Results 12,001-12,020 of 18,461 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 26 April 2010. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with an advance payment of 75% issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. The required digitising of the balance of the land declared has now been completed, as...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The EU Regulations governing REPS 4 and other area-based schemes provide that payments issue in two instalments. The first instalment of 75% may be paid once all administrative checks on all applications, as well as cross-checks against areas declared on Single Payment Scheme applications, have been completed. This process is underway and while my objective is to make all payments as soon...

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: Preparation of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill which gives effect to commitments in the Programme for Government and the Renewed Programme for Government on issues relating to animal health and welfare is ongoing in my Department. The new bill will consolidate and update a wide range of existing legislation to ensure that the welfare of all animals, including non-farm animals is properly...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: My entire focus is to make the maximum permissible payments to farmers under each of the relevant Direct Payment Schemes, at the earliest possible dates, having due regard to the governing regulations. In this regard, I am confident that almost €1.5 billion will be paid to Irish farmers before 31 December 2010. In relation to the 2010 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, I have exercised the option...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: In relation to the 2010 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, I have exercised the option of making an advance payment of 75% of DAS beginning on 22 September, with the balancing 25% payment commencing 20 October. I have taken this option because of the EU requirement to entirely process applications before payment can be made in full. However, this approach is ensuring the maximum number of farmers...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 May 2010. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with an advance payment of 75% issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. As the person named listed four plots on his application, the advance payment issued in...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The entire Direct Payments made by my Department are dependent on the operation by my Department of an up to date Land Parcel Identification System. That system must, as required by EU legislation, in particular the Integrated Administrative and Control System (IACS), be kept fully updated each year reflecting the annual return of maps by farmers applying under the various Direct Payment...

Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: Preserved pension benefits for staff with at least 5 years service who leave the civil service before minimum retirement age were introduced for established staff serving on or after 1 June 1973 and for un-established staff serving on or after 1 October 1975. As the person named left my Department in 1970, she is therefore not entitled to a pension. If she subsequently served in another...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: To put the question, and my reply, in context, the correspondence provided by the Deputy relates to the proposed felling by Coillte of a coniferous forest at Townleyhall, Co. Louth. Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988. While the control of felling is a regulatory matter for my Department, once a felling licence has been granted, the...

Written Answers — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (5 Oct 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with an advance payment of 75 per cent issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage; the application of the person named was one of those who received the full advance...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The original Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department provided for the decentralisation of some 600 headquarter posts to Portlaoise. Since the decentralisation programme began some 300 posts in my Department have been decentralised bringing the total there to almost 500 posts.

Written Answers — Farm Incomes: Farm Incomes (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The latest farm income data available, produced by Teagasc in its National Farm Survey for 2009, estimated that average farm income for 2009 was €11,968. Full-time farms, as defined by Teagasc, had an average farm income of €24,214. Comparison with 2010 is not yet possible as this data will not be available until next year. When compared with prices for July 2009, the latest CSO...

Written Answers — Veterinary Services: Veterinary Services (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: Over the past year, my Department has been engaged in a comprehensive reconfiguration of the local office structure, as part of which sixteen enhanced regional offices are being developed. This process is designed to ensure that the Department continues to provide an efficient and effective service to the Department's clients. The Department's office in Ballybay is continuing to provide a...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named did not draw down any premia payments during the reference period (2000-2002) and therefore did not establish Single Payment Entitlements. A 2010 application to transfer entitlements from the person named was received by my Department; however this application was rejected as there were no entitlements in the account of the person named.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named is one of three applicants who have declared commonage land on their SPS applications: two applicants each declared a half share, while the third claimed a one-third share. All applicants have submitted varying degrees of proof in support of their claims to my Department in support of their declaration. However, given the inherent conflict, it has been necessary to refer...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 21 April 2010. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with an advance payment of 75 per cent issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. The person named declared two land plots on his application, which required...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: The 20 directives to be transposed into national law for which my Department has responsibility are set out in the attached schedule. None are overdue for transposition. I intend to have the directives implemented by the due date in each case. Title of Directive Date by which Directive is to be implemented Commission Directive 2010/6/EU of 9 February 2010 amending Annex I to Directive...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 7 May 2010. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with an advance payment of 75% issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. Immediately the digitising process is complete, provided no errors are identified, the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Oct 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with an advance payment of 75% issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. As the person named listed one plot on his application, the advance payment issued in...