Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent to which payments in respect of various schemes run by her Department have been met in full to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40858/06]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Following is the information requested by the Deputy.

Single Farm Payments

Advance payments under the Single Farm Payments commenced on the 16 October last. To date €568.58 million has been paid to 93% of applicants.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme

Payments under the Disadvantaged Areas commenced on 21 September last. To date €246.6 million has been paid to 91% of applicants.

On Farm Investment Schemes

In the case of my Department's on-farm investment schemes (Farm Waste Management Scheme, Dairy Hygiene Scheme, Alternative Enterprises Scheme and Pig Welfare Scheme) and in the case of the Installation Aid Scheme, all payments have been made in accordance with the deadlines set out in my Department's Charter of Rights for Farmers 2005/2007.

Rural Environment Protection Scheme

To date in 2006 my Department has received 22,711 new applications, 91.5% of which have been processed in accordance with the targets in the above Charter. In addition, some 33,100 annual applications for payment have been received, 87% of which have been processed in accordance with the Charter.

Early Retirement Scheme

Under ERS 2000/06 Scheme 256 applications went into payment in 2006, to date, of which 98% were processed in accordance with the Charter.

Forestry

In the year to date my Department has paid approximately €84.7 million in respect of the Afforestation Scheme, of which 71% claims of the first Afforestation Grant, 60% of the second Afforestation Scheme and 94% of the Premium have been paid.

Horticulture

Under the NDP Scheme of Investment Aid for the Commercial Horticulture Sector in 2006.

A grant package of €7.67m was approved and will fund projects to the investment value of €21.91m. A total of €1.6m has been paid to date. All satisfactorily completed payment claims will be paid by the end of the year. Some projects will not be completed until 2007.

Under the Producer Organisation Scheme, aid in respect of eligible expenditure in the claims which were lodged in January 2006 have all been paid.

Eradication

Compensation payments under the TB and Brucellosis eradication schemes arising as a result of disease breakdowns are paid as soon as possible, following receipt from farmers of all documentation and any clarification necessary to effect the payments. So far this year, payments under these schemes amount to €15.8m. There are no applications outstanding.

Capital Investment

Payments in respect of the scheme of aid for capital investment for marketing and processing projects are made following receipt of claim and inspection of the work and the supporting documents. As projects may be completed over a lengthy period the timing of payments is demand-led. All payments have been made within the payment period as specified under the Charter of Rights for Farmers.

Poultry Producers

There are compensatory payments available to poultry producers in respect of certain measures taken to reduce the production of poultry during the period October 2005 and April 2006. A total of 110 applications were submitted to the Department by the end of September deadline. My Department is processing all the claims and will pay all those eligible as soon as possible.

Capital Grant Scheme for Animal Carcase Disposal

Under the Capital Grant Scheme for Animal Carcase Disposal the original number of applications was 26, of these 10 have been fully approved and paid, 8 are outstanding and the remaining 8 did not proceed with their applications.

The reason there are still outstanding projects is due to delays in the planning process and difficulties in procuring contractors.

Development of the Horse Industry

Other than 3 claims received in the last week my Department have paid all outstanding claims for equine measures under the NDP 2000 to 2006.

Cattle Preservation Grant Scheme

All Kerry Cattle Preservation Grant Scheme applications received to date in 2006 have been paid.

Energy Crops Scheme

My Department has received 248 applicants under the 2006 Energy Crops Scheme. Payments have not yet commenced. Applications have been processed and it is expected that approximately 68% of payments will issue over the coming weeks.