Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 387: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the entitlements under premium payments to which a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is entitled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26912/04]

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 388: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be considered for a single farm payment, in view of her special circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26913/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Coughlan): I propose to take Questions Nos. 387 and 388 together.

The person named, having been notified that the circumstances outlined by her did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure or exceptional circumstances under article 40 of Council Regulation EC 1782 (2003), submitted an appeal to the independent single payment appeals committee. Following a full examination of the circumstances outlined in the appeal, the independent single payment appeals committee made a recommendation and a letter issued to the person named on 5 October 2004. The findings of the appeals committee were that the original decision taken by my Department should be upheld. A statement of provisional entitlements will issue shortly to the person named.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 389: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the way in which the thousands of farmers who have not received the information on their entitlements regarding the single payment entitlement scheme appeal their case; when the closing date for appeals is 29 October 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27044/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The closing date of 29 October 2004 does not apply to farmers who have not yet received a statement of provisional entitlements under the single farm payment scheme. All such farmers will have a period of four weeks from the date of receipt of their statement of provisional entitlements to seek a review. If they are unhappy with the outcome of this review they will have a further two weeks to submit an appeal for consideration by the independent single payment appeals committee. A covering letter confirming this position will issue with each statement of provisional entitlements.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 390: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the penalties for over claim which were imposed on a person (details supplied) in County Clare have been taken from his payments and if future payments will be free from penalties; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27054/04]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In 2003 the person named had included a land parcel on his area aid application that had also been claimed by another applicant. The other herd owner had entitlement to that parcel and the person named was, therefore, found to have an over-claim of more than 50% of eligible forage area found. He successfully sought a review of the over-claim penalty and his area was reduced without penalty to 28.59 hectares. Subsequently the person named was found also to have included a parcel of land on his 2003 application that had been submitted by another person to the forestry services for grant aid under the afforestation premium scheme. Consequently the area aid application for the person named was further reduced to 20.48 hectares, attracting an over-claim penalty of 39.60%. This resulted in an overpayment of €2,541.08 under his 2003 area based compensatory allowance scheme, which has now been recouped in full.

The person named was paid his full entitlement of €3,999.60 on the maximum of 45 hectares under the 2004 area based compensatory allowance scheme on 13 October 2004.