Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 737: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment under the single payment scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14395/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that the person named submitted an application for the 2006 Single Payment Scheme on the 12th May 2006. The entitlements in this case are not registered in the sole name of the person named. No application to transfer entitlements to the person named has been received by my Department. An official from my Department made direct contact with the person named outlining the position and it is understood that there may be legal difficulties involved.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 738: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if her attention has been drawn to the limited number of payment entitlements from the single payment scheme national reserve to a farmer (details supplied) in West Cork who during the reference years was involved in obtaining their green certificate in an agricultural college; and if she will arrange for a further allocation to them. [14400/07]

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 Payments Scheme National Reserve under categories B and D. 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. The person named applied under Category B in relation to investment involving land that was leased in 2003 and was deemed successful under this category. He was given an allocation of 32.32 entitlements based on the net number of hectares of leased land declared on his 2005 Single Payment Scheme application form. The value of the entitlements allocated is equal to the average value of entitlements in the District Electoral Division associated with the herdnumber of the person concerned.

The person named also applied under Category B in relation to the purchase of suckler cow and ewe quota and was deemed unsuccessful under these categories as he did not purchase quota in any of the specified years. 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 deemed unsuccessful under this category as leased land is not eligible under this category.

The person named appealed my Department's decision. The appeal was forwarded to the Independent Single Payments Appeals Committee who have completed their reviews and upheld my Department's decision. A formal letter outlining the decision of the Committee has issued to the person named.

The person named also submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2006 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category B. Category B in the 2006 National Reserve caters for farmers 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 position is that processing of the 2006 National Reserve applications will commence shortly and the intention is to make allocations to successful applicants at the earliest opportunity. A formal letter outlining my Department's decision on the 2006 National Reserve will issue to the person named as soon as his application has been processed.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 739: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded the REP scheme payment which is due to them. [14402/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The application for payment in this case was received on 16th February 2007 and is being processed in line with the targets agreed with the farming bodies.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 740: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary under the single payment scheme. [14413/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that two applications for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme to the person named were submitted on the 15th May 2006 and the 15th November 2006 respectively. The second application was accepted even though the closing date for completed applications to transfer entitlements was the 16th May 2006.

During processing of the applications it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the person named to seek clarification on certain matters relating to the applications. Further documentation was received on both the 5th February 2007 and the 27th February 2007. These applications are now fully processed.

The person named also applied under the Consolidation measure of the Single Payment Scheme. This application is currently being processed and payment will issue shortly.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 741: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Clare will receive a single farm payment for 2006; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14423/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme to the person named was submitted on the 24th April 2006. During processing of the application it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the person named to seek clarification on certain matters relating to the application. The requested documentation was received and the application is now fully processed. Payment in respect of 29.22 transferred entitlements will issue shortly.

Denis Naughten (Longford-Roscommon, Fine Gael)
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Question 742: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the implications for sugar beet growers and contractors of the review of the EU restructuring fund for the sugar industry; if same could reduce the level of payment or delay the issue of the first instalment of the payment; the measures she is taking to ensure that the first instalment is made on time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14438/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The EU Commission has not yet put forward a proposal for a review of the restructuring fund but is expected to do so at the next meeting of the Council of Ministers in May. Under the current EU Regulations, the first instalment (40%) of the restructuring aid would fall to be paid in June 2007 and the balance in February 2008. Final payment arrangements are subject to the outcome of Greencore's legal challenge to the Government decision of July 2006 concerning the allocation of the restructuring aid. The hearing of this case is due to begin in the High Court next week. If necessary, arrangements have been made to allow interim payments be made in June.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 743: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food in regard to the transfer of entitlement under single farm payments for a person (details supplied), when it will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14449/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme to the first person named was submitted on the 11th April 2006. The application is now fully processed and payment of €1732.95 in respect of 8.69 transferred entitlements issued to the first person named on the 12th April 2007.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 744: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the transfer of entitlement under single farm payments for a person (details supplied); when it will be processed; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14450/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme to the first person named was submitted on the 12th April 2006.

During processing of the application, it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the first person named to seek specific documentation relating to the application. The requested information was received and the application is now fully processed. Payment of €1999.91 in respect of 8.84 transferred entitlements issued to the first person named on the 12th April 2007.

John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 745: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the single payment entitlement transfer will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14474/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that an application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme from the first named person was submitted on the 25th April 2006.

The Regulations governing the transfer of entitlements allow that Single Payment entitlements may be transferred without land only if the transferor has used at least 80% of his payment entitlements in one calendar year. This application for the transfer of entitlements from the first person named was rejected as he did not use 80% of his entitlements in 2005.

A formal letter outlining this decision has issued to the persons named and an official from my Department also made direct contact with the persons named outlining the position.