John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 1171: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the headage payment will be released for a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28752/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application under the 2005 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme on the 5th May 2005. The area claimed on this application was 29.19 hectares. A subsequent field inspection established a found area of 23.25 hectares, as the person named had leased out one of the parcels claimed. This resulted in an over-declaration of 25.55%. Under EU Regulations, payment cannot be made if the difference between the area declared and the area found is more than 20%. Consequently, the person named was not paid under the 2005 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

The decision of my Department was reviewed at the request of the person named and was upheld. While the person named was advised of his right to appeal to the Agriculture Appeals Office, I understand that he has not done so.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 1172: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person's (details supplied) REP scheme payment will be issued; the reason for the delay; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28759/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Payment dated 11 September 2006 has issued to the person named. This was within the targets agreed in the Charter of Rights for Farmers.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1173: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a farm grant for buildings will be approved and payment expedited for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28785/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The above-named person is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. The application is currently being processed and a decision in respect of the application will be made shortly.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 1174: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a decision will be made on the appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, regarding the level of their single payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28786/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the National Reserve under Category C. Category C caters for farmers who sold their milk quota into a re-structuring scheme 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.

Following re-examination by my Department, the application under Category C has been deemed to be successful and a letter outlining the details of his National Reserve allocation has issued to the person named.

If he is dissatisfied with this decision, he now has the opportunity to appeal to the Independent Appeals Committee. An appeals application is available from any of my Department's offices or on the Department website at

www.agriculture.gov.ie.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1175: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of years the single farm payment will last; the date that payments started to issue; and the expected date that payments will end; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29016/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Regulations governing the operation of the Single Payment Scheme provides for funding in each of the years 2005 to 2012. The principle behind the SPS is that while maintaining direct supports for the agriculture sector, such supports would no longer be directly linked to production. Such a change in emphasis thereby gives farmers freedom to farm in a manner more attuned to the requirements of the market place. In advance of any definite proposals as to what might replace the current regime, there will be substantial discussions and negotiations between the Member States at Council level, in which Ireland will play it's full part. An initial review of the regime is currently scheduled for 2008.