Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when she intends to make the single payment in order that farm families can plan their financial budget not only from a banking point of view but also from a taxation point of view; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that payments made after 1 January 2005, for instance, for the 2004 livestock year, will be added to the single payment within the one 12 month period and that farmers must know when they will receive this in order to organise their system to ensure that they retain an income for their family; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13738/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The operation of the single payment scheme is governed by the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. In general, Article 28 of that regulation provides for the issue of payment under the scheme once a year within the period from 1 December of the scheme year to 30 June of the following calendar year.

My Department is currently in the final stages of implementing the single payment scheme and the deadline for the receipt of applications is 16 May 2005. My primary objective is that payment should issue to farmers from the beginning of December 2005.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 179: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the outcome of an application under [i]force majeure[/i] and under the national reserve by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13739/05]

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 26 April 2005. The findings of the appeals committee were that the original decision taken by my Department should be upheld.

The person named has also applied under the 2005 single payment national reserve under category C, which caters for farmers who sold their milk quota into the milk quota restructuring scheme between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003 and who converted to a farming sector for which a direct payment under the livestock and/or arable aid schemes would have been payable in respect of the years 2000 to 2002. My Department is processing some 16,500 applications to the national reserve while the closing date is 16 May 2005. This application will be examined to assess whether or not the person named has converted to a qualifying sector and he will be notified of the outcome in due course.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 180: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a breakdown of the calculation of their SFP; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13754/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Records in my Department show that a provisional statement of entitlements issued to the person named on 22 March 2005. An explanation as to the basis of the calculation was also included with the statement. Given that the person named may not have received this, I have had arrangements made to have a further copy issued.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 181: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive a result to a [i]force majeure[/i] application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13755/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for consideration under the force majeure or exceptional circumstances measure of the single payment regulations was submitted by the person named on 5 February 2004.

Following consideration by my Department and the independent single payment appeals committee of the circumstances outlined, my Department is satisfied that force majeure criteria can be applied in respect of the person named. Consequently, the years 2000 and 2001 will be excluded and the year 2002 will be used in the calculation of the single payment entitlement.

The person named was notified of this decision on 25 April 2005 and an amended statement of provisional entitlements reflecting this position will issue shortly. In the meantime, I have arranged for details of the calculation of the named person's single payment to be issued directly to him.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 182: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Offaly will receive notification of SFP entitlement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13756/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application in respect of the inheritance and new entrant measure of the single payment scheme. Following processing of the documentation received the person named was deemed to be ineligible for consideration in respect of the new entrant measure as he submitted area aid applications in all three reference years, 2000, 2001 and 2002.

I am pleased to advise, however, that the application for consideration in respect of the inheritance measure has been successful. Arrangements have been made to issue a provisional statement of entitlements reflecting this position to the person named next week.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 183: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive notification of SFP entitlement as an inheritance case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13757/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named inherited a farm as a result of his father's death but did not submit an application under the inheritance measure of the single payment scheme.

An official from my Department contacted the person named on 20 April 2005 and requested him to submit an application for consideration in respect of the inheritance measure of the single payment scheme. Upon receipt and processing of his application, the person named will be issued with a statement of provisional entitlements reflecting this position.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 184: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive notification of SFP entitlement with a correct PPSN; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13758/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The provisional statement of entitlements, which issued recently to the person named, quoted the PPSN for the person named that was held on Department records. However, following direct contact by officials of my Department with the person named, the position regarding the PPSN has been clarified. Arrangements are being made to issue a further provisional statement of entitlements to the person named, quoting the correct PPSN.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 185: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the payments which will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; when they will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13759/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted three applications under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in respect of 24 animals. The first application, in respect of eight bulls, was received on 26 February 2004. The 60% advance payment issued on 18 October 2004 and the 40% balance on 18 April 2005. The second application, in respect of three 2nd age animals and ten bulls, was received on 12 December 2004. The 100% payment issued on 18 April 2005. The third application, in respect of two 2nd age animals and one bull, was received on 31 December 2004. The 60% advance issued on 1 April 2005 and the 40% balance on 18 April 2005. Therefore, all special beef premium applications have been fully paid.

Eleven eligible animals were slaughtered under the herd number of the person named and are, therefore, eligible under the 2004 slaughter premium scheme. The 60% advance payment in respect of nine animals issued on 20 October 2004, in respect of one animal on 1 December 2004 and in respect of the final animal on 21 December 2004. The balancing payment in respect of the 11 animals, which issued on 18 April 2005, took account of the quota overshoot of 2.13%. Therefore, all payments due to the person named under the slaughter premium scheme have issued.

The person named was due compensation of €2,738.99 in respect of seven reactor animals slaughtered on 7 March 2005. Following receipt of a factory docket on 7 April 2005, the claim was processed and payment was made on 25 April 2005.

The person named also applied under the 2004 extensification premium scheme. Payments under this scheme are normally made in June. The application will be considered in due course.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 186: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare did not qualify for the full grant for a slatted house; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13771/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The above named person is an applicant under the farm waste management scheme. The applicant received approval under the scheme for the completion of investment works at an estimated cost of €46,838.70. However, it was found during the course of the pre-payment inspection that some items had not been completed in accordance with the approved proposals. In particular, the area of associated concrete laid was less than that proposed, the dimensions of the completed tank wall were smaller than originally proposed and only ten linear metres of gates were installed compared to the 16 metres proposed. As a result, the overall cost of the completed works was calculated at €44,645.37 and the level of grant, which was paid at 40%, reduced accordingly.

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if entitlements for single payment will be reviewed for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [13788/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named has submitted an application for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. The inheritance measure is the more beneficial and arrangements have been made to issue a statement of provisional entitlements reflecting this position to the person named.