Results 8,941-8,960 of 16,057 for speaker:Mary Coughlan

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (28 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: I propose to take Questions Nos. 214 and 215 together. The implementation of the Nitrates Directive is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The dates of the prohibited periods for spreading fertilizer are set out in the European Communities (Good Agricultural Practice for the Protection of Waters) Regulations 2006, made by the...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (28 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: My Department's offices at Maynooth and Backweston are not part of the Government's decentralisation programme and vacancies are not currently being filled under the CAF arrangements. Currently, all vacancies are being filled from existing Department of Agriculture, Fisheries & Food staff.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the terms and conditions of the Early Retirement Scheme introduced in 2000, in the case of applications made in the year ended 31 December 2001, payments are made for a maximum period of 10 years but in any event not beyond a participant's 69th birthday. The person named entered the Scheme on 5 December 2001 and reached the age of 69 on 20 November 2007. In accordance with the terms...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Charter of Rights for Farmers 2005/2007 sets out deadlines within which payments under the various schemes operated by my Department should be processed. A Charter Monitoring Committee involving the farming organisations and officials of my Department under an independent chairman meets on a regular basis to review compliance with the deadlines in the Charter. Single Payment Scheme Under...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department includes the transfer of the local offices in Cork city to Fermoy, involving up to 100 staff. Since the announcement an implementation plan for Fermoy was put in place and my Department has worked with the OPW regarding a specification for the office and the identification of a site. OPW has made some progress in this regard...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The information requested by the Deputy is set out in the table below. 31/10/2002 31/10/2007 Permanent Employees 4,722 4,458 Temporary Staff 73 79 Contracted Staff 8 115 Number of employees 4,803 4,652

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The table below details the information requested by the Deputy. Class 2004 2005 2006 2007* â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ â'¬ First Class 0.00 8,202.04 0.00 11,853.13 Business Class 156,687.18 130,704.65 48,884.43 51,704.86 Economy Class 542,427.94 476,651.87 483,509.14 445,319.88 Total Airfares 699,115.12 615,558.56 532,393.57 508,877.87 * Year up to 31st October 2007.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The amount spent so far in my Department in 2007 on post and courier services is €3,481,627 and €33,342 respectively. My Department does not keep details of a breakdown between registered post and standard post.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The scheme of performance-related awards in the civil service applies to Deputy and Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades. It does not apply to Secretaries General. Details of awards to individual officers under the performance related scheme are not disclosed on the basis that they are confidential to the officer concerned. However I can say that during 2007 awards totalling...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The following table shows the number of permanent Civil Servants in this Department who have either transferred to other Departments or who have left the Civil Service in the years 2003 to 31 October 2007. Temporary Officers, who are recruited to fill temporary vacancies arising as a result of Special Leave, eg. Term Time, Maternity, etc., for special projects or for seasonal increases in...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: There have been no allegations of victimisation for whistleblowing reported to the Personnel Division of my Department by staff since 1 January 2007.

Written Answers — Ministerial Appointments: Ministerial Appointments (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: As I have direct responsibility for Animal Welfare issues the question of an appointment of Minister of State for Animal Welfare does not arise.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The table below sets out the number of active participants in REPS 3 in County Mayo at the end of each year from 2004 to date and the amounts paid to them. The 2007 figure is an estimate and includes some €25 million paid to date. Date Active Participants Amount Paid € million 31/12/2007 5,354 28.0 (estimate) 31/12/2006 5,285 27.3 31/12/2005 2,696 14.3 31/12/2004 1,331 5.8

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Council Regulation 1257/1999, under which REPS 3 was introduced, expired on 31 December 2006 and no new entrants could join the Scheme after that date. I launched REPS 4 on 8 August 2007 as a measure under the Rural Development Programme 2007/13, following the Programme's approval by the European Commission, and applications are being processed under the new scheme.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The basic REPS 4 payment rates are as follows: €234 per hectare on up to 20 hectares, €205 per hectare for next 20 ha up to 40 ha, €82 per hectare for next 15 ha up to 55 ha and €10 per hectare thereafter. Any area of a REPS farm designated as a Special Protection Area under the Wild Birds Directive, a Special Area of Conservation under the Habitats Directive or a Natural Heritage...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements under Category C the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve. Category C caters for farmers who sold their milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The person named reduced his contract area in REPS by 42.89 hectares and consequently, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme, had to repay a proportionate part of the REPS payment he had received. As in all cases in which payments must be recovered, my Department will consider proposals from the person concerned to repay the amount in instalments.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: The Sea Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006, provided for the establishment of the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA). This independent authority was established on January 1st 2007. The Act clearly provides that the Authority is independent in the exercise of its functions and as such I have no remit as to its work programme or its strategic deployment of resources.

Written Answers — Salmon Farming: Salmon Farming (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Salmon ranching is an activity that has not taken place in the State previously and accordingly requires careful consideration. Relevant state agencies are examining the multi-faceted implications of such an activity and will advise in due course. It should be noted that aquaculture activities, including the culture or farming of any species of fish, aquatic invertebrate or aquatic plant,...

Written Answers — Sugar Beet Industry: Sugar Beet Industry (27 Nov 2007)

Mary Coughlan: Under the Government's decision of July 2006 concerning the implementation of the EU restructuring aid for the sugar industry, Greencore would have received €98.4m of the total amount of €145.5m available to Irish beneficiaries. However, that decision was quashed by the High Court in June 2007 so the final allocation to Greencore has not yet been determined. The relevant EU regulations...