Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 196: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 28 of 25 May 2005 and her subsequent discussions with the Agriculture Commissioner; the response which she has received; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18529/05]

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 200: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the value on a county basis of the outstanding moneys under the SBP; the number of herd owners involved in each county; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18659/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 196 and 200 together.

As the Deputy is aware, I am seeking a solution to the difficulties for Irish farmers as a result of the overshoot of the 2004 special beef premium scheme quota. I have raised the issue with the Agriculture Commissioner and her officials on a number of occasions during recent meetings. My Department forwarded a detailed submission to the European Commission dealing with this matter last month. The matter has been discussed with the commissioner's cabinet and with the most senior officials of the European Commission.

Arrangements are currently being made for an early meeting between my officials and the various services of the Commission's DG for agriculture. All aspects of the difficulties encountered by Irish farmers, and all possible solutions, will be explored during these discussions.

Work is ongoing on the processing of applications lodged under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, with a view to establishing definitively the extent of the quota overshoot at an early date. This involves computer processing and, where errors or inconsistencies are highlighted in such validation, those cases require individual attention. Therefore, given the volumes of applications involved, it will take further time to establish the definitive level of quota overshoot, as ineligible animals and animals applied on in excess of each applicant's stocking density limit of 1.8 livestock units per hectare will have to be excluded from the overshoot calculation.

All farmers with query animals and with rejected animals will have to be written to by my Department and given an opportunity to submit observations before a final decision in their cases. It is not possible, therefore, at this stage to put a value on residual payments due under the 2004 special beef premium scheme, in advance of the definitive position being established regarding the extent to which the national quota has been exceeded.