Results 13,401-13,420 of 18,338 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: On 15 July, the Government approved my plan for a reorganisation of my Department's Local Office Network. 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...

Written Answers — EU Directives: EU Directives (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 357 and 370 together. Under the rural development programme 2007-2013 (RDP) EU funding amounting to €220m was allocated for designated Natura 2000 sites. This amount is co-funded by national exchequer funding at the rate of 45%. To avail of this funding a beneficiary was required to be actively farming a designated Natura 2000 site and participating in the...

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The area planted under the Afforestation Programme for each year from 1994 to 2009 is as follows: Year Area (Ha) Year Area (Ha) 1994 19,459 2002 15,054 1995 23,710 2003 9,097 1996 20,981 2004 9,739 1997 11,434 2005 10,096 1998 12,928 2006 8,037 1999 12,668 2007 6,947 2000 15,695 2008 6,248 2001 15,464 2009 6,500 (Estimate) The increased allocation for forestry in the 2010 Budget...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2009, in respect of 1.80 hectares, a parcel of 12.80 hectares having been deleted from the application by the person named. An advance payment issued on 19 October 2009 and the balancing payment will issue shortly. As the area declared is less than the 3 hectares...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: My officials are about to complete the initial administrative processing of REPS 4 applications, and I hope to be in a position to start releasing payments on valid applications later this week.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Dec 2009)

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 these have been resolved. My officials will be in contact with her shortly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. In the case of the second instalment of 40 per cent, I have recently announced that I intend to commence payment in December 2009 with the remainder of farmers being paid in early 2010. The final instalment of 20...

Written Answers — Registration of Herd Numbers: Registration of Herd Numbers (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: As already notified to the legal representative of the first named person under the Freedom of Information Act, the documentation relating to the registration details of the herd number in question and the transfer of the herd number into the name of the second named person cannot be located. However, there is no record of any payments being made at any time to the first named person under...

Written Answers — Forest Lands: Forest Lands (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I made the Forestry Act 1988 (Section 37) (Coillte Teoranta) Bye-Laws 2009 [Statutory Instrument No. 151 of 2009] on foot of a request from Coillte under Section 37 of the Forestry Act 1988. Coillte requested the making of the bye-laws to assist the company in controlling unauthorized activities on Coillte property, examples of which included indiscriminate illegal dumping of domestic and...

Written Answers — Departmental Investigations: Departmental Investigations (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 365 and 366 together. A peer review has recently been completed on the report on the farm in question. A number of independent expert opinions have been used in compiling the report, which was produced under the Interagency Protocol for the investigation of potential environmental issues. Under this protocol other state agencies are kept advised, consulted and...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application for a foreshore lease was received from Maulbawn Ltd in January 2009 to carry out reclamation works for the installation of a 261 berth marina, plus three foul/surface drainage pipes at Passage West, Cork Harbour. This was circulated to my Department's consultees in the normal manner. Further information was requested by the Marine Survey Office of the Department of Transport...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2009. Following initial processing, the application was found to be incomplete, which necessitated writing to the person named. The issue was subsequently resolved, which allowed payment due under the scheme to issue on 1 December 2009. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme had earlier...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (15 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 15 May 2009. The 70% advance payment (€9,435.09) under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 9 October 2009 and the 30% balancing payment (€4,322.17) issued on 1 December 2009. Payment of €2,257.68 under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the person named on...

Written Answers — Proposed Legislation: Proposed Legislation (15 Dec 2009)

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

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (10 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: Two schemes were introduced by the Government to assist those affected by the dioxin contamination of 2008: these were the Pigmeat Recall Scheme and the Pig and Cattle Disposal Scheme. To date, a total of €69m has been paid to qualifying applicants under the Pigmeat Recall Scheme, €35m in 2008 and €34m to date in 2009. Of this, €30m has been paid to primary processors and €39m to...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (10 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: A REPS 3 payment to the person named has been approved and he will receive it in the coming week.

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: I understand that the Deputy's question relates to the regulation of aquaculture in Lough Foyle. My Department is responsible for the regulation of aquaculture in the State. However, the governing legislation, the Fisheries (Amendment) Act, 1997, does not apply to the Moville area within the meaning of the Foyle Fisheries Act, 1952. The Foyle and Carlingford Irish Lights Commission (the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The REPS 3 payment due to the person named will issue within the next 10 days.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–2013 and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications, including plan checks, to be completed before the first 2009 payments issue. Processing of applications, including that of the person named, is at an advanced stage. I hope to be in a position to release the 75%...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (9 Dec 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information sought by the Deputy will be published in the context of the 2010 Budget, details of which are being announced by the Minister for Finance this afternoon.