Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 487: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the details of grant aid for abattoirs for export plants as recently announced; the agency that will implement same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38474/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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In keeping with commitments given in the Agri-Vision 2015 Action Plan, I recently announced a beef and sheepmeat processing sector investment package totalling some €50 million. This grant assistance, which should trigger investment of some €120 million, is yet another clear indication of the Government's commitment to the continued development of a modern, competitive, innovative and market-focused food industry.

Financial support will be made available towards the cost of the construction and acquisition of buildings, new machinery and equipment and will significantly assist the industry in improving efficiency and competitiveness. The positive response of the beef and sheepmeat sectors to the challenges presented in an ever-changing market in recent years has been a major contributor to the enhanced status and reputation of Irish produce abroad.

Beef and sheepmeat are a vital component of the agri-food industry, with beef exports alone amounting to almost one-fifth of total Irish food and drink exports in 2005. This investment package will assist in the further development of these sectors and in so doing, will not only strengthen primary processing, but also underpin agricultural incomes.

The scheme will be managed by Enterprise Ireland who will evaluate the suitability of investment projects submitted for grant assistance. Further details, including eligibility criteria and terms and conditions of the scheme will be announced in the near future.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 488: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a single farm payment for 2006 will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38475/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application under Category C of the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve which caters for farmers who sold their milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002. The person named was deemed successful under this category and was allocated a top-up from the National Reserve.

Under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve successful applicants under Category C of the 2005 National Reserve will now be eligible for a top-up from the 2006 National Reserve to reflect the increased value of the Dairy Premium in 2006. My Department will automatically apply this top-up and the farmers concerned need not make an application to the 2006 National Reserve. The person named will now be due an additional top-up which will be applied to his 2006 Single Payment. Provisions are currently being made to apply this top-up and it is expected that this will be in place soon.

The person named has received a 50% advance payment of the 2006 Single Payment and the balancing payment will include the additional allocation from the 2006 National Reserve.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 489: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will approve a substantial [i]ex gratia[/i] grant to a group (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the good works they are carrying out for animal welfare. [38476/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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My Department has in recent years made ex gratia payments to a number of bodies involved in the actual delivery of animal care and welfare services throughout the country. The funding available to any individual organisation is dependent on resources available and the level of demand and is therefore intended only as a contribution to the overall costs of the organisations. Until 2004, these ex gratia payments were made from residual funds available in my Department's vote at the end of the year. However from 2004, specific provisions for this purpose have been included in the Department's estimates.

I will be making decisions in the next few weeks on payments to those bodies, including the body named, which have made applications for funding in respect of 2007.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 490: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a senior officer from her Department will meet with persons (details supplied) in County Wexford to discuss the ongoing problems with their single payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38516/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The persons named submitted applications under the Single Payment Scheme in April 2006. The outstanding issues in relation to the transfer of Entitlements are currently being resolved. An official from my Department has made arrangements to meet the persons named to discuss these issues.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 491: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when area aid payment will be made available to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38529/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 2 May 2006. Following computer validation, the 19.65 hectares declared by the applicant is confirmed as eligible under the Scheme. However, an issue in relation to the required minimum stocking level was identified and an official from my Department will make direct contact with the person named in the matter. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme can only issue where the minimum stocking density level of 0.15 livestock units per hectare is met.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 492: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the application for inclusion under the national reserve by a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38530/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2006 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category B.

Category B 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.

The position is that processing of the 2006 National Reserve applications will commence shortly and the intention is to make allocations to successful applicants at the earliest opportunity.

A formal letter outlining my Department's decision on the National Reserve will issue to the person named as soon as his application has been processed.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 493: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will confirm receipt of NRTE form completed by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; when she will process this application; and when the applicant will receive receipt of payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38536/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for the Transfer of Entitlements to the person named under the Single Payment Scheme was submitted on the 26th of October 2006. The application was accepted even though the closing date for receipt of completed applications to transfer entitlements was 16 May 2006.

The application was examined and further documentation is required. An official from my Department contacted the person named on the 16th of November and requested the specific documentation.

Upon receipt of the documentation my Department will process the application and will correspond directly with the person named.