Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 354: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when REP scheme four payment will be awarded in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17738/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The application from the person named is being dealt with in one of my Department's local offices in Kerry. For some time recently, the processing of REPS payments has been delayed in these offices because two vacant supervisory posts remained unfilled in line with the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the civil service. My Department has now put arrangements in place to resolve the situation. This will enable the processing of claims to proceed and payments to issue without further delay.

John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive payment following their application under the national reserve for 2005; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17742/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application under the 2005 National Reserve under Categories B and D.

Category B catered for farmers, who made an investment between the 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 – 2002. Investments included the purchase or long-term lease of land, purchase of suckler and/or ewe quota or other investments.

Category D catered for farmers who inherited or purchased land and who commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but did not received any direct payments in respect of that scheme year. In addition specific criteria in relation to off-farm and farm income limit had to be met also.

With regard to Category B the application submitted by the person named was in respect of the purchase of land, the leasing of land and other investments. The application under this category was deemed ineligible, as all documentary evidence required to finalise this category was not submitted despite various requests for the relevant information.

With regard to Category D the person named was deemed ineligible under this category as his off farm income exceeded the upper limit of €20,000.

A formal letter outlining my Department's decision on the National Reserve issued to the person named on 17 July 2006 and there is no record of an appeal having been submitted by him. An official from my Department will liaise directly with the person named to establish if there are particular extenuating circumstances pertaining to this case.