Results 12,541-12,560 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: I understand that the person in question was in receipt of payments under the Forest Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) while he was a participant in REPS. As he is no longer in REPS, payments under FEPS will cease although he will continue to receive annual premiums under the Afforestation Scheme. There are no proposals to link the FEPS scheme to the new Agri Environment Options Scheme...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: The person named joined REPS 1 on 1 January 1997 and received three years payment. He did not lodge an application for payment for his fourth year. Under the terms and conditions of REPS 1, this led to the termination of his contract and the recoupment of all the payments he had received. My officials have been in contact with the person named and have considered documentation which he...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (18 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: My Department recently received EU Commission approval for the various targeted on-farm investment schemes announced by my Department in 2009. Due to the relatively short time-frames for completion of the investment works concerned, my priority is to introduce the Sow Welfare and Poultry Welfare Schemes first. Arrangements will then be made to introduce the three remaining schemes,...
- Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (18 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: I have no plans to review the system of grant calculation which was applicable under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. As the Deputy will be aware, the Nitrates version of that Scheme was introduced by my Department in March 2006 and all the investment works concerned had to be completed by farmers by the closing date of 31 December 2008. I do not propose, therefore, to revise either the...
- Written Answers — Pension Provisions: Pension Provisions (18 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: No civil servant employed in my Department is in receipt of a civil service pension. My Department, however, does not have information on the number of staff who may be in receipt of a State pension. The corresponding information requested by the Deputy in respect of the agencies under my remit is a matter for the agencies themselves as part of their day-to-day activities.
- Written Answers — Direct Payment Schemes: Direct Payment Schemes (13 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: A representative of my Department has been in contact with the person named and has notified her that the 7.92 entitlements which were previously lost to the National Reserve due to non-usage in 2007, 2008 and 2009 have now been returned under Force Majeure due to the extenuating circumstances involved. However, these entitlements now require to be transferred to her as they are currently...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 12 May 2009 declaring a total area of 65.24ha. This application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility inspection. During the course of the inspection discrepancies were found with parcel numbers X13101048 and X13504091 and the area found eligible for...
- Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (13 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Installation Aid Scheme. Payment of the standard amount available under the Scheme issued on 27 January 2009. My Department is currently processing an application for a top-up payment under the Scheme. Payment of this additional grant-aid will be made once it has been established that the requirements of the top-up element have been met. The...
- Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (13 May 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: The applicant's Forestry Management Plan was returned to him on 5 May 2010 for clarification on the size of the plantation. No forestry premium will issue until the Plan is returned and outstanding issues clarified.
- Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (13 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: My combined TD and Ministerial salary is â¬191, 417. The salary of the Secretary General of my Department is â¬215,590. The salary of the CEO of Coillte is â¬297,024. He has a provision in his contract enabling him to participate in a performance related award scheme, though payments under the scheme have been suspended. There is also provision for a car and pension arrangements.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (13 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: The application from the person named was received on 17 June 2009 and his REPS 4 contract begins on 1 January 2010. The applicant will not be eligible for a payment in respect of 2010 until administrative checks on all 2010 applications for REPS 4, as well as cross-checks against Single Payment Scheme entitlements, are completed. As a result, payment is likely to take place in the Autumn.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 24 April 2009. On the date of application the person named had no Single Payment entitlements in his own name. On 25th February 2010 an application was received to transfer single payment entitlements from another farmer to the person named. My department requested testamentary documentation and when...
- Written Answers — Crop Losses: Crop Losses (12 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: As detailed in my reply to question 356 of 5 May 2010, I introduced a Fodder Aid Scheme in November 2009, which was targeted at farmers who lost fodder due to the severe flooding in November 2009. Many of the beneficiaries of this Scheme were farmers in South Galway. I also introduced a Scheme in February 2010 to provide limited assistance to some potato and vegetable producers whose crops...
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within ten working days.
- Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: The person named applied for 11 animals in 2009 under the 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. My Department examined the additional information provided by the applicant but was not satisfied that this condition...
- Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (12 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: The information requested for the years concerned is not readily available but will be collated and forwarded directly to the Deputy.
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (12 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: REPS 3 was introduced under EU Regulations covering the Rural Development programming period 2000â2006 whereas the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) was introduced under the Regulations covering the current period, 2007â13. It is not legally possible under the regulations for a person to apply for AEOS while still participating in REPS 3 and I have no discretion in this matter.
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (12 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: There are currently 2,996 participants in REPS in County Clare with an average annual payment of â¬6,200.
- Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (12 May 2010)
Brendan Smith: At close of business on Tuesday 11 May, 1,079 applications had been submitted to my Department's office at Johnstown Castle Estate in Wexford. I expect significant volumes of applications will be submitted over the coming days.