Results 13,321-13,340 of 18,338 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Beef Quality Assurance Scheme: Beef Quality Assurance Scheme (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Currently the An Bord Bia Quality Assurance Scheme is available to all producers of beef in Ireland regardless of whether they sell their animals direct to the factory or via the mart. The Bord is looking at the possibility of devising a scheme for live animals, in which case the marts would have a essential part.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The available budget for the 2010 Fishery Harbours and Coastal Infrastructure Development Capital Programme has been allocated to meet expenditure that is contractually committed for 2010 and essential safety and maintenance works.

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Greencastle harbour is owned by Donegal County Council and the maintenance and development of the harbour is the responsibility of the Council in the first instance. My Department has, however, in recent years, project managed works on phase 1 of the Greencastle Harbour development project on behalf of Donegal County Council as well as providing funding. The position with regard to providing...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Vote for my Department has been reduced from a gross outturn of €2.104 billion in 2008 to €1.735 billion in 2010, a reduction of €369 million. The lower 2010 budget provision reflects a combination of factors including lower administration costs, the closure of certain schemes to new applicants, the introduction of lower payment rates, lower levels of funding to discharge...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2009. The Terms and Conditions governing the Scheme require, inter alia, that applicants maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare declared, for at least three consecutive months, during the calendar year of application. Where the holding...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The first phase of the 2009 REPS 4 payment issued to the person named on 8 Jan 2009. The remaining 25% will issue shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. The application has been approved and payment will be issued shortly by my Department.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

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

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The live export trade is an important component of our meat and livestock industry and provides a complement to the beef trade. The following table shows data on live cattle exports in 2009 along with the corresponding figures for 2008. Destination 2009 2008 United Kingdom 89,503 34,577 Northern Ireland 79,430 32,712 Great Britain 10,073 1,865 Other Destinations 196,781 113,159...

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The Government approved my plan for a reorganisation of my Department's Local Office Network last July. The plan involves reducing, from 57 to 16, the number of offices from which the Department will operate District Veterinary, Forestry and Agricultural Environment and Structures support services in the future. The decision to close some forty offices of the Department was made only after we...

Written Answers — Ethics in Public Office: Ethics in Public Office (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Under the Ethics in Public Office Act, 1995, any gift with a value in excess of €650 must be surrendered to the State and declared in a Minister's Statement of Registerable Interests submitted to the Standards in Public Office Commission. I can confirm that I have not received any gift in excess of this amount since my appointment and I am in compliance with the relevant regulations.

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Drafting of the Animal Health and Welfare Bill, which gives effect to commitments in the Programme for Government and the Renewed Programme for Government is ongoing in my Department. The legislation will amend and consolidate legislation in the area of animal health, particularly to reflect the changed disease status of our animals and will update existing legislation, to ensure that the...

Written Answers — Departmental Charges: Departmental Charges (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The following is the information requested by the Deputy in so far as my Department is concerned. The issue of charges levied or set by the bodies under the aegis of my Department is an administrative matter for the bodies themselves. Name of Levy Amount Paid 2009€ Estimated Receipts 2010€ Fee Rates (€) 2008 2009 2010(Pro-posed) Meat Inspection Fees 13.9m 15.1m SeeNote 1 below for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: An issue has arisen during the processing of the REPS 4 application from the person named. Processing of the application cannot be completed until this has been resolved. My officials will be in contact with him shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The information requested is set out in the following table. Original application 2008 2009 Applicants 12,011 16,817 Paid 2008 11,490 not applicable Paid 2009 4,765 8,325

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: Sixty-three Technical Agricultural Officers were assigned to higher duties of Supervisory Agricultural Officer to assist with the processing of REPS 3 and REPS 4 applications. The additional cost per week per officer was €40 approximately. All these temporary assignments were terminated by 31 December.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The duties of Technical Agricultural Officers in the agricultural, environmental and structures areas of my Department include carrying out administrative and field inspections under Department schemes such as REPs, On farm Investment and Single Payment Schemes. Since 1 January 2010, the focus has mainly been on REPs and to a lesser extent on On Farm Investment.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: My Department has no record of having received an application for grant-aid under the Farm Improvement Scheme from the person concerned.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: An issue has arisen during the processing of the REPS 4 application from the person named. Processing of the application cannot be completed until this has been resolved. My officials will be in contact with him shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (19 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: The second instalment of 40 per cent due under the Farm Waste Management Scheme has been authorized for payment in this case.