Results 16,861-16,880 of 18,372 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: 12,675 applications were received under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 of which 487 were received in County Waterford. These applications are currently being processed up to the level of funding available. €0.014 million was spent nationally under the Scheme in 2007 whilst, to date in 2008, expenditure has been €6.518 million.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: Payments under the 2008 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 24 September, with payments issuing in respect of all applicants whose applications were clear for payment at that stage. Payments continue to issue as further cases subsequently become clear on a daily basis.

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department has put in place a robust Information Technology infrastructure, at both the hardware and software levels, to secure portable electronic data devices. A comprehensive anti-virus software system is in place, which protects Department laptops, from email borne computer viruses. To enhance security on the Department's laptop computers, the Department has commenced a programme of...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of Department owned computer desktops or laptops or other data devices, such as blackberries and memory keys, reported lost, missing or stolen from my Department are set out in the following table: Year Lost/Stolen Recovered/Found 2002 3 Laptops were reported stolen None 2003 None N/A 2004 None N/A 2005 None N/A 2006 1 Laptop reported stolen None 2007 1 Laptop reported...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (30 Sep 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 strictly respect this deadline.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The person named submitted an application to join the 1988 Scheme of Compensatory Allowances in respect of Forestry. This Scheme is operational for a maximum duration of twenty years from when afforestation of Disadvantaged Land took place as per the Terms and Conditions governing the Scheme. As the person named was in receipt of an annual payment in respect of 8.5 hectares of afforested...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Written Answers — Afforestation Programme: Afforestation Programme (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: I am well aware of the significant contribution that forestry makes to the Irish economy and society. Ireland has benefited and continues to benefit from forestry through employment, the supply of timber, the mitigation of climate change, the provision of a secure source of energy, the conservation of native biodiversity and the provision of recreation facilities to name but a few benefits....

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The dairy sector is one of the two most important agricultural sectors in Ireland. The milk quota regime is therefore of critical importance, and its future must be considered in the context of the enormous potential that exists for the sector here to gain from the anticipated growth in global demand for dairy products in the medium to long-term. I share the general acceptance of the sector...

Written Answers — Animal Feedstuffs: Animal Feedstuffs (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The worldwide increase in the price of feed materials during 2007 and the early part of 2008 led to significant increases in the price of compound feed for animals. I am pleased to note that the measures supported by my predecessor earlier this year in the form of suspension of the obligation to set 10% of arable land aside and the elimination of import duties for cereals, has resulted in...

Written Answers — Poultry Industry: Poultry Industry (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: My objective in regard to the poultry sector is that Irish produced poultry would retain the dominant share of the retail market for fresh poultry meat. This is currently the primary outlet for Irish product although there is strong pressure from competitively priced imports from other EU countries. The Quality Assurance mark is critical to retaining this market share. The Quality Assurance...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (30 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The estimate for completion of my Department's Decentralisation Implementation Plan was originally 2008, to coincide with the initial estimate of the availability of the permanent accommodation. The Plan allowed for a phased movement to Portlaoise and the 2005, 2006 and 2007 advance phases of decentralisation to Portlaoise were completed on schedule. To date, the Department has met its...

Written Answers — Data Protection: Data Protection (25 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: In accordance with the requirements of Council Regulation (EC) 1290/2005, my Department is required to publish the names and address and information to amounts paid under EU funded or co-funded schemes. Addresses will be published in the form of county and the address line immediately above county as supplied by the payee to my Department. Further personal information will not be released and...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (25 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The following is the number of applications in each REPS Scheme in the western region: County REPS 2 REPS 3 REPS 4 Mayo 423 5,249 1,021 Galway 448 5,294 1,006

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (25 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The number of appeals of REPS decisions received from the western region by the Agriculture Appeals Office, following an unsuccessful local appeal, and the number of these appeals that were successful, in each of the last 5 years is in the following table. No breakdown of local appeals is available. Year 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 Number of appeals 57 62 55 64 72 Number of successful...

Written Answers — Rural Environment Protection Scheme: Rural Environment Protection Scheme (25 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: Please see the following table for a breakdown of the information requested in relation to the Rural Environment Protection Scheme appeals received in the Galway Regional Office for years 2003 to 2007. Galway Regional Office Year/County Received Successful 2007 Galway 36 7 Mayo 21 6 2006 Galway 35 5 Mayo 27 8 2005 Galway 31 7 Mayo 24 4 2004 Galway 35 6 Mayo 29 8 2003 ...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (25 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Government decision on the decentralisation of my Department is that some 600 headquarters staff will move to Portlaoise, the local offices in Cork city will move to Fermoy, involving some 100 staff; and the laboratories in Cork and Limerick will move to Macroom, involving up to 100 staff. The move of the Fisheries function of my Department to Clonakilty, involving over 80 staff, is now...

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (25 Sep 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. I have raised this issue with the European Commission as recently as July and the Commission has since reaffirmed that it expects Ireland to respect this deadline strictly.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (25 Sep 2008)

Brendan Smith: The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.