Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The proposal for the introduction of further modulation of direct payments is one of a series of proposals which was put forward by the Commission with a view to facilitating agreement on the next financial perspective for 2007-13. The negotiations broke down at the European Council in June and the UK Presidency aims to conclude an agreement next month. The Irish position in the negotiations, as decided by the Government, is that the decision of the European Council in October 2002 on the budgetary allocations to the Common Agricultural Policy in respect of direct payments and market supports should be fully respected and that adequate funding for rural development should be provided separately.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the REPS payment will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33545/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The application from the person named was received in my Department on 31 August last. The application was referred for a full plan and on farm inspection due to discrepancies between the area declared for area aid and the REPS area. Following this inspection an amended plan was required and was received in my Department on 4 November. The amended plan is now being processed and if in order payment should issue shortly.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 340: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the single payment which will accrue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway as a result of them ceasing milk production in 2002; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33546/05]

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 category B which caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, invested 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.

The person concerned also submitted an application under category C which caters for active dairy 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 2000-02.

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.

Over 23,000 applications for an allocation of entitlements from the national reserve were received when account is taken of farmers who applied under more than one category. Processing of these applications continues and the intention is to make allocations to successful applicants at the earliest opportunity. The Department will be in touch with individual applicants as soon as their applications are fully processed.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 341: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) will receive the area based payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33554/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the disadvantages areas scheme-single payment scheme was received from the person named on 5 May 2005. A payment for the amount of €4,126.60 in respect of the 2005 disadvantaged area scheme was lodged to the bank account of the person named on 23 September 2005.