Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 987: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for a reduction in the rate of a single farm payment to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if full payment will be issued; when same will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1508/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person named submitted applications for consideration in respect of two measures of the single payment scheme. The inheritance measure for lands received by way of gift, and the transfer of entitlements by way of private contract clause as a result of lands leased with accompanying entitlements. Following processing of her inheritance application the person named was informed on 9 November 2005 that her application was successful. The private contract clause application has also been processed and the person named was notified on 19 January 2006 that her application to transfer entitlements for the duration of the lease was successful. Arrangements are being made to have a supplementary payment issued to the person named as soon as possible.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 988: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for not issuing a payment to date; when payment will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1509/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The application under the 2005 single payment scheme for the person named has been fully processed and payment has issued.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 989: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for not issuing payment to date; when payment will issue; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1510/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The establishment of entitlements is based on farming activity during the reference period 2000 to 2002. The person named did not establish any entitlements based on these reference years. The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payments scheme national reserve under categories A and D.

Category A caters for farmers who inherited land or received land free of charge or for a nominal sum from a farmer who had retired or died by 16 May 2005 where the land in question was leased to a third party during the reference period 2000-02. While the land concerned is being leased by the person named, the fee involved does not satisfy the criteria for eligibility under category A.

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. In addition the farmer must have either purchased or inherited land. As the person named applied for an allocation of entitlements on leased land only he does not quality under this category.

Formal letters setting out my Department's decisions in national reserve cases will issue in the coming weeks and all applicants will be given the opportunity to appeal my Department's decisions to the independent single payment appeals committee at that stage.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 990: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the status of a REPS 2 application for a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1511/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The persons named began their REPS contract on 1 November 1999. They were, therefore, subject to the arrangements governing the transition between the first REP scheme and REPS 2. Accordingly they gave a written undertaking to complete the measures specified in their REPS plan over a five-year period and to integrate and adapt that plan in a new commitment under the new REP scheme when it came into operation. The new scheme, REPS 2, came into operation on 27 November 2000.

A REPS 2 plan from the persons named was received on 31 December 200. It was rejected as being ineligible and returned on 28 May 2002. The persons named were given a further two months to submit an acceptable REPS 2 plan, but failed to do so. My Department had no option, therefore, but to terminate their REPS plan and seek a refund of the payments they had already received. The persons named were told of their right to appeal this decision to the agriculture appeals office, but they did not exercise it. It is open to the persons named to submit an application under the current scheme, REPS 3. If their application is successful, the amount to be recovered may be offset against payments due under REPS 3.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 991: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1512/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The application under the 2005 single payment scheme for the person named has been fully processed and payment has issued.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 992: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when entitlements will be transferred to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1513/06]

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 993: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1514/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 992 and 993 together.

The person named sold a farm in Sligo and retained his entitlements and purchased a holding in Tipperary with entitlements included. The person named subsequently, submitted applications for consideration in respect of the transfer of entitlements by way of gift-inheritance and private contract clause. Following processing of his inheritance application the person named was notified that his inheritance application was unsuccessful as he purchased the lands in question. His private contract clause application to transfer the entitlements purchased with the Tipperary holding was successful, and payment of €12,595.25 in respect of this transfer has issued. Arrangements are being made to have the single payment established in respect of his dairy premium under the Tipperary herd number, amounting to €8,359.38, issued to him as soon as possible.

My Department has forwarded application form SPS/TR/10 to the person named, to enable the transfer of the remaining single payment entitlements to him, amounting to € 3,116.75 under the Sligo herd number. Upon receipt and processing of this form, my Department will be in a position to notify the person named of the outcome, and arrange for the further payment to issue.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 994: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a single farm payment will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1515/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person named submitted an application under the single payment scheme on 15 May 2005. His application has been fully processed and payment amounting to €19,495 in respect of the single payment scheme will issue in the coming days.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 995: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the single payment entitlement will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1518/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person named has been contacted with regard to an overlap on a land parcel included in her 2005 single payment scheme application. When the single payment unit has received a reply from the person named to resolve this matter, her single payment application will be processed and payment will be issued.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 996: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny will be reviewed regarding the single payment scheme; and if a response will be expedited. [1519/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person named, having been notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeur— exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No. 1782/2003, submitted an appeal to the independent single appeals committee. The findings of the committee were that the circumstances put forward by the applicant did not fall within the definition of force majeure and that the decision of my Department should be upheld. Subsequent to this decision, further representations were submitted on behalf of the person named by his agricultural consultant. However, these papers, requesting a further review of the case, were only received in my Department in mid-December 2005. These papers are under review at present and a response will issue during the next fortnight to both the person named and his agricultural consultant.