Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 379: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a number of farmers in the south Kildare, Carlow, Laois regions have not been awarded the single farm payment in view of the fact that many of those not in receipt of the payment have raised loans and so on to purchase sugar beet contracts and find themselves in financial difficulties due to the payment not being made; the number of farmers in Kildare who have not received a payment; the number of farmers in Laois who have not received a payment; the number of farmers in Carlow who have not received a payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40097/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Applications were received from 7,141 Carlow/Laois/Kildare herd owners under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme and, to date, the 50% advance payment has issued to approximately 86% of these applicants. The Deputy will be aware that, as a result of my approach to the EU Commissioner earlier this year, agreement was reached to allow these advance payments.

The work involved in topping-up the Single Payment Entitlements of those former sugar beet farmers who are due to have their Single Payment increased as a result of the additional compensation due under the Reform of the Sugar Regime is completed in the case of the majority of farmers. The balancing payment incorporating the sugar beet compensation will be paid to all of these farmers, whose applications are fully processed, on 1 December 2006.

Work on the inclusion of the sugar beet compensation in the Single Payment in respect of the remainder of the cases is ongoing, but it is significantly advanced at this stage. This work is quite complex, involving as it does, for example, transfers between family members, mergers and scissions. In the meantime, I have arranged to pay the balancing payment, without the sugar beet compensation, on 1 December, to all of these farmers whose applications are otherwise fully processed.

I expect that the additional payments arising from the inclusion of the sugar beet compensation will commence issuing to these farmers in the early days of December 2006 as their applications are processed.

Generally speaking, in common with the 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. The majority of those cases, without a sugar beet element, which have yet to receive an advance payment, are where applicants did not submit an application to transfer the Single Payment entitlements, with lands, by way of inheritance, gift, lease or purchase. As always, my Department will continue to issue payments to farmers, as outstanding problems are resolved.