Results 14,121-14,140 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: There are approximately 29,000 REPS 4 participants, including 16,380 new applications received in 2009, eligible for payment in 2009. In accordance with the requirements of EU regulations, a comprehensive administrative check must be carried out on new applications received in 2009 before the first instalment of 75% of the 2009 payment can be released to these and to those already in the...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 30 April 2009. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments continue to issue as outstanding issues are resolved. The application of the person named was...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: No grant assistance has been paid to the Company in question by my Department in recent years. An amount of €81,870 was paid in 2005 to a sister plant in respect of purchase, installation, calibration and maintenance of carcass classification equipment, which is still operational at the plant.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Farmers who obtain a derogation from the Nitrates Regulations, allowing them to operate at a level up to 250 kg organic nitrogen per hectare, are eligible to join REPS 4. This provision was approved by the European Commission as part of the current Rural Development Programme. However the 170 kg limit was a condition of the Commission's approval for REPS 3 under the previous Rural...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 11 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. However, where...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 5 May 2009. Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments continue to issue as outstanding issues are resolved. The application of the person named was fully...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Details of experts' and consultants' reports commissioned by my Department during 2008 are as follows. Subject Matter Cost (€) Work on 2008 — 2011 IT Strategy. 950 Quarterly IT Security Review as required for EU accreditation purpose. 15,730 Ex Post Evaluation of the Rural Development Plan 2000 — 2006 (EU Regulatory Requirement). 74,084 Review of work carried out at my...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: An application for a foreshore lease to facilitate construction of a pier at Doonbeg, Co Clare was received on 9th October 2007. The application was circulated to my departments consultees in the normal way. Issues have been raised by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government regarding potential impacts of the proposed development on underwater archaeology....

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 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 — Animal By-Products: Animal By-Products (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Eight plants have been approved in this country to render animal by-products (ABP) in accordance with the terms of Regulation (EC) 1774 of 2002. All of these plants operate under the supervision of my Department. Four of the plants are approved as Category 1 plants and can deal with all types of ABP, including specified risk material. The other four are Category 3 plants dealing with lower...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 was closed to new applicants in July against the background of the situation in the public finances, the resources available to the Department and the increase, over the past year, from just under 47,000 to some 63,000 in the number of REPS participants. A record 17,000 applications were received up to the closing date of 15 May for 2009, and further applications which were received...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the case of staff in my Department who availed of early retirement, there was no cost to my Department as the cost of Civil Service pensions and lump sums is borne by the Department of Finance. No costs arose in relation to termination of contracts or resignations in respect of staff employed by my Department. The corresponding information requested by the Deputy in relation to each...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The information requested by the Deputy in respect of staff in my Department is set out in tabular form: Year Early Retirement Contracts Terminated Resigned 2006 12 2 17 2007 10 Nil 35 2008 13 Nil 18 2009 to date 41 1 9 The corresponding information requested by the Deputy in relation to each agency under the aegis of my Department is a matter for the agencies themselves as part of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Applications under this Scheme are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 Partnership Agreement, Towards 2016.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Details of payments requested are as follows. The payments to Mayo applicants represent 4.82% in 2006, 4.83% in 2007 and 4.82% in 2008. 2006 SPS Payments CARLOW 1676 â'¬25,043,180.69 CAVAN 4884 â'¬36,330,845.51 CLARE 6142 â'¬48,947,118.66 CORK 13197 â'¬172,718,714.26 DONEGAL 7946 â'¬46,984,377.25 DUBLIN 661 â'¬9,472,619.91 GALWAY 12238 â'¬81,817,027.56 KERRY 7683...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: My officials are currently processing the application of the person named. It is expected that payment will issue within the next 14 days.

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 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 — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Applications to join REPS 4, which must comprise an application form and a full agri-environmental plan, were accepted up to close of business on 9 July 2009. The person named lodged a one page document, which did not represent a valid agri-environmental plan, with his application by the closing date and the application is, therefore, ineligible under the terms of the scheme.

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: Following an EU procurement exercise conducted by the Department of Finance, a mobile phone framework agreement was established to provide non-commercial public sector bodies with a simple way to procure mobile voice and data services at competitive rates from a list of qualified vendors. This framework commenced in February 2008. The framework agreement is intended to maximise volume...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (6 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: In the three years 2007 — 2009 my Department has discussed with the Department of Finance the pension arrangements of one member of staff of a body under the aegis of my Department. Discussions have not concluded and the staff member has not retired.