Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 391: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will review a decision of her Department which rejected an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick in respect of the single payment premium; if she will take into account that at the time this person reduced stocking levels the person's spouse was in charge of farming activities and had contracted multiple sclerosis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8904/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named, having been notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure or exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 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 2 March 2005. The findings of the appeals committee were that the original decision taken by my Department should be upheld.

In arriving at this decision both the single payment unit and the independent single payment appeals committee took full cognisance of the circumstances outlined by the Deputy.

As no new evidence or information has been furnished in this case there are no grounds on which my Department could consider a review of the decision already taken.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the application under the single payment scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [8917/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications for entitlements from the 2005 national reserve were invited in mid December 2004 and the closing date was fixed at 14 January 2005. The national reserve and the closing date were widely publicised in the national and farming press.

Following representations from interested groups and to enable intending applicants to assemble and submit documents required under the various categories I allowed an extension of one week to 21 January 2005. This extension was again widely publicised in the press.

Following further representations I reopened the application period in early February and fixed a final closing date of 18 February 2005. Again this final closing date was widely publicised in the press.

The person named submitted an application dated 22 February 2005 which was received in my Department on 23 February 2005. He was informed on 1 March 2005 that as his application was received after the final closing date of 18 February 2005 it could not be accepted.