Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 112: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding an application under [i]force majeure[/i] by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17680/05]

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

The person named submitted an application on 16 March 2005 for consideration of his circumstances under the second tranche of the force majeure exceptional circumstances measure of the single payment scheme. Ill health was cited on the application form as giving rise to the circumstances outlined.

However, no details or medical evidence were furnished in support of the application. The person named was notified on 13 April 2005 that full medical details should be furnished and that on receipt of same his force majeure application would receive further consideration. To date no correspondence has been received.

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

Question 113: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare did not receive compensation from the ESB as a result of mast interference through his lands which has resulted in loss of forestry premium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17681/05]

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

Compensation by the ESB for losses resulting from ESB power lines in forest plantations is a matter for negotiation between the landowner and the ESB. On 27 January 2005 the forest service of my Department provided the forest owner with a statement of the value of forest premium lost as a result of the power lines in his plantation. This statement was provided to facilitate his claim to the ESB.

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 114: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if she will provide a breakdown of these entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17701/05]

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

The person named submitted an application for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme after the reference period. Following processing of these applications it was deemed that the person named was not eligible as a new entrant as she commenced farming in 2003 after the reference period.

To qualify for the inheritance measure one must have acquired land by way of gift or inheritance during or after the reference period. In this instance the land was leased and, therefore, does not meet the requirements of the inheritance measure.

However, the person named may include a clause in the lease contract agreeing to lease the entitlements established by the lessor with the leased land for the duration of the lease. An official from my Department has contacted the person named advising her of the procedures to be followed when submitting a private contract application with the single payment application form. The named person can contact the lessor with a view to establishing the single payment entitlements established by him if she so wishes.

The person named also submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve under category D, which caters for farmers who commenced their farming activities after 31 December 2002 or during 2002 without having received a direct payment in that scheme year.

In excess of 17,200 applications have been received under the national reserve in the Department's Castlebar office and are being processed at present. In view of the number of applications received and the documentation submitted, it will be some time before a decision is reached on whether the person named is entitled to an allocation from the reserve. She will, of course, be notified of her eligibility or otherwise as soon as all applications are processed.

Gerard Murphy (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 115: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17702/05]

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

The person named applied for consideration in respect of both new entrant during the reference period and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. Following examination of the papers submitted, the person named was notified that his new entrant application was unsuccessful as no direct payments were paid to him during the reference years 2000 to 2002.

I am pleased to advise that the person named was notified that his inheritance application was successful. Following the transfer of the entitlements to him a provisional statement of entitlements was issued to him on 7 April 2005.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 116: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the 2004 special beef premium has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in Cork South West; and if she will make immediate arrangements for payment. [17708/05]

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

The person named submitted two applications under the 2004 special beef/bull premium scheme, one on 11 February 2004, in respect of one animal, and one on 30 September 2004, in respect of nine animals. Under the EU regulations governing the 2004 special beef premium scheme a stocking density of 1.8 livestock units per hectare applies, based on the forage area declared on an applicant's area aid application. As the forage area declared on the area aid application is 20.18 hectares, the number of livestock units that may be calculated for livestock premia purposes is 36.32.

In this case, the named person holds a milk quota amounting to 153,992 litres. In accordance with the provisions of the relevant EU regulations this milk quota is converted to livestock units by dividing the quota by the national average milk yield. Therefore, the person named has a total of 38.67 livestock units based on his milk quota — 153,992 litres divided by 3,982 litres. This leaves no units left to enable my Department make payments under the special beef premium. Therefore, the person named is not entitled to payment in respect of the ten animals applied for under the 2004 special beef premium scheme.

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

Question 117: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food , further to Question No. 334 of 26 April 2005, how much money is involved for County Clare farmers who have 25 animals or more in the special beef premium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17716/05]

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

Some 1,036 of the herd owners in County Clare who applied for more than 25 animals have now been paid interim balancing payments, based on an estimated quota overshoot. The total value of the interim balances is €1,542,477.38. The definitive position regarding the extent by which the national ceiling has been exceeded and the exact quota reduction will be established when all applications and all query cases have been fully resolved.

Given the impact of the introduction of full decoupling on the 2004 special beef premium scheme, I am pursuing all aspects of the quota overshoot with the European Commission.