Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 361: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath is awaiting a decision on their national reserve application; when a decision will be issued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15976/06]

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 Payments Scheme National Reserve under category D. 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. This case has been processed to completion and the person named has now been granted an allocation under category D. A formal letter setting out the details of this allocation will issue shortly.

If the person named is dissatisfied with my Department's decision he will have the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Independent Appeals Committee. An appeals application is available from any of my Department's offices or on the Department website at www.agriculture.gov.ie.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 362: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive the single farm payment; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15978/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application for the transfer of entitlements by way of inheritance under the Single Payment Scheme. The application was successful, and payment amounting to €6,442.09 will issue shortly.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 363: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a single farm payment consolidation application for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon is based on a one year rather than three year average of the area aid acreage submitted during the reference years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15979/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application under the Single Payment Scheme on 16 May 2005 and also applied to have her entitlements consolidated under the Consolidation measure of the Scheme. The person named had established 29.16 entitlements and declared 18.54 eligible hectares on her 2005 Single Payment Scheme application. As some difficulties have arisen in relation to the application to consolidate the applicant's entitlements, an official of my Department will make direct contact with the person named with a view to resolving these difficulties.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a merger application under the single farm payment for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be resolved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15980/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application under the Single Payment Scheme on 10 May 2005. Full payment amounting to €4,432.78 in respect of 17.59 entitlements issued on 1st December 2005.

An application to transfer 6.65 entitlements from herd number U1261513 to the current herd number T 1670232 was received on 10 May 2005. This application was processed on 24 January 2006 following receipt of outstanding supporting documentation. A supplementary payment of €828.76 issued in respect of 4.4 entitlements on 02 February 2006.

The person named has established 24.24 entitlements, 17.59 in respect of herd number T1670232 and 6.65 in respect of herd number U1261513. However, as the applicant declared only 21.99 eligible hectares on her 2005 Single Payment Scheme application, payment could only issue in respect of those 21.99 entitlements in the amount of €5261.54.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an application under the national reserve was refused despite the fact that the person (details supplied) in County Galway has entered into a 10 year lease; if consideration was given to this lease in evaluating their application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15981/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application to the National Reserve under category B. Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an investment 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- 2002. Investments can include purchase or long term lease of land, purchase of suckler and/or ewe quota or other investments.

The Regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme provide that applicants who apply under more than one measure of the Scheme must be examined to ensure that the application of both measures does not result in double benefit to the applicant for the same reason. The person named has already benefited from another measure i.e. New Entrant during the reference period and therefore this National Reserve application will now be assessed to establish whether the provisions precluding double benefit or accumulation in certain circumstances are appropriate to the case.

Following this examination the person named will be notified of the outcome and should he be dissatisfied with my Department's decision, he has the opportunity to appeal this decision to the Independent Payment 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.