Results 17,241-17,260 of 18,496 for speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The value for money review of the Dairy Hygiene Scheme was completed by my Department in 2007 and was made available on my Department's website in early 2008. As the Scheme closed for new applications at the end of 2006, no changes could be made to the terms of the Scheme as a result of the review. However, the draft findings of the review were taken into account in the introduction of...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Value for Money Review of the Food Institutional Research Measure (FIRM) was completed in March 2008. The Review concluded that FIRM has produced high quality research which compares favourably to work being undertaken internationally. The review also established that there was a relatively high level of satisfaction with the administration of FIRM and that it is managed in an efficient...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The value for money review of the Bovine TB Eradication Scheme will be completed very shortly and the final report is currently being finalised. Consideration will be given to implementation of any recommendations that may be contained in the report. Consequently, it is not possible at this stage to quantify the extent of any savings that may result from the review.

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department's Value for Money Review of the Temporary Veterinary Inspectors scheme was completed in December 2007. A report on the review has been presented to the Department's Management Advisory Committee. The report sets out in detail a number of alternative recommended proposals for the future operation of the scheme, each of which has its own cost implications. The Management Advisory...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Comptroller and Auditor General (Amendment) Act 1993, the Strategic Management Initiative and the Public Service Management Act 1997 emphasised the need for increased efficiency and effectiveness in the use of public resources and set the background for the Expenditure Review process. Under this initiative, my Department carries out Value for Money and Policy Reviews on major spending...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The Value for Money Review on the Fallen Animals Scheme commenced recently. It is expected that the review will be completed in the coming months.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: There are 4751 staff (4,287 full-time equivalents) currently employed in my Department which includes staff employed to cover Term Time, Job Sharing etc. None of these staff have to remain at home due to not having office space or workstations although a number work from home on an agreed basis.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Staffing levels in my Department's offices in Louth, Meath and Cavan, as in all areas of my Department, are subject to constant review. Where vacancies that need to be filled are identified, recruitment of clerical staff is carried out on behalf of my Department by the Public Appointments Service or posts are filled by transfers of staff.

Written Answers — Bovine Disease Controls: Bovine Disease Controls (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: My Department does not levy any charges against processors in respect of scrapie testing and any charges that may be levied by processors for such testing is a commercial matter between the processor and the farmer for which I do not have any responsibility.

Written Answers — Installation Aid Scheme: Installation Aid Scheme (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Grant-aid under the Installation Aid Scheme was paid by my Department to the person concerned on 2 July 2008.

Written Answers — Departmental Agencies: Departmental Agencies (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Details of the administrative costs of State agencies funded by my Department are available in their Annual Reports, or directly from the agencies themselves.

Written Answers — Departmental Staff: Departmental Staff (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: There are no staff in my Department who work at the national minimum wage.

Written Answers — Farm Waste Management: Farm Waste Management (8 Jul 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 and my Department has recently written to all approved farmers under the Scheme reminding them of the importance of compliance with this deadline in order to avail of the generous...

Written Answers — Departmental Reports: Departmental Reports (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested is being compiled and will be forwarded to the Deputy as soon as possible.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Allocations of milk quota from the National Reserve in respect of Hardship cases are granted on the basis of recommendations from the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal. The closing date for receipt of applications in respect of the current 2008/2009 milk quota year was Friday 27th June. My Department is currently processing these applications, and the Tribunal has also commenced consideration of...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (8 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application for a REPS 3 payment from the person named was received in my Department on 24 June 2008 and is being processed in accordance with the REPS terms and conditions and the timeframes set out in the Charter of Rights for Farmers.

Written Answers — Milk Quota: Milk Quota (3 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: Allocations of milk quota from the National Reserve are granted on the basis of recommendations from the Milk Quota Appeals Tribunal. The Tribunal examines and makes recommendations on applications for additional quota from individual producers. The named person submitted an application in the Hardship category for the 2007/2008 milk quota year. The Tribunal considered this application on 8th...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (3 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The application in question is currently under evaluation and will be subject to a field inspection. I have asked my officials to expedite consideration of the case.

Written Answers — Land Reclassification: Land Reclassification (3 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: An official from my Department has been in communication with the person named and with a firm of Solicitors acting on his behalf, setting out details of the commonage shares on hands and their origin. My Department's position is that the person named has a claim to only one of the shares and not three shares as claimed by him. It is the view of my officials that it would be best if a meeting...

Written Answers — Decentralisation Programme: Decentralisation Programme (3 Jul 2008)

Brendan Smith: The information requested is set out in tabular form. Office Location Posts Number moved % of original target Number assigned, not yet moved % Department HQ Portlaoise 600 274 46 96 Fisheries Clonakilty 90 81 90 — Cork local offices Fermoy Up to 100 0 0 25 Cork Labs (3) & Limerick Labs (2) Macroom Up to 100 0 0 25 Bord Bia Enniscorthy 76 0 0 15* Bord Iascaigh Mhara Clonakilty...