Results 16,401-16,420 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Applications under the Early Retirement Scheme (ERS3) 2007 and the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme received in my Department up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed, and if they are in order payment will be made.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The cost of financing the Early Retirement Scheme for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 is outlined in Table 1: Table 1 Year Expenditure € 2005 61,835,263 2006 54,678,585 2007 53,348,930 Table 2 shows a breakdown by county of applications made under the previous Early Retirement Scheme (2000–2006) and under the current Scheme in the year 2007 (the applications under the current...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The deadline of 31 December 2008 for completion of work by farmers under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme introduced by my Department in March 2006 is a condition of the EU state aid approval for the Scheme. The European Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect this deadline strictly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I have made provision of €56.7 million in 2009 to meet current commitments under the Scheme of Early Retirement from Farming and the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme but for the present, it has been necessary to suspend new applications for these schemes. The limiting of the suspension of the Schemes will be considered at the earliest opportunity having regard to the general budgetary...

Written Answers — Commonage Framework Plans: Commonage Framework Plans (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The issue referred to arises from the implementation of the EU Habitats and Wild Birds Directives, which is a matter in the first instance for the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government. Destocking as set out in the Commonage Framework Plans was implemented in Ireland in 2003. In the light of scientific assessment, in subsequent years, of the condition of one Special...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2008. 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. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Press Office functions are carried out by a Press and Information unit of the Corporate Affairs Division in my Department which also performs a range of other functions. The provision and dissemination of information in relation to the wide range of schemes and services operated by my Department to my Department's various stakeholders is a particularly important and central activity of the...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Following the decentralisation announcement in Budget 2009, the moves to Fermoy, Macroom and Enniscorthy have been deferred pending a review in 2011. Since the original decentralisation announcement, my Department made no specific provision for expenditure nor has there been any specific expenditure recorded by the Department in relation to these proposed moves. The Office of Public Works...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 352 and 353 together. In total there has been an increase of 297 full-time posts in Portlaoise and 84 in Clonakilty since the decentralisation programme was announced. The Department's move to Clonakilty is now substantially complete. Pending delivery of the permanent accommodation, the OPW has leased accommodation for the Department in Portlaoise on a...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (5 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The material requested is being collated and will be sent directly to the Deputy.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Young Farmers' Installation Scheme was introduced in June 2007 under the aegis of the 2007-2013 Rural Development Programme. It replaced the Installation Aid Scheme, which was established under the aegis of the National Development Plan 2000-2006 and was introduced in February 2001. Under the Installation Aid Scheme, 5,377 applications have been received and 4,147 payments made...

Written Answers — Foreshore Licences: Foreshore Licences (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has concerns regarding the works undertaken by Mayo County Council at Achill Sound and specifically that all the terms of the Foreshore consent issued may not have been complied with. My Department's Engineering Division has been in close contact with the Council regarding this matter and has specified certain measures regarding the works which remain to be completed. The...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: A Method Statement in relation to the removal of the temporary causeway has been provided by Mayo Co Council to my Department and has been approved by my Department's Engineering Division. My Department's engineers will carry out periodic inspections of the site while the causeway is being removed.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Only fully completed applications made under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and received by my Department up to and including 14 October 2008 will be processed. It should be noted, however, that completion of an educational course is not sufficient, in itself, to qualify for a grant under the Scheme concerned.

Written Answers — Departmental Schemes: Departmental Schemes (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The possibility of reintroducing the scheme concerned will be considered in the context of the preparation of the Annual Estimates next year and beyond, at which time any changes to the terms of the scheme can also be considered.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The possibility of reintroducing the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme will be considered in the context of the preparation of the Annual Estimates next year and beyond. The completion of the green certificate, which is a very worthwhile qualification, is not sufficient in itself to qualify for a grant under the Scheme.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: The decision to suspend the Scheme to new applicants was due to budgetary constraints. In protecting expenditure in certain areas in the 2009 Estimates, expenditure in other areas had to be curtailed. I have made provision of over €9 million to meet current commitments for installation aid. This level of funding means that, for the present, new applications under the Young Farmers'...

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: There are no vacancies at the Executive Officer grade in my Department's offices in either Tullamore or Athlone.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: Where a valid application has been submitted, advance payments of 75% under the EU regulations governing REPS 4 can issue only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. This work is still ongoing with a view to beginning payment this month. The balancing 25% payment will follow when all 2008 REPS on-farm inspections have...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (4 Nov 2008)

Brendan Smith: An application under the 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the persons named on 13 May 2008. 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. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified...