Results 12,741-12,760 of 18,482 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The following are the number of hectares of trees planted in each of the past five years by species. Year Broadleaf Conifer Total 2005 3,002 7,094 10,096 2006 2,527 5,509 8,036 2007 2,182 4,765 6,947 2008 2,227 4,022 6,249 2009 2,473 4,175 6,648

Written Answers — National Flock: National Flock (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: According to the CSO, the size of the national sheep flock in December for the years in question was as shown in the table below: Year No. of sheep on farms in December 2005 4,257,000 2006 3,826,300 2007 3,530,500 2008 3,422,900 2009 3,182,600 I am aware of the decline in numbers in the national flock, although Ireland is not unique in that regard. Most of the main sheep-producing...

Written Answers — Tax Code: Tax Code (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The implementation of a carbon tax on fossil fuels is, in the first instance, a matter for my colleagues, the Minister for Finance and the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. The Finance Bill, 2010, introduced carbon taxation of mineral oils, which will apply to petrol, auto-diesel, kerosene, marked gas oil, liquid petroleum gas, fuel oil and natural gas. These...

Written Answers — Crop Losses: Crop Losses (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: I introduced this Scheme to provide some compensation to growers for damage to potatoes and root vegetables caused by frost in January of this year. The Scheme is aimed at providing a limited and targeted financial contribution to those growers, who suffered significant losses of produce due to frost damage. Financial aid will only be paid in instances where genuine damage to crops was caused...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Installation Aid Scheme. An initial application (IAS 1) was received on 7 June 2007 and an application for payment (IAS 2) was received on 14 October 2008 following which further information was requested from the applicant concerned. Under the terms of the Scheme, payment of the grant is made once it has been established that the requirements...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 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 — Domestic Abattoirs: Domestic Abattoirs (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The European Communities (Food and Feed Hygiene) Regulations 2009 (S.I. No. 432 of 2009), which give further effect in Ireland to the EU food hygiene regulations ("the Hygiene Package"), provide for the approval and supervision of meat processing establishments including slaughtering establishments. My Department currently supervises 51 slaughter plants and 220 such plants are supervised by...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within ten days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue to the person named within ten days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The 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 — Crop Losses: Crop Losses (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: I introduced this Scheme to provide some compensation to growers for damage to potatoes and root vegetables caused by frost in January of this year. The Scheme is aimed at providing a limited and targeted financial contribution to those growers who suffered significant losses of produce due to frost damage. In accordance with EU State Aid Rules, aid is confined to actual losses and...

Written Answers — Commonage Division: Commonage Division (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The commonage shares in question relates to a migration and voluntary re-arrangement scheme undertaken by the former Land Commission and for which I now have responsibility. According to the records in my Department, there are three 1/16th shares on hands to be allotted. The person named has been offered one of these but has refused to accept it. Examination of the records does not support...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payments worth €7 million in total are being made to 13,000 hill sheep farmers under the 2009 Upland Sheep Payment. Payments commenced in early December and, to date, payments amounting to €5 million have issued to sheep farmers. The balancing payments, worth €2 million in total, are scheduled to commence in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — On-farm Investment Schemes: On-farm Investment Schemes (27 Apr 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 — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 20 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. During the validation process it was deemed that the applicant breached one of the Terms and Conditions of this Scheme and was, therefore, not eligible for payment. However, the person subsequently provided confirmation to my Department that he had, in fact, adhered to the condition. If this is confirmed...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payment will issue within 10 days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named had 6 animals for consideration under the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. During the validation process, errors have been identified as the applicant has provided the same date for meal feeding and weaning. An official from my Department will be in contact with the herd owner with a view to resolving the matter.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (22 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department was not in a position to approve the application from the person-named under the Early Retirement Scheme as the scheme conditions were not met. In order to qualify as a 'Category A' application under the scheme, the proposed transferee of the applicant's land must be approved for payment under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. This requirement was not met and the Young...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person named had 16 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 applicant did not comply with this condition and, therefore, is not eligible for payment under the provisions...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (22 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The REPS payment for the person named will issue within ten days. He applied for 36 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. The applicant did not comply with this condition and, therefore,...