Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the position regarding an application for grant assistance by a community group (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3306/07]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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An application from this group has been received by my Department under the 2006 Programme of Grants for Locally-Based Community and Voluntary Organisations. I recently announced the first tranche of funding under this Programme and assessments are continuing in respect of the remaining applications, including that of the group referred to by the Deputy.

A decision will be notified to this group in the near future.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Carlow has not received full payment for their 2006 single farm payment; and if she will ensure prompt payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1134/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on the 26th April 2006.

As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing the Single Payment Scheme, the application was randomly selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross compliance inspection.

During the course of the cross-compliance inspection errors were discovered with regard to the identification and registration of bovine animals which resulted in a 5% cross compliance penalty being applied. The person named had also been the subject of a cross compliance inspection in 2005 and had also incurred a 5% penalty for a similar infringement. The person named did not seek a review nor did he lodge an appeal against that decision. Under the EU Regulations governing cross compliance and the rules regarding repetition of non-compliance, his penalty in 2005 was therefore multiplied by 3 to calculate the penalty for 2006. This has resulted in a 15% penalty being applied to his Single Payment for 2006.

If the person named is not satisfied with the result of the inspection, he may seek a review by contacting his Local Office. To date no review has been sought. He also has the right to appeal the outcome of any such review to the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a senior officer from her Department will meet with a person (details supplied) in County Wexford to discuss the ongoing problems with the single payment and its appeal; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2619/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated in a previous reply to a Parliamentary Question from the Deputy, the person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Categories A and D.

Category A caters for farmers who inherited land or received land free of charge or for a nominal sum from a farmer who had retired or died by 16 May, 2005 and who had leased out his/her holding to a third party during the reference period 2000 to 2002. The person named was deemed unsuccessful under this category as she did not receive the land free of charge or for a nominal sum.

Category D caters for farmers who inherited or purchased land and 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 person named was also deemed unsuccessful under this category as the land acquired was leased land which does not qualify under this category.

The person named submitted an appeal against this decision. This appeal was forwarded to the Independent Single Payments Appeals Committee who have completed their review and disallowed the appeal. A letter outlining the decision of the Committee has issued to the person named.

The Appeals Committee's decision can only be amended on foot of new facts or fresh evidence to support such a review. In the circumstances it, is felt that no useful purpose would be served in having a meeting with the person named at this stage.

If there is any new evidence that might warrant a review of the decision, it should be forwarded to the Appeals Committee for further consideration.