Results 421-440 of 527 for speaker:Mary Wallace
- Rural Environment Protection Scheme. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: The rural environment protection scheme, REPS, 4 will form part of the new rural development programme for the period 2007 to 2013. The programme was sent to the European Commission in late December and has to go through its approval process. We cannot be definite as to how long this process will take but we continue to pursue early approval. Our officials are in ongoing contact about it...
- Rural Environment Protection Scheme. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: Last year we took advantage of the Commission's transitional rules to make special provision for REPS 2 contracts that expired up to 30 November 2006 to be extended for a further year. This option is no longer available to us because the EU regulations governing REPS 2 and REPS 3 expired on 31 December 2006. It is now legally impossible to approve or extend contracts under either of those...
- Rural Environment Protection Scheme. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: It would take far longer to do what the Deputy suggests than engage in the process we are going through at the moment. There will be a meeting next week. The Minister has raised the specific issues and we do not anticipate problems regarding REPS 4 â we are doing all we can to progress it. Meetings have been undertaken with the Commission on this matter and further meetings are planned.
- Rural Environment Protection Scheme. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: It is a great scheme and there will be more money for everybody. There will be better environmental returns and great choices and options. The scheme will be open to intensive farmers for the first time and it will be such a wonderful scheme it will be worth waiting for.
- Grant Payments. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: The position in so far as payment under the 2005 single payment scheme is concerned is that some â¬1.199 billion has been paid to over 128,200 applicants, 99.9% of total eligible applicants, including â¬14.3 million in refunding the modulation reduction on the first â¬5,000 paid to each applicant. There are a small number of cases which have not yet been paid. In some instances, the...
- Grant Payments. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: Some things are useful.
- Grant Payments. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: The figure for 2005 is approximately 100.
- Grant Payments. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: Teagascââ
- Grant Payments. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: For 2005, approximately 100 cases remain outstanding, 99.9% of applicants already having received their entitlements. In those 100 cases, we await documentation. It is important to state that every effort is made to process applications as quickly as possible, but when it comes to transfer, they must be accompanied by the appropriate documentation, such as the copy of the deed of transfer...
- Grant Payments. (6 Feb 2007)
Mary Wallace: In 2006, 1,100 farmers received the 50% advance payment, although their cases are currently being queried, which is why they have not yet received the balance. In some cases, consolidation or stacking may have been involved and we just need the documentation. If those about whom the Deputy is concerned have their documentation in order, they should furnish it. Some people have been...
- Milk Testing. (29 Nov 2006)
Mary Wallace: The Department already conducts regular checks on the results of butter fat testing carried out by milk processors. It also checks the calibration of instruments used in milk processing establishments for measuring fat and protein levels in milk collected from producers. The Department also monitors the instruments used in measuring somatic cell levels in milk delivered to processors. In...
- Milk Testing. (29 Nov 2006)
Mary Wallace: As part of the partnership agreement, it has been agreed we will engage with stakeholders with a view to having the appropriate arrangements in place. It will only be a matter of months before they are in place. As regards proper and accurate analysis, most processors now have automated equipment for testing the fat and protein content of milk, as well as the somatic cell levels. Twice...
- Milk Testing. (29 Nov 2006)
Mary Wallace: Much of the testing is done by automated equipment but, in addition, standard Gerber procedures apply to butter fat testing. The SOPs provide that checks are also made on the accuracy of results from samples already tested by the automated equipment. At least twice a year, therefore, a minimum of ten samples are selected and tested. Some smaller establishments do not have automated...
- Milk Testing. (29 Nov 2006)
Mary Wallace: I do not have the comparative information to hand but I will be happy to obtain the data for the Deputy is she wishes me to provide her with some statistics in that respect.
- Estimates for Public Services 2007: Motion (Resumed) (22 Nov 2006)
Mary Wallace: I welcome the opportunity to contribute to this debate on the 2007 Estimates recently published by the Minister for Finance. The 2007 Estimate for the Department of Agriculture and Food demonstrates the Government's continuing commitment to the development of the Irish agrifood sector. Over the past ten years, the gross provision for the Department has grown from approximately â¬990...
- Single Payment Scheme. (14 Nov 2006)
Mary Wallace: I thank the Deputy and if he had given the Department of Agriculture and Food the names of those involved we would have made inquiries about them. However, his question is of a general nature and does relate specifically to those cases. One of the main objectives of the Minister, Deputy Coughlan, since assuming office as Minister for Agriculture and Food, has been to ensure the efficient...
- Afforestation Programme. (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Wallace: In terms of incentives, the current forestry grant and premium package is without doubt the most attractive that has ever been available. Farmers and landowners can avail of an establishment grant of 100% of costs, a tax free premium of up to â¬500 per hectare per annum for 20 years at present, and under the single farm payment scheme, farmers can plant up to 50% of their eligible claimed...
- Afforestation Programme. (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Wallace: The premium increase is connected to the partnership talks. I was involved in its proposal and was very supportive of it. As with the Deputy, we would like to see it come through as soon as possible. With regard to practical considerations, we set a closing date of 30 September because we were coming to the end of this programme at the end of 2006. We received a surge of applications,...
- Afforestation Programme. (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Wallace: Since 1991 some 228,159 hectares of new forestry have been planted, representing an average planting rate of 15,000 hectares a year. The current planting target of 20,000 hectares per annum, including public planting of 5,000 hectares per annum, was set in 1996. Public planting ceased almost completely in the late 1990s, because of a Court of Justice ruling which found that Coillte...
- Afforestation Programme. (17 Oct 2006)
Mary Wallace: We would like to see increases in grants and premiums. We have already announced an increase in the plantation grant which increased by 9% in 2005 and we received approval from the Department of Finance this year to increase the plantation grant by a further 14.7%. We submitted that proposal to the EU Commission for approval and are awaiting a final decision on it. A proposed increase in...