Results 12,061-12,080 of 18,326 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — National Lottery Funding: National Lottery Funding (1 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: No funding was received by my Department from the National Lottery in the period in question.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (1 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: Details of the amounts paid by my Department in legal fees for each of the years from 2000 to date in 2010 are being compiled at present and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible. The amounts paid in legal fees by each of the agencies and bodies under the aegis of my Department are a matter for the agencies/bodies themselves.

Written Answers — Horseracing Industry: Horseracing Industry (30 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Irish bloodstock industry makes a significant contribution to the Irish economy and is particularly important to the rural economy with some 22,000 full-time employees in the thoroughbred equine industry. In 2008, 6,222 Irish thoroughbreds, with a value of €216 million, were exported to 42 countries demonstrating the value of the industry to the national economy. In excess of 40% of...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (30 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The information sought in regard to the amounts of grant funding paid by my Department to the organisation concerned in 2008 and 2009, and any allocation in 2010, is currently being compiled and will be sent to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 37 animals for consideration under the Suckler Welfare Scheme for 2008 and 27 for consideration under the 2009 Scheme. A significant number of errors have been identified and we are still in communication with the person named to resolve these issues.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (30 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The first application from the person named under the Early Retirement Scheme did not satisfy all of the scheme conditions. The applicant was notified on 21 January 2010 of the reasons for the refusal of his application. The application was resubmitted on 18 February 2010, but once again it did not satisfy all of the scheme conditions. The person named was notified on 1 March 2010 of the...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (30 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: Against the background of the deterioration in public finances, my approach in preparing the 2009 Estimates for my Department was to protect expenditure for major developmental measures in the agri-food sector. To achieve this objective, savings had to be found in other areas and I decided, reluctantly, to reduce expenditure under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme for 2009 by reducing the...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (30 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: REPS 3 payments, which are issued in advance, are made on an ongoing basis to those applicants who submit claims on the anniversary of their contract starting date. A total of €19,737,525 was paid to participants in REPS 3 in Co Donegal in 2009, and €5,388,798 has been paid to date in 2010. A total of €7,960,118 has been paid this year to REPS 4 participants in Co Donegal in respect of...

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (30 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: I announced details of the 2010 Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants on 24th February last. Following this announcement my Department published a document detailing the eligibility and other terms and conditions attached to the Scheme. Among the criteria, which were produced in consultation with the farming organisations and ICOS, was the requirement for applicants to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 24 animals for consideration under the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. It is a condition of this Scheme that for herds of more than 10 cows the calves must be weaned in at least two separate groups with each group being removed at a minimum interval of five days. The person named weaned all animals on 24/10/09 and consequently did not comply with this condition. Therefore,...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: At the 2008 December Fisheries Council, restrictions on whitefish fishing in the west of Area VI (waters west of Donegal and off Scotland) were introduced for the first time under Council Regulation No. 43/2009. These restrictions include establishing minimum mesh sizes to be used by vessels fishing in the west of area VIa and requiring that these vessels' fishing gear incorporate square...

Written Answers — Horse and Greyhound Fund: Horse and Greyhound Fund (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided for under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (the Fund) which was established under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001. The Fund is made up of monies generated from excise duty collected from off course betting and other exchequer funding. In 2004 the Government put in place Regulations to increase the limit...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The new Grassland Sheep Scheme, which has a total budget of €54 million, will operate for three years: 2010, 2011 and 2012. This funding, which comes from the unused Single Payment funds, will provide a very important and timely boost to support incomes in the sheep sector over the next three years. The Scheme has been kept administratively simple, which will facilitate the Department in...

Written Answers — Animal Welfare: Animal Welfare (29 Jun 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. The racing of horses on public roads would give rise in the first instance to public safety issues, which are a matter for An Garda Síochána and the respective Local Authority where...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: At the 2008 December Fisheries Council, restrictions on whitefish fishing in the west of Area VI (waters west of Donegal and off Scotland) were introduced for the first time under Council Regulation No. 43/2009. These restrictions included establishing minimum mesh sizes to be used by vessels fishing in the west of area VIa and requiring that these vessels' fishing gear incorporate square...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: An adjusted plan was required in this case and it was received on 17 May 2010. My officials are currently examining this plan, and if it is in order the application from the person named will be processed for payment.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named received his payment in two instalments on 13 April and 27 April 2010.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: My officials have been in contact with the person named. His application for payment could not be dealt with until the relevant herd number was registered in his name. Arrangements to complete the registration are in train and the REPS payment will be processed shortly.

Written Answers — Departmental Property: Departmental Property (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: The cost of building and maintenance for most of the properties occupied by my Department is borne by the Office of Public Works. However, Department owns a number of buildings around the country and for the last financial year, 2009, the cost of land maintenance, including light and heat expenditure, is set out in the table: Cost of various services at Department Premises during 2009 €...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (29 Jun 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department recently received EU approval for the introduction of a number of new on-farm investment schemes, including the provision of grant-aid for sheep fencing and mobile handling facilities. However, due to the relatively short time-frames for completion of work, my priority has been the introduction of the Poultry and Sow Welfare Schemes which were launched on 16 June last. I now...