Results 37,721-37,740 of 40,897 for speaker:Simon Coveney

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named applied for approval to plant under the Afforestation Scheme in 1997, at which time he declared on his application that he was a non-farmer. Because of legal issues regarding title, payment in respect of this application was not made until 2009. In the intervening period he had made a further application in 2000 for a separate area under the Afforestation Scheme where he...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in October 2009 and has received full payment in respect of year 1. My officials have approved payment in respect of year 2 and this will issue within 10 working days. Following the retirement of an official in my Department dealing with the approval of REPS payments in the local office concerned, arrangements have now been made to deploy staff in order to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (16 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: A debt of €45,208.16 was notified in April 2009 to recover forestry grants and premiums paid to the person named. This debt has been partially recovered from other scheme payments leaving a current balance of €17,423.51. As advised to the Deputy's office, my Department will consider an extended repayment period in cases of hardship and the person named should write to the Forestry...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2009 and has received full payment in respect of year 1. A 75% payment in respect of year 2 was issued on 31 March 2011. Payment of the final 25% cannot be made until outstanding checks are finalised and compliance with the scheme conditions has been fully established. Payment will issue at the earliest possible date once all checks have been completed.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food employs seventeen staff within its Internal Audit Unit. The role of the Internal Audit Unit is to give assurance to the Secretary General, the Audit Committee and senior management as to the adequacy of the Department's risk management, control and governance processes. The Unit also carries out an audit programme in accordance with a number...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named registered thirty seven animals under the 2010 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment has issued in respect of twenty two animals, as they are clear for payment. During the validation process, errors were established in the case of three animals and a letter was issued by my Department to the person named seeking clarification on these errors. The person named has not submitted...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named was an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, grant-aid is calculated on the basis of the standard costs applicable at the date of issue of approval to commence works or on the total amount of eligible receipts, whichever is the lesser. The rates of grant-aid applied in this case were 20% for mobile equipment and 40% for all...

Written Answers — Food Safety: Food Safety (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The E-Coli outbreak in Germany was discussed at the Informal Council of Agriculture Ministers in Hungary on 31 May. I also attended an emergency meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers in Luxembourg on Tuesday 7 June. The meeting was called to deal with the food safety and market implications resulting from the E-Coli outbreak. Since that meeting, I, and my Department officials,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Further to my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 315 of 24 May 2011, in assessing eligibility for payment under the Income Supplement scheme, the eligibility criterion which requires that more than 10% of animals must be removed under the scheme is calculated by reference to the total number of animals, including calves, presented by the herdowner at the herd test. In the letter notifying...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options 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. I expect that payments to participants in the scheme in respect of the first year will commence in August and that payments in...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) was introduced to give farmers the opportunity to participate in a scheme which rewards actions that benefit the environment. The AEOS scheme that I announced on April 6 was launched following an extensive review of the previous year's scheme involving both internal and external stakeholders. The 2011 scheme closed to applications on 17 May. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Following the suspension of the Early Retirement Scheme on 14 October, 2008 due to budgetary constraints it became apparent that there was a number of farmers who had their preparations to apply for the Scheme completed or close to completion at that point. A decision was taken to re-open the Scheme temporarily on 23 September 2009 with limited additional funding with a view to accepting as...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008 and I have no plans to consider applications received after that date or to reopen the Scheme at this time. An allocation of almost €1 million is provided in 2011 to meet the remaining commitments under both the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the preceding equivalent schemes.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: Under EU Regulations amounts arising from reductions and exclusions from payment as a result of non-compliance with the cross-compliance regime shall be credited to the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) however Member States may retain 25% of those amounts. The amounts retained are accounted for in the annual EU clearance of accounts decision and are shown as Appropriations in Aid...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department, in the context of delivering the Direct Payment Schemes, is required to carry out on-the-spot inspections on a number of farms covering such issues as eligibility under the Scheme, compliance with EU legislation in the areas of the environment, food safety, animal health and welfare and plant health and ensuring that the farm is maintained in good agricultural and environmental...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named has been approved into the AEOS scheme with a start date of 1 November 2010. Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options 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. I expect that payments to participants...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: I recognise the merits of discussion groups as a vehicle for transferring technology. In this regard, I would urge all farmers to avail of the extremely valuable information emerging from Teagasc, ICBF and from the Teagasc / IFJ Better Farm Beef Programme and to participate where possible in discussion groups or other collaborative initiatives which can assist farmers in making their...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The person named is an applicant for grant-aid under the Dairy Equipment Scheme which has been temporarily closed for new applications since 8 June 2011. Processing of the applications received prior to the date of suspension of the Scheme is continuing within my Department and the applications concerned will be processed up to the financial ceiling of the tranche which was open on the date...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: The costs borne by the Department in relation to my constituency office are as follows: Telephone costs including line rental and call charges for both fixed and mobile phones; IT services including Data link rental, Personal Computer and printer provision. (These services are based on a shared service model for the provision of Managed IT support service for constituency based offices of...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (15 Jun 2011)

Simon Coveney: My Department has not received an application from the person named for additional quota under any of the schemes operated in respect of the 2011-12 milk quota year to date.