Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding an appeal lodged in respect of the single payment scheme national reserve 2005 for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [20107/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named applied for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category A, which 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. The National Reserve application submitted by the person named has not yet been fully processed by my Department. A decision will issue to the applicant as soon as processing is completed. My Department has no record of an appeal being received from the person named.

Phil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 206: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a decision will be made on an appeal in respect of the national reserve under section C for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20113/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department's records indicate that the appeal submitted by the person named was received on 27 April 2006. The Independent Payment Appeals Committee will carry out a full review of the case and will correspond directly with the person named following the outcome of their review. It should be noted that to date the National Reserve section of my Department has received 802 appeals.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 207: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for refusal of single farm payment to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; if an increase in entitlements will be granted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20123/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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On 12 August 2004, the person named submitted an application under Category B of the Force Majeure provisions of the Single Payment Scheme. Category B provides for those farmers who suffered long term professional incapacity. Having examined the circumstances and documentation submitted, it was deemed that the application did not satisfy the criteria laid down in Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) No 1782/2003, determining Force Majeure/Exceptional Circumstances. The person named was notified of this decision on 31 August 2004. On 9 September 2004, the person named appealed this decision to the Single Payment Appeals Committee. Following consideration by that Committee, the person named was informed on 4 November 2004, that the appeal was disallowed. Subsequently, on receipt of further documentation from the person named, the case was again reviewed. However, it was determined that there were no grounds to change the original decision.

The person named was notified accordingly and advised of the right to appeal to the Office of the Ombudsman if dissatisfied with this decision. The person named did approach the Office of the Ombudsman. That Office reviewed the case and advised the person named on 21 November 2005 that the case was considered closed. The person named also 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. The person named did not satisfy the criteria for an allocation of entitlements under National Reserve as he commenced farming in 2002 and received direct payments from my Department in respect of that year.

Following this decision the person named submitted an appeal to my Department enclosing additional documentary evidence in support of his application. My Department will now re-examine the National Reserve application in light of the new evidence provided and if the original decision is unchanged following this re-examination, the case will then be forwarded to the Single Payments Appeals Committee, who will carry out a review of the case. The person named will be notified of the outcome.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 208: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if additional resources will be allocated to Teagasc to meet the exponential rise in demand for services arising from farm waste management grant applications, REP scheme planning, and single farm payment; if her attention has been drawn to the number of staff allocated to these duties at each county Teagasc office; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20124/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Teagasc has over 1,300 permanent staff, comprising advisers, teachers and research scientists with appropriate supporting services. These are complemented by some 250 contract staff, as well as teaching staff in the private agricultural and horticultural colleges. Teagasc staff carry out their functions from more than 90 locations. Teagasc's operating budget for 2006 amounts to about €162m. Advisory services make up the biggest budget item (38% of expenditure), followed by production research (30%), training programmes (18%) and food research (14%). My Department's provision to Teagasc for capital and non-capital purposes in 2006 amounts to €133m. The amount for non-capital purposes is €129m and for capital development purposes the allocation is €5m. By any standards these are substantial resources and are a clear indication of the Government's continuing commitment to supporting Teagasc activities. It is the responsibility of the Teagasc Authority to prioritise activities and to allocate its funding accordingly. This it has done over the years in accordance with the needs of clients, EU and Government policy and industry needs. I am satisfied that in doing so it has provided a first class service to Irish farmers. Any request for extra resources will be dealt with in the usual manner.