Results 12,161-12,180 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The persons named were joint applicants for REPS and started their contract in January 1997. They were paid for three years. As they failed to lodge an application for payment in their fourth year and did not comply with the five-year commitment required under the Scheme, their contract was terminated and my Department set out to recover the payments they had received. Their subsequent...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named had 22 animals for consideration under the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme, animals from herds of more than 10 cows must be weaned in at least two separate groups with at least five days between the weaning of each group. According to information originally provided by the person named, all of the animals were weaned on the same day....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department is aware of 20 external transfer applications of which 17 were facilitated and three refused. Details of staff matters in respect of bodies under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is a matter for the Bodies themselves as part of their day-to-day activities.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. Under the terms of the Scheme, payment of the grant is made once it has been established that the requirements of the Scheme have been met, including the conditions in relation to property, education and income. The outcome of my Department's examination of the application will be made known to the applicant...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (7 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: A sum of €2,066,000 funding was made available for training in my Department in 2010. This sum was further reduced since the initial allocation to €1,989,000. The total expenditure to end of June 2010 was €436,865.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Scheme for the Allocation of Milk Quota to New Entrants was introduced in 2009 with a second scheme implemented in 2010. Applications that satisfied the eligibility criteria as set out in the detailed rules of the scheme were required to be presented for assessment to establish the extent to which each applicant could demonstrate a real and long-term commitment to dairying. A panel was...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The deduction involved in this case amounts to €308.43. The deduction was made because the Department's records indicate that in 2007 the amount of nitrogen from livestock manure applied to land on the holding (including that deposited by animals) exceeded the limit of 170kgs per hectare set down in the Nitrates Regulations. It is open to the person named to appeal this deduction, within...

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Slipway at Fountainstown, Co. Cork is owned by Cork County Council and responsibility for its repair and maintenance rests with that Local Authority in the first instance. Under the Fishery Harbour and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme my Department has, in previous years, provided funding for the development and repair of Local Authority owned harbours, piers and slipways....

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The aquaculture operator referred to by the Deputy does not have a valid Aquaculture Licence within the provisions of the relevant legislation. Therefore the question of review does not arise. This information has been conveyed to the operator by my Department on numerous occasions.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: An amended application from the person named is currently being examined in my Department. The applicant will be informed of the outcome once this examination is complete.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: There were issues to be resolved in this case before it could be approved for payment. Payment will now issue to the person named within ten working days.

Written Answers — Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund: Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: Government support for the horse and greyhound racing industries is provided under the Horse and Greyhound Racing Fund which was established under Section 12 of the Horse and Greyhound Racing Act, 2001 (the Act). In accordance with the Act, 80% and 20% of the moneys paid into the Fund each year are distributed between Horse Racing Ireland (HRI) and Bord na gCon respectively. I am pleased to...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The live export trade complements the processed beef trade and is an important component of our meat and livestock industry. Overall live exports in 2009 increased by 94% on 2008 levels. In the same period, exports to the UK increased by 159%, with those to Great Britain increasing by 440%, and those to other destinations by 74%. Up to the end of week 25 of 2010, live exports were 49% ahead...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has no record of having received an application under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme from the person concerned. As the Deputy will be aware, the Scheme was suspended for new applications on 14 October 2008.

Written Answers — Legislative Programme: Legislative Programme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 576 and 582 together. 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 being prepared in my Department. The new bill will consolidate a wide range of existing legislation as well as repealing other legislation...

Written Answers — Farm Schemes: Farm Schemes (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Agri-Environment Options Scheme was structured so that farmers were not required to employ the services of a planner in order to apply for entry to the Scheme, except where a Sustainable Management Plan had to be put in place for Commonage or Natura land. It was therefore open to farmers without Natura or Commonage land to make an application without incurring the cost of employing a...

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The 2009 Code of Practice for the Governance of State Bodies applies to all the State agencies under the aegis of my Department.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has 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 intend...

Written Answers — Fallen Animal Collection Scheme: Fallen Animal Collection Scheme (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: The disposal of fallen animals is subject to Regulation (EC) No 1774 of 2002. Under this Regulation, animals which die on-farm must generally be disposed of through approved intermediate plants (knackeries) and rendering plants. While my Department's contribution to the Fallen Animals Scheme in general ceased with effect from 14th April 2009, I have continued to provide financial support for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Jul 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 24 April 2009. This application was selected for a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection. During the course of the ground eligibility inspection a discrepancy was discovered with parcel number D23102066. The claimed area for Single payment of 29.7ha was reduced to...