David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: 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 Cork; when a revised decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17491/06]

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 Payment Scheme 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.

A formal letter outlining my Department's decision on the National Reserve has issued to the person named. If the person named is dissatisfied with my Department's decision he now has the opportunity to appeal the decision to the Independent Appeals Committee setting out the facts and contentions on which he relies in support of his appeal. An appeals application is available from any of my Department's offices or on the Department website at www.agriculture.gov.ie.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 63: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary who made an application under the single payment scheme national reserve. [17492/06]

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 C. Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, sold the milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002.

The first tranche of allocations to successful applicants was made during the week commencing 10 April 2006. Processing of the remaining applications is continuing and the intention is to make allocations to successful applicants at the earliest opportunity. My Department will be in touch with individual applicants as soon as their applications are fully processed. Formal letters setting out my Department's decision will be issued.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 64: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a single farm payment will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17493/06]

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.

A formal letter setting out my Department's decision has issued to the person named and he has been notified that if he is dissatisfied with my Department's decision in relation to the National Reserve he now 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.

My Department has been contacted on behalf of the person named and has agreed to also have the application assessed under Category A and Category B. 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 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. My Department has requested that documentary evidence supporting an application under Category A and Category B be provided. On receipt of this evidence my Department will consider eligibility under these categories.