Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason REP scheme farmers who have land committed to the Bord Gáis pipeline in the Caherlistrane/Belclare area of north Galway could be financially penalised due to the fact that they did not declare the area involved on their area aid forms despite such land returning to its original state only months after the pipeline is laid and covered over; if there will be retrospective penalties; if such areas of land will be deducted for REP scheme payment for one year or for the duration of the REP scheme plan; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the farmers involved were unaware that they would have to declare such areas on their area aid forms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21691/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In July 2002, procedures were put in place dealing with gas pipeline developments on REPS farms. The land area given over to the development must be excluded from payment for the remaining period of the REPS contract but no reimbursement of aid already paid is required. When the development is completed and lands revert back to the holding the area shall either be re-incorporated into the existing REPS plan as land not eligible for payment or, alternatively, the existing REPS contract may be transformed into a new five year contract from the next following anniversary date to include all the land for payment. For the purposes of payment under the EU Single Payment Scheme, applicants are required to declare all their eligible land that is available to them for a continuous 10-month period.