Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the grants available to a cattle breeding society who want to research and publish a history of the society; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26984/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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There is no provision in my Department's Vote in 2005 to fund projects of this nature.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 278: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the EU single payment which will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27022/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for consideration under the force majeure, exceptional circumstances, measure of the single payment regulations was submitted by the person named on 28 October 2004. Following processing of this application, the person named was notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure, exceptional circumstances, under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003 and that this decision could be appealed to the single payment appeals committee, which would carry out a full review of the circumstances outlined. To date, no appeal has been received. However, it is noted that the person named indicated that he experienced health problems during the reference years. My Department has been in direct contact with the medical practitioner of the person named, requesting full details of the ill health outlined. On receipt of this information, my Department will review its decision in this case.

Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 279: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will give consideration to an application for a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the single payment scheme 2005 national reserve. [27098/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve under categories B and D. Category B caters for farmers who between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003 made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under livestock premia and or arable aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002. Category D caters for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in respect of that scheme year.

The person named applied to be considered under section (i) of category B on the basis that he made an investment by acquiring land during the qualifying period 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003. A copy of the lease agreement submitted by him shows that the commencement date of the lease was 1 December 2004. Since this date is outside the qualifying period he is ineligible for an allocation of entitlements from the national reserve under category B(i).

The application under category D from the person named was also considered and it was found that while he commenced farming in 2002, he received direct payments in respect of the 2002 scheme year, namely special beef premium in respect of 16 animals. Under the EU rules governing the single payment scheme, he cannot be deemed a new entrant and will not therefore receive an allocation of entitlements from the national reserve under category D.

The person named also applied as a new entrant during the reference period. Years 2000 and 2001 were omitted and the person named was notified that he was accepted as a new entrant during the reference period on 17 February 2005. The single payment before deductions has been calculated as €2,400.

Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will consider approving an application for a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the single EU premium reserve (category D). [27099/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve under categories C and D. Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold their milk quota into the milk quota restructuring scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under livestock premia and or arable aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002. Category D caters for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in respect of that scheme year.

Applications for an allocation of entitlements from the national reserve were received from over 17,500 farmers. Processing of these applications is continuing and the intention is to make allocations to successful applicants by 1 December next. The Department will be in touch with individual applicants as soon as their applications are fully processed. It should be noted, however, that the rules governing the single payment scheme stipulate that an applicant who is found to be eligible under more than one category in the reserve may only receive an allocation of entitlements under whichever category is most beneficial to him or her.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 281: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the single payment scheme in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason the person has not been awarded their area based payment in view of the fact that payment have now been issued to many farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27154/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The area processed for payment purposes under the disadvantaged area scheme for the person named in 2005 is 17.47 hectares. Payment will issue shortly.