Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 85: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a decision will be made on an appeal under [i]force majeure[/i] in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24060/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named has been notified that the circumstances outlined in his single payment scheme application did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure-exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. Following this decision the person named submitted an appeal to the single payment appeals committee. A full review of the circumstances of the case will be carried out by the single payment appeals committee and the person named will be notified shortly of the outcome.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of grants made to associations (details supplied) in each of the past two years; the criteria for assessing the applications; if the population of the area which an association covers is taken into account; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24093/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Although my Department did not operate any specific schemes of financial assistance for animal welfare bodies, ex gratia funding has been provided in recent years to a number of appropriate bodies involved in the direct delivery of animal care and welfare services throughout the country having regard to moneys available from within my Department's Vote at year end. Each application received was assessed as to suitability for payment taking cognisance of the following points: animals must benefit directly from the payment — an organisation must be wholly involved in the actual delivery of care and welfare services to animals, as distinct from lobby or pressure groups; the organisation must be of good standing, based on such inquiries as can reasonably be made, for example, inspection reports; there should be as wide a geographic spread as possible; the level of assistance given by the organisation, for example, large urban areas make more onerous demands on animal health and welfare services; the applicant organisation must satisfy my Department that it has an active programme of fund raising from other preferably private sources. Prior to any decision being made by my Department, the relevant district veterinary office is asked to visit the applicant's premises and to provide a written report as to suitability.

I am circulating for the Deputy's information details of the animal welfare bodies which have received grants in 2002 and 2003 and the amount given to each.

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 87: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if consideration is being given by her Department to increase grants to associations (details supplied) in budget 2005; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24094/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In the expectation that funds will be available from within my Department's Vote towards year end, I expect to be in a position to make grants available, on a basis similar to previous years, to organisations which directly deliver animal care and welfare services and which have approached my Department in the course of this year requesting assistance. The position in relation to 2005 will be considered in the context of Estimates for that year.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 88: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of applications received under [i]force majeure; [/i]the number of cases not yet dealt with; the number of successful and unsuccessful applicants to date; the number of appeals made under [i]force majeure[/i] to date; the number of successful and unsuccessful cases brought before the appeal system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24119/04]8

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The following is the up-to-date position regarding the processing of force majeure applications under the single farm payment scheme: