Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the first payments under the reform package agreed in November 2005 will be made to beet farmers; if it is guaranteed to go out with the single premium payment in 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27602/06]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 509: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of people who were in receipt of beet grants in Waterford County for 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27850/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 501 and 509 together. My Department is currently working on the inclusion of the sugar beet compensation in the 2006 Single Payment Scheme. The task of establishing the number of additional entitlements for each producer is almost complete. Work will shortly commence on establishing the additional amount of compensation to be added to the Single Payment. When this work is complete, the number of additional entitlements and amount due to farmers will be incorporated in their existing entitlements and Single Payment. Payment under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme will commence, in accordance with the provisions of the relevant EU Regulations, on 1 December 2006.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 502: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a decision will be made on the single payment appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [27603/06]

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 Categories A & 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 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/her. My Department requested additional information from the person named. On receipt of the additional information requested this case will be examined and a formal letter setting out my Department's decision will issue to the person named.

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.