Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)

I evaluated that because it is something I heard from my own back bench colleagues. The Deputy is talking about a 22% success rate overall. The number of cases received at the time was 15,288, nearly all of which have been processed. The number of successful applicants was 3,331. When independent appeals took place, 10% were found in favour of the applicant.

A number of issues arise. The regulation is quite strict and there are only a number of categories in which one can be considered — death of a farmer, long-term professional incapacity, a natural disaster, accidental destruction of livestock, buildings and holdings or an episodic disease affecting all or part of a farmer's livestock. The regulation is fairly restrictive. People who have a genuine need have the opportunity to appeal. I appreciate that not everyone will get through the scheme. People who have not been dealt with so far still have an opportunity to go through the system. There would be those also, as the Deputy is aware, who would not have a hope in hell of getting through the system. They have as much attachment to the land as the man on the moon but they will still try to get their single farm payment. That is to the detriment of genuine applicants because a considerable amount of resources were required to evaluate those applications. My Department officials are doing their utmost to be as fair as possible in the confines of the articles and terms and conditions to which they have to adhere.

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