Results 11,541-11,560 of 18,326 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: In accordance with Ireland's Rural Development Programme, a sum of â¬90 million has been made available for the five targeted on-farm investment schemes listed below:- Sow Welfare Scheme; Poultry Welfare Scheme; Sheep Fencing and Mobile Handling Equipment Scheme; Dairy Equipment Scheme; Water Harvesting Scheme. The first three Schemes referred to above have already been introduced by my...
- Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: Under the legislation governing the implementation of the Single Payment Scheme the Department must be informed of changes to land parcels details through the submission by farmers of maps. These are submitted as necessary by farmers where existing parcels are being altered or subdivided or where previously undeclared parcels are claimed. During the processing of the maps received the...
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: I welcome the opportunities presented by the development of the wood energy sector. Wood fuel from Irish forests is a sustainable, renewable, carbon-neutral and indigenous source of energy and has significant potential to replace imported carbon emitting fossil fuels. Indeed, wood biomass is already making a significant contribution to Ireland's renewable energy targets. My Department...
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: My Department operates a wide-ranging consultation process in relation to applications for afforestation grant aid depending on the sensitivity of the application submitted. The National Parks and Wildlife Services is only one component of that process. Afforestation sites must be capable of producing a commercial crop of timber and, in many cases, while the site may be suitable...
- Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: Some 6,000 letters of approval for participation in the scheme have now issued to applicants under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme. Comprehensive administrative and validation checks must be carried out on all applications to ensure eligibility and compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme before letters of approvals can issue, particularly in the case of those applications...
- Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: Some 6,000 letters of approval for participation in the scheme have now issued to applicants under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme. Comprehensive administrative and validation checks must be carried out on all applications to ensure eligibility and compliance with the terms and condition of the scheme before letters of approvals can issue, particularly in the case of those applications...
- Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: My Department's statutory responsibility extends to the welfare and protection of farmed animals only i.e. animals normally bred or kept for the production of food or for use in or for the purpose of farming. Notwithstanding this, it is apparent from ongoing communications between officials of my Department and representatives of Local Authorities and Animal Welfare Organisations that there...
- Written Answers — Food Industry: Food Industry (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: The Report of the Joint Committee on Enterprise, Trade and Innovation referred to by the Deputy analyses the business operating environment of the agri-food sector and makes recommendations within the overall theme of increasing employment in the sector. The Report identifies the importance of the sector to the Irish economy, which is also the focus of the Food Harvest 2020 strategy for the...
- Written Answers — Food Harvest 2020: Food Harvest 2020 (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: The following are some of the actions which have been taken to date to progress the implementation of Food Harvest 2020: I have established and am chairing the High Level Implementation Committee (HLIC). The HLIC consists of all the key actors on the state sector. Its function is to direct and take whatever actions are necessary to successfully implement Food Harvest 2020 and to act as a...
- Written Answers — Agri-Environment Options Scheme: Agri-Environment Options Scheme (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: Further participation in the new Agri-environment Options Scheme as well as other scheme implementation and service delivery by my Department in the future will be considered in the context of the 2011 Budgetary process and the preparation by the Government of the 4 year Expenditure Programme".
- Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: It is anticipated that planting in 2010 will be in the region of 7,000 hectares. Like all other State spending programmes the funding for the afforestation programme in 2011 is currently being considered as part of the Estimates process. I am well aware of the contribution forestry makes, through carbon sequestration, in meeting our climate change commitments. In 2008 Kyoto-eligible...
- Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: The Sheep Fencing/Mobile Handling Equipment Scheme opened for applications on 1 November 2010.
- Written Answers — Forestry Sector: Forestry Sector (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: The Renewed Programme for Government commits, subject to resources, to increase the level of annual planting to 10,000 hectares per annum. In order to make progress towards that objective provision of â¬116.5m was made in 2010 to facilitate an increase in planting from 6,648 hectares in 2009 to 7,000 hectares this year. This increased planting is on course to be met. The serious decline in...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 19 April 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is complete and the application has now been fully processed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2010. The 50% advance payment, which issued on 18 October, was in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application required digitisation; immediately this process is complete, provided no errors are identified, the further payment due will...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2010. The advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 18 October, based on the land cleared at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application of the person named required digitisation; immediately this process is complete, provided no errors are...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on the 26 April 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is completed and the application has now been fully processed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: The person named registered 64 animals in the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. The person named has received payment in respect of 58 animals, which were eligible for payment. There are outstanding queries in respect of all of the remaining animals. My Department has received no reply to the letter issued to the person named regarding these queries.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on the 8 April 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is completed and the application has now been fully processed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue within...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2010)
Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 26 April 2010. Advance payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Single Payment Scheme issued on 21 September and 18 October, respectively, in both cases based on the land cleared at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application of the person named required...