Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 443: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Galway who was unable to farm during the single payment reference years 2000-02 inclusive, who had farmed the same land for the previous thirty years, will under circumstances be entitled, at this juncture, to apply for some or all of the entitlement they would have had the benefit of, had they been able to farm during the aforementioned single payment reference years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2915/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A provisional statement indicating 4.69 entitlements worth €384.55 each and amounting to €1,803.54 issued to the person named. These entitlements reflect the average of the premia paid to the person named during the reference period 2000-02 under the premia and arable aid schemes. My Department has no record of an application from the person named for a review of these entitlements or for consideration of their circumstances under the force majeure measure of the single payment scheme.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 444: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) will receive the single farm payment; the reason for the delay in issuing same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2933/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named has submitted an application for consideration in respect of the inheritance measure of the single payment scheme. Following the processing of his application, the person named was notified on 26 January 2006 that his application was successful. Payment in respect of the single payment scheme is scheduled to issue to the person named shortly.

Willie Penrose (Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason correspondence from a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath of 8 November 2005 has not been replied to as this person seeks to establish their full entitlements to single farm payment; and the steps she will take to have same dealt with without further delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2940/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted a single payment application to activate his single payment entitlements on 16 May 2005. He also submitted an application to transfer his entitlements by sale to another farmer by private contract clause. The EU regulations allow farmers for whom entitlements have been established and who, before 16 May 2005, have sold their land to another farmer, to also sell the entitlements to that other farmer by inserting a clause in the sale contract to the effect that the entitlements are now also being transferred with the lands. The person concerned had established his entitlements on his own lands, which he subsequently sold without the entitlements. Therefore, he did not have lands to enable his entitlements to be transferred under the provisions of the EU regulations and my Department could not approve of the sale of entitlements without lands.

Under the regulations, entitlements established for a farmer cannot be sold without land to another farmer until at least 80% have been used in one calendar year. The entitlements concerned have been activated in 2005 by the person named and are currently held to him. He may use the entitlements in 2006 by declaring one hectare of land for each entitlement under the 2006 single payment scheme and comply with the terms and conditions of the scheme. Having used at least 80% of entitlements in 2006, the entitlements may then be sold without land.