David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 364: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food further to the single payment scheme national reserve 2005, the maximum nominal fee per hectare under category A leased land; when and the mechanisms under which this was decided; the way in which this information was communicated and made available to farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17977/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that the EU Regulations governing category A of the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve provide that the land acquired by an applicant must have been acquired free of charge or at a symbolic price. The application form made available to farmers clearly sets out the fact that the land must have been acquired free of charge or for a nominal consideration.

A Single Payment Advisory Committee, comprising representatives of the farming organisations, Teagasc and officials from my Department was established to advise on various aspects of the National Reserve including the question of what should constitute a "nominal consideration" in the context of Category A. I am satisfied that the figure of up to €100 per hectare which has been applied as a nominal amount per hectare is reasonable.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be advised of their full single payment rights; if they have been granted additional rights as a young qualified farmer; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18002/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application under the inheritance measure of the 2005 Single Payment Scheme. The applicant was subsequently notified that his application was unsuccessful as the land was leased, not inherited.

The person named submitted an application for consideration to transfer entitlements in by way of Private Contract Clause (Lease), he was notified that his application was successful and the requested entitlements were transferred to his name, and payment issued to him on 9 December 2005 in respect of the transferred entitlements. A further application to transfer entitlements was also submitted by the person named by way of Private Contract Clause (Lease). These entitlements have now been transferred to the applicant and a further payment will issue to him shortly.

The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Categories A, B and 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 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. 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.

It should be noted that the rules governing the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve stipulate that an applicant who is found to be eligible under more than one category may only receive an allocation of entitlements under whichever category is most beneficial.

My Department requested additional information from the applicant and this is now being examined.

A formal letter setting out my Department's decision will issue shortly to the person named and if he is dissatisfied with my Department's decision in relation to the National Reserve he then 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.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the action she will take in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo to have their entitlements granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18005/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2005. The person named had established 131.47 entitlements based on his farming activity in 2001 and 2002. The Single Payment of €1,434.67, which issued on 1 December 2005, represented the full payment due.

However, as 65.73 entitlements were also established in 2000 under the herd number quoted, by a now deceased relative of the person named, an official of my Department has contacted the person named directly, advising that an application under the inheritance measure of the Single Payment Scheme, together with supporting documentation, should be submitted. When this documentation is received and processed, the Single Payment application will be further processed with a view to the issue of any outstanding payment.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 367: 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 decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18018/06]

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.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 368: 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 decision will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18019/06]

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 but did not indicate under which category of the reserve he wished to be considered for entitlements.

An official from my Department contacted the person named on 1 March 2006 and it was established that the person named did not qualify under any of the categories of the National Reserve.

There are four main categories A, B, C and 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 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 to 2002. Investments can include purchase or long term lease of land, purchase of suckler and/or ewe quota or other investments.

Category C caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, participated in the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and who converted to a farming sector for which a direct payment under the Livestock and/or Arable Aid Premium Schemes would have been payable during the 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.

It should be noted however that the rules governing the Single Payment Scheme stipulate that an applicant who is found to be eligible under more than one category in the Reserve may only receive an allocation of entitlements under whichever category is most beneficial to him.