Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 372: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the value of the entitlements allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo from the national reserve were so low when the person had expected to receive a higher entitlement value; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23669/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

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 intention under this category is to compensate farmers who, having disposed of their milk quota, were unable to avail of the new dairy premium element of the Single Payment Scheme which was introduced for the first time in 2004, decoupled from production on 31 March 2005 and added to the existing Single Payment. The allocation represents the difference between the Single Payment established and the potential Single Payment that would otherwise have been established if the dairy premium element was included. Where the existing Single Payment established for such farmers is greater than the Single Payment they would otherwise have established had they remained in milk production and got the benefit of the decoupled dairy premium, then no allocation can be made from the National Reserve.

A formal letter setting out my Department's decision has issued to the person named and 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.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 373: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position with an application for single farm payment from the national reserve for persons (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23806/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The persons named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the Single Payments Scheme National Reserve under Category B and Category C. 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 C caters for farmers who sold their milk quota into a re-structuring scheme between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003 and who converted to a farming sector for which a direct payment under the Livestock and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable in respect of the years 2000 to 2002. It should be noted 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.

A formal letter setting out my Department's decision has issued to the persons named and if they are dissatisfied with my Department's decision in relation to the National Reserve they now have 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.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 374: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the year standard costings her Department is using when calculating grant aid on the new 60 percent farm pollution grant scheme; if such standard costings are based on 2004 prices; if so, if her attention has been drawn to the increase in roofing, concrete, iron, welding and contractor costs over the past two years; if farmers now being approved for grant aid under this new scheme will have their grant aid based on 2006 standard costings; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23808/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department's current standard costings are being used in the calculation of grant aid under the revised Farm Waste Management Scheme. These costings, introduced in 2004, are under review to take account of price adjustments in the interim period. Revised standard costings will be introduced as soon as possible, following completion of the review.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 375: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 234 of 29 September 2004, the grant aid returned to her Department by the company; the grant aid paid to the company in the past 10 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23831/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

My Department, in conjunction with Enterprise Ireland, has been examining the position regarding contingent liabilities arising from the closure of the plant at Rooskey, Co. Roscommon. Discussions are on-going between Enterprise Ireland and the Company on the possible level of liability arising from the decision to discontinue the slaughtering and boning activities at Rooskey, while retaining and developing the cannery operations from the Rooskey site, and having regard to the company's other investment plans. As the issues are complex, the discussions and examination have taken some time but it is anticipated that they will reach a conclusion in the near future and where any amounts are identified as due the process of recovery will follow.