Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 298: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath has received a payment under the single payment scheme which has been reduced by €500 per annum; the reason for this reduction; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7475/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Under EU legislation, in order to draw down his or her full single payment, an applicant must declare an eligible hectare to accompany each entitlement. This requirement was set out clearly in the documentation supplied to farmers on a number of occasions.

While the person named had established 25.42 entitlements during the reference period, the application received from the person on 6 May 2005 declared a total of 20.30 eligible hectares. Therefore, the payment, which issued on 1 December 2005, represented the full amount due based on the hectares declared. If the person named declares sufficient land on his 2006 single payment application, he will be in a position to claim full entitlements.