John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 708: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an appeal lodged in 2006 by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny has not been responded to; if their original application and subsequent appeal will be re-examined with a view to issuing a positive response; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9796/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category B.

Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an investment in production capacity in 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- 2002. Investments can include purchase or long term lease of land, purchase of suckler and/or ewe quota or other investments in buildings etc leading to an increase in production.

The person named applied under Category B(iv) (investment in buildings). He was deemed unsuccessful as the investment made did not result in an increase in production for which a direct payment under the Livestock and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002. The evidence provided suggested that the investment in question related to the provisions of a slurry tank and cattle crush which are not deemed as a qualifying investment. A formal letter outlining my Department's decision issued to the person named.

The person named subsequently appealed this decision. In all such cases, the procedure is that all contentions put forward in support of an appeal are first of all reviewed within my Department to see whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant any change to the original decision. In this case the documentation was examined by my Department but did not provide grounds for a change to the original decision. This process took some time to complete. The case has since been forwarded to the Independent Single Payments Appeals Committee for their consideration. The case is scheduled to be presented for decision at the Single Payment Appeals Committee meeting on the 5th April 2007. The Committee will correspond directly with the person named following the outcome of their review.