Results 8,761-8,780 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: An official of my Department has been in direct contact with the person named on a number of occasions, following which enquiries are ongoing regarding the issues raised. The person named will be contacted again as soon as matters are clarified.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I understand that the question relates to payment for the organic farming supplementary measure in REPS 3. The person named first joined REPS in 2001 and his contract started on 1 August 2001. He applied to transform to REPS 3 in September 2004, using the streamlined transformation arrangements in place at the time. He was allowed to transform to REPS 3 and his new contract was backdated...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Equal Opportunities Employment: Equal Opportunities Employment (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: As the Deputy is aware, 2006 was the first year of reporting compliance with the 3% employment target under the Disability Act 2005. My Department used the 'Count Me In' survey, prepared by the Department of Finance and the NDA, to collect this data. Of the employees that responded to the survey, 4.1% indicated that they had a disability as defined under the 2005 Act. This information is...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 885 and 887 together. To the end of December 2007, 253 civil servants had decentralised to my Department's offices in Portlaoise. To the end of December 2006, the number was 187. To the end of December 2007, 80 civil servants had decentralised to my Department's offices in Clonakilty. The move to Clonakilty is now substantially complete. The Government's...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Jan 2008)

Mary Coughlan: To the end of December, 253 civil servants had transferred to my Department's offices in Portlaoise under the decentralisation programme. 70 of these were assigned to Portlaoise from outside Dublin. The move of the Department's Fisheries function to Clonakilty is now substantially complete. Of the 80 posts moved, 53 were assigned from outside of Dublin. A revision to the Department's...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department currently has overall responsibility for the implementation of the Shellfish Waters Directive (79/923/EEC), pending its onward transfer to the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government in accordance with the government decision taken on the 9 October. This directive has been enacted through SI 268/2006 and Clew Bay is designated as a Shellfish Water under...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The information sought by the Deputy is set out in the table below. Posts Filled Of which posts confined to Civil Servants 2007 367 108 2006 308 80 2005 245 81 2004 257 67 2003 353 117 The posts confined to Civil Servants included positions at Assistant Secretary, Principal Officer, Assistant Principal, Higher Executive Officer, Executive Officer, Staff Officer, Supervisory...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The recruitment of staff by the agencies under the aegis of my Department within their overall approved numbers is an operational matter for the bodies themselves.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: On 31 October 2007, I announced the closure of the Farm Improvement Scheme as applications received under the Scheme had reached the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016. The applications received under the Scheme up to 31 October 2007 will be processed by my Department up to the level of funding available.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 25 April 2007. Also an application to consolidate entitlements was received on 26 April 2007. An advance payment in the amount of €5422.10 issued on 16 October 2007. Payment of the balance was slightly delayed while the application for consolidation was being processed. This application was rejected, as...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Approval to commence work was issued by my Department to the applicant on 22 October 2007. My Department has no record of having received any notification of completion of works and the related documents from the applicant since that date. The matter cannot be further progressed until this documentation is received.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The delay in making payment under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme arose from the fact that the person named did not declare land parcels during the 2000-2002 reference period. Under the regulations governing the old coupled schemes, the person concerned was not obliged to declare his land. Under the Single Payment Scheme it was necessary for my Department to establish what land was owned by...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Applications received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 will be processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted a Single Payment application to my Department on 9 May 2007, declaring 6.40 hectares. However, as he does not hold any Single Payment entitlements, payment cannot issue to him. He has received full payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme in respect of these lands.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The only persons other than established civil servants from whom advice has been sought or received on a personal basis by me, or the Ministers of State in my Department are two personal advisors. Mr Michael Shovlin was employed by me as press advisor until earlier this year, with a salary of €83,815 per annum. Mr Stiofán Nutty is currently employed by Minister of State Sargent. His...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (19 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: To the end of November, 183 civil servants have transferred from Dublin to my Department's offices in Portlaoise. An additional 70 civil servants were assigned to Portlaoise from outside of Dublin. There are 82 civil servants in my Department's offices in Dublin assigned for decentralisation to Portlaoise.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Pier at Coolnagalach is the property of Kerry County Council and responsibility for its repair and upkeep rests with the Local Authority in the first instance. My Department does, however, co-fund maintenance and development works with various Local Authorities subject to the availability of Exchequer funding and overall national priorities. I have recently invited applications for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: An application under the 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 3 May 2007. Following processing of the application, issues arose regarding the area of land being claimed, the outcome of which was that the person named was deemed to have over-claimed in respect of the forage area available to him. While this over-claim did not affect his payment under the Single...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Dec 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Almost all payments made in advance relate to Information Communications Technology (ICT). My Department uses an extensive range of ICT hardware and software products to underpin its key operations. Some of these are off-the-shelf and some are tailored. These hardware and software products require ongoing support and enhancement to ensure their satisfactory operation and modification to...