Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers in County Galway who have been paid the single farm payment in 2006; the number of farmers in County Galway who have not yet received payment; the number of farmers in County Galway who have received this year's area based payment; the number who have not received payment of same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36179/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of farmers in County Galway who have been paid Single Farm Payment to date is 11,326. A total of 1,740 farmers have yet to be paid.

The number of farmers in County Galway who have been paid Disadvantaged Areas Scheme Payment to date is 11,768. A total of 849 farmers have not yet received payment.

Delays in processing of Single Payment Scheme can be caused by many factors, including incomplete application forms, errors on applications and discrepancies highlighted following computer validation, which must be resolved via correspondence with the applicant. In many cases, payment could not be made because applicants did not submit an application to transfer the Single Payment entitlements, with lands, by way of inheritance, gift, lease or purchase; the majority of the 2006 cases which have yet to receive an advance payment are in the latter category.

As regards the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, my Department has contacted some applicants who appear to have insufficient stocking density to ascertain their eligibility for payment. Others will be paid upon resolution of outstanding Single Payment Scheme errors.

My Department will continue to issue payments, under the 2006 Schemes, to farmers, as outstanding problems are resolved. Balancing payments under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme are scheduled to commence on 1 December 2006.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 428: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will ensure that a decision is made on the application for review by a person (details supplied) following formal notification of penalty on their 2006 disadvantaged area scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36197/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Compensatory Allowance Scheme was received from the person named on the 15th May 2006. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation, governing the Single Payment Scheme the application was randomly selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection.

During the course of the Disadvantaged Area Scheme inspection it was discovered that the person named was residing in Dublin. This contravened the terms and conditions of the scheme as the claimant was not residing within 70 miles of the holding on which the Disadvantaged Area payment was being claimed. As a result of this the Disadvantaged Area application was deemed ineligible. A Final Notification was issued on the 10th of October 2006 and the person concerned has been informed of his right to seek a review of this decision and of his right to appeal the outcome of any review. The person named submitted an application for review of this decision on the 25th of October 2006. This is currently being considered and a decision will be issued shortly.