Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
Departmental Staff
585. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he
will outline on a yearly basis from 2008 to 2015, in respect of staff leaving the public service in
his Department, the cost of lump sums; the cost of severance payments; the cost of pensions
of those leaving the service through retirement or other means; the loss of the pension levy
from employees who have left; the loss of superannuation payments from retired or departed
employees, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8429/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The information
sought by the Deputy is not readily available and will take some time to collate. Available
information will be provided as soon as possible.
Organic Farming
586. Deputy Michael Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if
an application form for the organic farming scheme is currently pending in respect of a person
(details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8447/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The closing date
for receipt of Organic Farming Scheme applications was 16 May, 2011. There is no record of
any application form received by my Department for the Organic Farming Scheme from the
person named.
Departmental Schemes
587. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
his views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the dairy equipment scheme; and if he will
make a statement on the matter. [8451/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The funding of all
Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS), including the Dairy Equipment
Scheme, is kept under constant review in order to ensure that optimum use is made of the
financial allocation provided for such Schemes. However, I have no plans at present to alter
the level of funding which has been made available for the Scheme.
Disadvantaged Areas Scheme
588. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if,
as it is reported that the EU Commission has confirmed that an application has been received
from Ireland regarding changes to the qualification criteria for payment structure for the disadvantaged
area scheme, he will confirm his intention in this regard; and if he will make a
statement on the matter. [8452/12]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine (Deputy Simon Coveney): The Disadvantaged
Areas Scheme, which is co-funded by the EU, is an integral part of Ireland’s Rural Development
Plan, 2007/2013, and as such, any proposed change to Scheme criteria requires the agreement
of the EU Commission. In this regard, therefore, the changes announced in the context
of the recent Budget are under discussion with the EU Commission and the Commission’s
response is expected shortly.
State Assets
589. Deputy Mary Lou McDonald asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine
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