Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 198: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment under the single payment scheme will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary. [37102/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named has been fully paid under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme which included an allocation of entitlements from the National Reserve. In order to reflect this allocation the Single Payment Entitlements position required to be updated for the 2006 Scheme year. This process is now underway and this case will be selected for 50% advance payment of the 2006 Single Payment Scheme shortly.

Trevor Sargent (Dublin North, Green Party)
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Question 199: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures that she has taken to reduce the number of complaints received by the Ombudsman in relation to the single farm payment scheme. [37103/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to providing farmers with the most timely, efficient and courteous service possible. The actions of my Department in this context are guided by the Quality Customer Service Principles set by the Government. These principles are enshrined in my Department's Customer Service Action Plan. The Single Payment Scheme was successfully introduced in 2005. Among the steps taken by my Department to provide a quality customer service and thereby achieve a high level of customer satisfaction were:

The provision of comprehensive information to farmers in a user-friendly format. This included the publication of a series of Information Booklets, conducting farmer information meetings throughout the country, the use of pre-printed application forms, the issuing of statements of entitlements to every farmer showing how his/her single farm payment was calculated, the use of Lo-Call Helpline telephone numbers

Widespread consultation with the farmers' representative organizations

The setting of real and achievable targets for making payments

Monitoring the performance against the achievement of these targets

Ensuring that appropriate Appeals Procedures were maintained

Ensuring that a Customer Complaints Procedure was maintained.