Results 11,041-11,060 of 18,459 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 17 May 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Full Cross Compliance Inspection. The inspection process is complete and the results are now being processed. Under EU regulations governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. A payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued to the person named on 8 December in respect of the clear eligible area, however, some of the land parcels listed on the application required digitisation. This process is now complete and the balancing payment due will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 4 May 2010. The 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme, which issued on 18 October and the further 30% payment under the same Scheme, which issued on 1 December, were on the basis of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage, as a number of other land parcels listed on the application...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 6 May 2010.The 75% advance payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme, which issued on 21 September and 18 October 2010 respectively, were on the basis of the land cleared at that stage, as a number of parcels declared...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2010. The 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme, which issued on 5 November, the further 30% payment under the same Scheme, which issued on 1 December, as well as the 75% advance payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme which issued on 21 September,...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 5 May 2010. Following digitising of a parcel declared, an over-claim was revealed, which has since been resolved following correspondence with the person named. Outstanding payments under both Schemes will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named registered 14 animals under the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. While one animal was deemed ineligible, as it was sold before weaning, and a second animal was born as a twin (each Suckler Cow is only paid on once in a scheme year, the twin being therefore not eligible), payment in respect of the remaining 12 animals issued to the person named last week. This represents full...

Written Answers — Horse Racing Ireland: Horse Racing Ireland (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The policy in relation to determining and approving the remuneration of each Chief Executive of each state body under the auspices of my Department is that set out by Government and in Department of Finance guidelines. The CEO of Horse Racing Ireland was awarded two pay increases of 2.5% in 2008, on 1 March and 1 September. These increases were in accordance with Government guidelines. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: I intend, subject to the constraints of the expenditure ceilings set out in of the National Recovery Plan 2011-2014, to re-open AEOS in 2011 for up to 10,000 participants with a maximum payment level of €5,000. Entry into the scheme will be open to farmers who were participants in REPS in the past or to those who wish to participate in an agri-environment scheme for the first time.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 22 April 2010. During the validation of the application, an over-claim was identified in respect of one land parcel as well as three parcels with forestry dual claims. These matters have now been resolved following correspondence between the person named and my Department....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 10 May 2010. Under EU Regulations, applicants, who afforest part of their holding from 2009 onwards and wish to benefit from the Single Payment, are required to retain at least 10% of the eligible hectares declared in 2008 (by the applicant or their predecessor) in an agricultural activity, subject to a...

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The EU rules governing the AEOS and Natura Schemes require that comprehensive administrative and validation checks must be carried out on all applications before letters of approval may issue. Natura and Commonage applications, which included a Sustainable Management Plan, required additional checks to be carried out in order to satisfy eligibility and audit requirements. These additional...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. The 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme, which issued on 18 October, the further 30% payment under the same Scheme, which issued on 1 December, as well as the 75% advance payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme which issued on 21 September, were...

Written Answers — Departmental Bodies: Departmental Bodies (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy may recall, a Review Group on State Assets and Liabilities, under the chairmanship of Mr. Colm McCarthy, was established by the Minister for Finance earlier this year to examine and provide advice on the proper stewardship of state assets and on opportunities for the better use of those assets. The outcome of that review is awaited.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The terms of the Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Equipment Scheme provide that the closing date for receipt of applications shall be 31 December 2013 rather than the period referred to by the Deputy. I do not propose, therefore, to treat applications as valid under the Scheme where they are accompanied by proof of having lodged an application for planning permission with the relevant local...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Government recently approved the drafting of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill 2010. The Bill gives effect to commitments in the Programmes for Government including the updating of existing animal health and welfare legislation and provides for significantly increased penalties for offenders.

Written Answers — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Slaughterhouses and meat processing plants operate under the approval of my Department in accordance with the terms of EU Regulations which are collectively known as the 'Hygiene Package'. These plants are supervised by veterinary inspectors employed by the Department, assisted in their duties by technical staff and by temporary veterinary inspectors (TVIs) drawn from private practice on a...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: In regard to the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) it is presumed that the Deputy is referring to EU-funded or co-funded expenditure undertaken by my Department which was the subject of an adjustment under the Clearance of Accounts procedure and had to be reimbursed to the Commission. The amounts are: Year* Amount 2005 €1,207,467.70 2006 €170,297.64 2007 ...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: Expenditure on Export Refunds for the period 2005 – 2009 was as follows: 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 €160,237,000 €97,851,000 €57,222,000 €13,361,000 €28,311,000 Export refunds are 100% EU funded.

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (14 Dec 2010)

Brendan Smith: As the Deputy will be aware, the original Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department was that 600 headquarter posts would move to Portlaoise; some 100 posts in the local offices in Cork city would move to Fermoy; and up to 100 posts in the laboratories in Cork and Limerick would move to Macroom. The Government announced, in 2008, that the moves of my Department's offices to...