Liam Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1355: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the category under which a person (details supplied) in County Carlow can apply for compensation under the sugar beet compensation scheme; and if she will refer to written representations of this Deputy on this particular case to which no clarification has been received to date. [1830/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The restructuring aid must be implemented strictly in accordance with the relevant EU Regulations. Under the Regulations, eligibility for the EU restructuring aid for the sugar industry is confined to three categories: processors, beet growers and certain specialised machinery contractors who worked under contract for the growers. Eligible machinery contractors shall be compensated for the loss incurred following the loss of value of specialised machinery, which cannot be used for other purposes. In accordance with the EU Regulations, the Government in July made certain decisions concerning the implementation of the restructuring aid, in particular the percentage to be reserved for beet growers and machinery contractors. These decisions were announced by press release on 12 July 2006, as I indicated in my reply to the Deputy on 26th July. The Government decisions are now the subject of Judicial Review proceedings instituted by Greencore Group plc in the High Court. If the person named was not a specialised machinery contractor who worked under contract for growers, he would not be eligible for compensation under the Regulations.