Results 14,241-14,260 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 42 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payments have issued in respect of 18 animals. A further 12 animals have been validated for payment. Five animals are in eligible arising from the non-confirmation of the disbudding date, with one of these animals also under query as the dam of the calf was sold and the remaining animal events data was...

Written Answers — Veterinary Services: Veterinary Services (7 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Deputy will be aware, given that veterinary practices are primarily commercial entities, their locations are driven by commercial realities and as such I do not have a direct involvement in the issue referred to by the Deputy. However, insofar as official regulation impacts on this area of activity, I can point to a number of measures contained in Animal Remedies regulations which should...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Jul 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. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. I have also announced that a special ex-gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the deferred...

Written Answers — Departmental Contracts: Departmental Contracts (7 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: No printing contracts on behalf of my Department have been awarded to companies based outside this Country.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (2 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: Coillte Teoranta was established as a private commercial company under the Forestry Act, 1988 and day-to-day operational matters are the responsibility of the company. I understand, however, from Coillte that it has approximately 7,000 acres of land, which are the subject of long-term leases (150 years). In the absence of specific details, and following a review by Coillte of some of those...

Written Answers — Fisheries Protection: Fisheries Protection (2 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: I understand that the Sea-Fisheries Protection Authority (SFPA) is engaged in a project to install CCTV systems in a number of ports around the country under that body's statutory obligation to deter and detect contraventions of sea-fisheries law. The Sea-Fisheries and Maritime Jurisdiction Act 2006 clearly provides that the SFPA is independent in the exercise of its functions and as such I...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned was an applicant under the Dairy Hygiene Scheme and received grant-aid under the Scheme from my Department in February 2008. However, the person concerned was considered to be ineligible for the additional aid for qualified young farmers and this decision was upheld by the Agriculture Appeals Office on 21 November 2007.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Jul 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. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. I have also announced that a special ex-gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the deferred...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: Under EU Regulations, payment on individual Organic Farming Scheme applications could not be made until completion of administrative and area checks on all applications. At that stage 75% of the payment to each individual participant could be released, with the balance being payable when the last of the on-farm inspections for the year has taken place. The processing of applications is under...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. His application for payment, following the receipt of some additional information, is currently being examined and a decision will be made in regard to the application as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Farm Retirement Scheme: Farm Retirement Scheme (2 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: My Department received an application under the Early Retirement Scheme from the person named on 17th October 2008. It could not be accepted for processing as it was received after the Scheme had been suspended for new applications. I am conscious that some potential applicants were at an advanced stage of preparing an application when entry to the scheme was suspended and had made, or were...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (2 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: There are differences between the areas claimed by the person named under REPS and in his application under the Single Payment Scheme. This issue has to be resolved before his REPS application can be further processed. My officials have been in contact with him about the matter.

Written Answers — Departmental Offices: Departmental Offices (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 253 and 254 together. My Department is currently reviewing its local office structure. No decisions have been taken regarding the future of any local or regional office, other than the Dublin local office, already announced.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The process of on-farm inspections and approval of payments under the Farm Waste Management Scheme in Counties Cavan and Monaghan is continuing and, to date in 2009, 1,539 payments totalling almost €24.7 million have been made to farmers in those counties under the Scheme, whilst a further 348 claims for grant-aid have been inspected and approved for payment. The remaining claims for...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Officer concerned is placed number 58 on my Department's Clerical Officer Transfer List for Portlaoise. My Department does not currently have Clerical Officer vacancies in this location.

Written Answers — Pigmeat Sector: Pigmeat Sector (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: There is an applicant awaiting payment under the Pigmeat Recall Scheme whose name and address approximate to that supplied by the deputy. My officials are currently scrutinizing the company's response to a number of queries raised by my Department. I expect that claims that have been found to be proper and appropriate will be paid before the end of July.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. His application for payment, following the receipt of some additional information, is currently being examined and a decision will be made in regard to the application as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: As indicated in a previous reply, an application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 1 May 2008. The details of the over-claims in respect of the areas declared are as follows. This application was selected for a satellite eligibility inspection which required a follow-up field visit. During this visit, discrepancies were found in...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named received his 75% payment in March 2009. I expect the remaining 25% payment to issue within weeks to those farmers who have already received their first payment of 75% in respect of REPS 4 applications lodged in 2007 and 2008.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (1 Jul 2009)

Brendan Smith: From January 2009 to the end of May 2009 my Department made forestry premium payments totalling almost €62.5 million. Of this figure, approximately €900,000 was for first premiums in respect of new planting and €61.5 million was for subsequent premiums in respect of previous planting. Premium payments since the Supplementary Budget reflect the 8% reduction. As for future premium...