Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, in view of the special and extenuating circumstances pertaining to an application for additional units (details supplied) under the hardship provisions, she will take steps to have the matter thoroughly reviewed again, in line with the commitment recently given by her; if she will ensure that this person is allocated additional units; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27393/05]

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-exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003, submitted an appeal to the single payment appeals committee. Following a full review of the circumstances outlined, the appeals committee recommended that the original decision taken by my Department should be upheld.

The force majeure-exceptional circumstances provisions of the single payment regulations allow for the exclusion of a year or years from the 2000 to 2002 reference period from the calculation of the single payment entitlements where production in any reference year was clearly affected by a case of force majeure or exceptional circumstances.

My Department is satisfied that the person named suffered serious health problems in October 2001. However, production remained relatively constant throughout the reference period and the exclusion of a year or years would not impact significantly on the amount of his single payment. There are no provisions under the force majeure-exceptional circumstances measure of the single payment scheme for the allocation of any additional units-entitlements.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the ten and 22 months special beef premium 2004 has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that this person inherited a farm in 2004; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that when the transfer of cattle from this farm to a herd number was being implemented a pre-movements test showed up tuberculosis reactors; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that her Department insisted that cattle be left on the inherited farm under a herd number until this herd had been given the all clear; if her attention has further been drawn to the fact that there has been no mixing of cattle between the two herd numbers; when payment will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27394/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted four applications in respect of a total of 49 animals under the 2004 special beef premium scheme. As animal passports were not submitted in respect of seven animals, only 42 animals were potentially eligible for payment. Following computer validation of these applications, it was found that seven animals were not recorded on the CMMS database as being in the herd of the person named on the date of application for the scheme. Under the rules of the scheme, it was appropriate that these animals be rejected, that is, not paid premium and a reduction penalty applied to any payments due in respect of other applications. Given the level of non-compliance, no payment was due to the person named under the 2004 scheme.

However, having reviewed the circumstances of the case, the person named is being contacted directly by an official of my Department to clarify certain aspects which, if they can be satisfactorily resolved, would allow payment to be made.

The person named has submitted an application for consideration in respect of the inheritance measure of the single payment scheme after the 2000 and 2002 reference period. Following an initial examination of his application, he was requested to submit a copy of the grant of probate.

The required information has been submitted and the person named has been notified of his successful inheritance application. An amended statement of his single payment entitlements including the inherited entitlements was issued to him on 6 October 2005.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 326: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the single payment will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the amount payable; and if they have received official contribution of this figure. [27395/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application requesting consideration in respect of the inheritance measure of the single payment scheme. Following an initial examination of the application the person named was requested on 9 February 2005 to submit a copy of the deed of transfer. This information had not been received by 11 August 2005 and the person named was advised that his application was unsuccessful.

The required information has now been submitted and the application has been processed and the person named has been advised that his request for inheritance under the single payment scheme has been successful. The person named has inherited 15.44 single payment entitlements with a gross value of €3,314.20.