Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 459: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers in County Westmeath who received their single farm payment in full, reduced rate or not paid at all in 2005 and 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37893/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Applications were received from 3,399 Westmeath herd owners under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme, of which in excess of 98% have received payment.

Applications were received from 3,163 Westmeath herd owners under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme, of which approximately 88% have already received their advance payment.

In common with the coupled schemes, which the Single Payment Scheme replaced, delays in processing 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 this category.

My Department will continue to issue payments, under both the 2005 and 2006 Schemes, to farmers, as outstanding problems are resolved.

Balancing payments under the 2006 Scheme are scheduled to commence on 1 December 2006.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 460: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers in County Longford who received their single farm payment in full, reduced rate or not paid at all in 2005 and 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [37894/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The number of farmers in Co. Longford who have applied for 2005 Single Farm Payment was 2,745. A total of 2,023 farmers have received their 2005 Single Farm Payment in full and a further 419 farmers were paid a reduced payment. Of the remaining 303 applications, in many cases, payment was not due because these applications were made for entitlement activation purposes only, after which these entitlements were subject to a transfer by way of inheritance, gift or lease to another applicant under the 2005 Scheme.

The number of farmers in Co. Longford who applied for 2006 Single Farm Payment is 2,559. To date, 2,308 farmers have been paid the 50% advance of their 2006 Single Farm Payment while 251 farmers have yet to be paid.

Delays in processing of Single Payment Scheme applications 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 this category.

My Department will continue to issue payments, under the 2005 and 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.