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

Question 355: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the conditions she intends to place on new entrants applying for entitlements from the national reserve who entered outside of the reference period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15956/06]

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

The position is that Category D of the 2005 National Reserve caters for new entrants to farming after 31 December 2002 and farmers who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in that scheme year.

The total income of an applicant in this category may not exceed €40,000 and any off-farm income may not exceed €20,000. Farming qualifications are also required for this Category. The regulations provide that any entitlements allocated to successful applicants under this Category must not exceed the regional average value of entitlements. The regional average is taken as the average value of entitlements in the DED associated with the applicant's herd number.

Category D is a non-mandatory Category and the question of whether this Category will be included in the 2006 National Reserve will be decided in due course. Any changes to the conditions that applied in respect of this Category under the 2005 National Reserve will also be considered in that context.

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

Question 356: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will review an application for entitlements from the national reserve from a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if she will make an exemption in view of the fact that the person was not farming during the reference years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15957/06]

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

The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category A and Category 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 and who had leased out his/her holding to a third party during the reference period 2000-2002. 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.

A formal letter outlining my Department's decision in relation to the National Reserve has issued to the person named. If he is dissatisfied with this decision he now has the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Independent Appeals Committee. An appeals application form is available from any of my Department's offices or on the Department website at www.agriculture.gov.ie.