Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 539: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the outcome of a [i]force majeure [/i]application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19426/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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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 and the person named was requested to furnish medical evidence in support of this claim. However, the medical evidence provided does not satisfy the criteria for force majeure-exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003. The person named has been notified of this decision and has been advised that he can appeal the decision to the independent appeals committee which will carry out a full review of the circumstances outlined.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 540: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received a full suckler cow grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19427/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named applied for premium on 30 animals under the 2004 suckler cow premium scheme. Payment of her 60% advance instalment amounting to €4,034.70 issued on 11 November 2004. When processing for balancing payment it was found that the herdowner had sold ten animals inside the six months retention period and did not have suitable replacements as required under the terms and conditions of the scheme. Also, one animal declared as a cow on the application was found to be a male animal. As a result, these 11 animals were rejected from the application.

Where the rejected animals exceed 20% of the eligible animals found under the suckler cow, special beef and slaughter premia schemes, no grants are payable under these schemes. In the case of the person named 19 animals on her suckler cow application and five animals under the slaughter premium scheme were found eligible. The person named was informed that, as the 11 animals rejected out of 35 animals applied on exceeded 20% of the 24 eligible animals under both schemes, no payments were due to her and the advance instalments already paid would have to be recovered. She sought a review of this decision citing financial hardship but was informed on 2 June 2005 that the original position still stands. She has been advised that she may appeal this decision to the appeals office within three months.