist Scheme (26 Jun 2012)

Simon Coveney: The person concerned is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Improvement Scheme. However, as the completed investments were found not to be in compliance with the technical specifications of my Department, no grant-aid has yet been paid in this case. My Department has recently been in contact with the applicant setting out the alterations which must be carried out in order to enable...