Results 13,621-13,640 of 18,341 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007-2013. It 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 the application from the person named, has commenced to facilitate the release of payments at the...

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Some 941 applications were received by my Department under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme prior to its suspension for new applications on 14 October 2008. A further 149 applications have been received in my Department since the suspension of the scheme. Some 670 applications have been approved for payment under the scheme since its introduction in June 2007. Expenditure to date in...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The total number of Early Retirement Scheme applications received by my Department before the suspension of the scheme on 14 October 2008 was 467. When the Early Retirement Scheme was suspended, it became apparent that a certain number of farmers had their applications completed or close to completion at the time when entry to the scheme was suspended. Consequently, I took the decision to...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: There are 36,526 active REPS 3 participants and 12,695 active participants in REPS 4. My officials are processing approximately 17,000 applications for REPS 4 that were received in 2009.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The following table sets out the number of REPS contracts that expire each year: Scheme Number (approximately) Last year of contract Cost per year (approximately) REPS 3 8,000 2009 â'¬ 49.6 million REPS 3 10,600 2010 â'¬ 65.7 million REPS 3 23,900 2011 â'¬ 148.1 million REPS 4 550 2012 â'¬ 3.4 million REPS 4 12,100 2013 â'¬ 105.5 million The figures in the table do not...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Some 14,000 of the applications received up to 15 May under the 2009 Scheme have been processed to date. 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 . My officials are making every...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Since I announced the reorganisation of the local office network a number of steps towards implementation have been carried out and key issues relating to personnel, accommodation, training and information technology progressed. Phase 1 of the reorganisation involves the establishment of four regional offices at Drumshanbo, Navan, Enniscorthy and Waterford. Work from a number of other...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Payments under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments have continued to issue, as outstanding issues are resolved. To date, payments worth in excess of €216.5 million have issued to some 96,334 applicants, leaving in the region of 4,000 applicants yet to be paid. Any applicant...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Since January 2009, €28.186 million has been paid to farmers under the Suckler Welfare Scheme in respect of calves born in 2008. A further €31.749 million was paid out in 2008 bringing the total paid to €59.935 million in respect of 749,000 calves born in 2008. Payment on the remaining 2008 born animals is continuing an on-going basis as the animal event information is being returned....

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I accept that the Irish sheep sector is in need of assistance and, mindful of the particular difficulties being experienced, I have decided on a two-fold approach to help address the situation. In the first instance and as I announced in March, I have decided to allocate approximately €7 million from the Single Farm Payment National Reserve to 14,000 hill sheep farmers for this year, these...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: Cattle and sheep prices are collected at livestock marts by officials of my Department on a weekly basis. The prices are collected in order to provide (a) weekly reports of price data to the EU Commission in the context of the market support systems for cattle and sheep and (b) summary prices that are issued weekly to valuers assigned to valuing cattle under the TB and Brucellosis. The price...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Licences: Aquaculture Licences (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department has responsibility for the licensing of aquaculture in the State in accordance with the provisions of national and EU law. Where it is deemed that the proposed aquaculture is likely to have a significant effect on a Natura 2000 site an 'appropriate assessment', within the meaning of the EU Habitats Directive as transposed into national law, must be undertaken before I can grant...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (17 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 450 and 451 together. This herdowner is the subject of investigation by the Garda and my Department's Special Investigation Unit. The investigation will be concluded as expeditiously as possible. A decision taken by my Department not to pay any TB compensation on animals removed for slaughter following a TB test carried out in March 2009 was appealed by the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 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 the application from the person named, has commenced to facilitate the release of payments at the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on the 14 May 2009. This application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and full cross-compliance inspection. The inspection is completed and the application has now been fully processed. The 70% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme will issue this week.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2009. This application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility inspection. The inspection is completed and the application has now been fully processed. The 70% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme will issue this week.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named is not the registered owner of the herd-number quoted. An application was received on 15 May 2009 requesting the transfer of 34.63 standard Single Payment entitlements by way of inheritance from the father to the mother of the person named. The normal testamentary documentation was requested and subsequently received and the transfer was processed on 9 October 2009. The...

Written Answers — Aquaculture Development: Aquaculture Development (12 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: The delay in the launch of the National Seafood Development Operational Programme 2007-2013 arose as a result of concerns raised, by both the Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources on behalf of the Central Fisheries Board, during the public consultation process. The concerns related to the grant aiding of...

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (12 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application from the person named has been received in my Department. It will be examined in due course and the details of the application, as well as the funding available, will be taken into account in reaching a decision. As soon as the decision has been made, the person named will be notified of the outcome.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (12 Nov 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 the application from the person named, has commenced to facilitate the release of payments at the...