Results 21-40 of 89 for 5 million speaker:Brendan Smith

Written Answers — Alternative Farm Enterprises: Alternative Farm Enterprises (26 May 2010)

Brendan Smith: ...will support miscanthus and willow cultivation to the end of 2010. Under the terms of the new 2010 Bioenergy Scheme, farmers can avail of establishment grants worth €1,300 per hectare to cover 50% of the cost of establishment. The closing date for receipt of applications under the 2010 Scheme was 31st March 2010. At the closing date, 91 applications had been received, with 53...

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Of course I do. I introduced the €7 million upland sheep scheme last year. That was the totality of the funding available from the unused funds to which I had access in 2009. I stated I would dedicate that funding to the sheep sector because of the difficulties it has gone through. More than €5 million of that €7 million has been paid out. Queries were made to certain people. It...

Grant Payments. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: We are discussing the upland sheep scheme now. More than €5 million has been paid down. We have introduced schemes that are altogether administratively simple, under which we do not have a necessary inspection process that costs money. I refer to the new €18 million scheme. Department officials were engaged in widespread consultation with each of the farming organisations. We sought...

Rural Environment Protection Scheme. (29 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: The details requested are contained in a tabular statement which will be circulated to Members. Under EU regulations, the Department is required to carry out controls each year on 5% of participants in REPS. These controls involve a full check of the farm plan as well as an on-farm inspection. Where farmers are found to be in breach of their undertakings, a penalty must be imposed. The...

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (27 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payments worth €7 million in total are being made to 13,000 hill sheep farmers under the 2009 Upland Sheep Payment. Payments commenced in early December and, to date, payments amounting to €5 million have issued to sheep farmers. The balancing payments, worth €2 million in total, are scheduled to commence in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Grant Payments: Grant Payments (20 Apr 2010)

Brendan Smith: Payments worth €7 million in total are being made to 13,000 hill sheep farmers under the 2009 Upland Sheep Payment. Payments commenced in early December and, to date, payments worth in excess of €5 million have issued. The balancing payments, worth €2 million in total, are scheduled to commence in the coming weeks.

Written Answers — Departmental Funding: Departmental Funding (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: ...States may also provide support to farmers for specific agricultural activities providing agri-environmental benefits. Resulting from this agreement Ireland gained access to in the region of €25 million in additional funding for each of the next three years 2010, 2011 and 2012 for these targeted measures. In considering how these monies might be best spent my objective was to achieve the...

Written Answers — Agricultural Exports: Agricultural Exports (27 Jan 2010)

Brendan Smith: ...markets. More than 70 retailers across Europe now stock Irish beef, a position which is unequalled by any other beef exporting nation. Exports to the UK fell in 2009 by an estimated 6% to 245,000 tonnes with trade valued at €660 million. Progress continues to be made in developing the market position of Irish beef, particularly in the multiple retail and higher value foodservice market...

Written Answers — Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: Disadvantaged Areas Scheme (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: ...were increased by 8% in 2007, remained unchanged for the 2009 Scheme. Notwithstanding the reduction in funding, the total amount available under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme in 2009 is €220 million. This represents a substantial injection of funds paid to farmers situated in the areas and the Scheme continues to be one of the best-funded Disadvantaged Areas Schemes in the European...

Written Answers — Sheep Sector: Sheep Sector (26 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: ...Department already provides significant support to the sheep sector through the Single Farm Payment, the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and REPS. In addition, this year Bord Bia will spend up to €1 million on the promotion of sheep and lamb at home and abroad, and Teagasc has allocated almost €1.5 million for sheep research. Earlier this year, I made a decision to assign €7 million from...

Farming and Agri-Food Sector: Statements (25 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: ...'s assessment, of the impact of the flooding on the agricultural community. The Government discussed the impact of the flooding at its meeting yesterday and has agreed to the allocation of €2 million for a targeted fodder aid scheme, which will complement a wider humanitarian aid scheme to assist those communities most badly affected. This has been a particularly difficult year, with...

Written Answers — Fishing Industry Development: Fishing Industry Development (11 Nov 2009)

Brendan Smith: ...with the European Commission, which agreed to the continuation of grant aid under the previous operational programme 2000-06 until 30 June 2009. As a result of these discussions, a provision of €5 million was made available for aquaculture development in the Agriculture Vote for 2009. I approved the spending of €4.5 million of this for aquaculture projects in the Border, Midlands and...

Written Answers — Mushroom Industry: Mushroom Industry (20 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: There has been a decline in the number of mushroom growers from 504 in 2000 to 85 at present. However, the level of output has remained relatively stable as there has been an increase in the scale of operation of the growers remaining in the business in an effort to reduce unit costs. The mushroom industry like all industries has faced challenges due to sterling volatility. I am satisfied...

Written Answers — Bovine Diseases: Bovine Diseases (15 Oct 2009)

Brendan Smith: I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 57 together. Following the recent EU Commission decision granting Ireland officially brucellosis-free status, I announced a series of significant changes to the Brucellosis Eradication Scheme on 8 September 2009 as follows: an increase in the age threshold for annual round testing to 24 months; an increase in the validity period of the pre-movement test...

Seanad: Dairy Industry: Motion (24 Jun 2009)

Brendan Smith: ...Quinn mentioned that the world's population will grow considerably. It is estimated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations that we will need to double food production by 2050, which will provide Ireland with great opportunities to export more product. Currently we are 900% self-sufficient in beef and we export in excess of 80% of the dairy products we produce. I...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (20 May 2009)

Brendan Smith: ...December 2012. Due to our additional production potential, Ireland will benefit greatly from these changes. Including the 2% quota increase already in place for 2008, this means that an additional 500 million litres of milk will be produced in Ireland when these changes come into effect. This was an outstanding achievement given the alignment of forces on the Council. I am particularly...

Written Answers — Harbours and Piers: Harbours and Piers (30 Apr 2009)

Brendan Smith: ...however, received funding under my Department's Fishery Harbours and Coastal Infrastructure Development Programme in recent years. Up to the end of 2008, my Department has spent approximately €5 million on the project. Approval has recently been granted for expenditure of up to €1.6 million in 2009. This investment will build on the work already carried out on Phase 1 of the...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: ...impact of the Health Check proposals. The final deal secured last November differs in some respects from the original proposals. In summary, the deal I secured is worth a potential €80 million in additional payments to farmers over the coming years. In addition, the increase in milk quota will deliver some €100 million worth of additional milk production by 2014. As regards...

Written Answers — Common Agricultural Policy: Common Agricultural Policy (24 Mar 2009)

Brendan Smith: The deal I secured in the Health Check of the CAP negotiations last November is worth a potential €80 million in additional payments to farmers over the coming years. In addition, the increase in milk quota will deliver some €100 million worth of additional milk production by 2014. This is enormously positive for the sector and, while there are also elements in the package that I do not...

Written Answers — Departmental Expenditure: Departmental Expenditure (18 Feb 2009)

Brendan Smith: ...: Contracts entered into during 2008 — Capital Company Details of Contract Value € L&M Keating Ltd Marine Civil Engineering; Construction at Rossaveel Fishery Harbour Centre 8,686,482.53 College Proteins/Dublin Proteins/Waterford Proteins/Premier Proteins Rendering and destruction services to the pig meat recall scheme and the pig and cattle disposal scheme 5,800,000.00 Business...