Results 14,921-14,940 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Given the level of participation in REPS 4 and the pressures on the public finances and having considered other alternatives I have decided to reverse the 17% increase in REPS 4 payments. Applications received in 2007 and 2008 will, if valid, be paid at existing rates in respect of those years. REPS applications will continue to be accepted up to the predetermined closing date of 15th May...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: The person named has 47 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payments totalling €1900.00 have issued in respect of 25 eligible animals. One cow will not qualify for payment under the Terms and Conditions, as she was aged less than 22 months at the date of calving. There were 17 cows, which calved for the first time during 2008, and of these 5 were aged between...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Apr 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 to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....

Written Answers — Animal Diseases: Animal Diseases (7 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: An analysis of notified on-farm cattle deaths in County Limerick in the period 2003 to 2008 indicate that on-farm deaths in the Askeaton/Ballysteen/Cappagh area are approximately 25% less than the average for County Limerick as a whole, and are only 50% of those of the average of the ten DEDs with the highest mortality rates over the period. Submissions to the Limerick Regional Veterinary...

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

Brendan Smith: A review of this case was carried out by my Department. The original decision was upheld and this was notified to the appellant on the 12th of March 2009. The Appellant was advised that if he was dissatisfied with this decision, he could appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office within three months. To-date, the Agriculture Appeals Office has not received an appeal from the appellant.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (7 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was closed to new applicants on 14 October 2008. If and when the Scheme is reopened changes to the terms of the Scheme can be considered at that stage. I have no immediate plans to reopen entry to this scheme at this time.

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (7 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: The last confirmed case of Brucellosis was disclosed in April 2006. In view of the decline in the incidence of Brucellosis, my Department submitted an application for Official Brucellosis Status (OBF) for Ireland to the European Commission's Health and Consumers Directorate General on 31 March 2009. Achievement of OBF status would allow us to significantly reduce the level of testing for...

Written Answers — Live Exports: Live Exports (7 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Trade in meat and live cattle, and commercial decisions on the slaughtering of cattle are a matter for the industry. Live cattle exports to the UK, in the first three months of 2009, totalled some 14,000 head, over 156% up on the same period last year. The main reasons for this increase were reduced cattle availability and higher returns on the market.

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

Brendan Smith: The person named had 6 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. It is a condition of the scheme that calves must be at least 10 weeks of age before they can be sold. As each of the 6 calves was sold at less than 10 weeks of age, they will not qualify under the scheme.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Apr 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 to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (7 Apr 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 to be completed before the first payments issue. Where a valid application was submitted, advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing REPS 4 issued when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Apr 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 to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (7 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Performance-related awards apply to Assistant Secretaries and equivalent grades in my Department. Details of awards for the years 2005 to 2007 are set out in the annual reports of the Committee for Performance Awards which are available from the Department of Finance website (www.finance.gov.ie). Payment of the 2007 performance related awards was approved by the Department of Finance on 16th...

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

Brendan Smith: Payment issued to the person named on 3 April.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Apr 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 to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....

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

Brendan Smith: Payment issued to the person named on 13 March.

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

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

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

Brendan Smith: The person named applied for 9 animals under the Suckler Welfare Scheme. A number of errors were identified with the application. My Department wrote to the applicant in January regarding these errors. No response has been received to date. A further letter has now been issued with a view to resolving the matter.

Written Answers — Milk Prices: Milk Prices (7 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: Dairy farmers incomes are comprised of the market price paid for milk and direct income support from the EU. Market forces have a major influence on the price paid for milk. World market prices determine the returns received by dairy processors and these in turn are reflected in the price paid to farmers. In essence, farm gate prices normally reflect the returns from international markets...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (7 Apr 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 to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks....