Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 176: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been granted their 2006 single farm payment; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that all the legal work has been completed following their father's death; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15758/07]

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 25th January 2007. During processing of the application it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the person named to request specific documentation relating to the application. The requested documentation was received and the application is now fully processed. Payment of €7294.80 in respect of 21.97 entitlements transferred by way of inheritance issued to the person named on the 24th April 2007.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the situation regarding a person (details supplied) in County Cavan and their entitlements which were applied for over 12 months ago; her views on whether persons benefiting from inheritance should have to wait this long; if there is encouragement for young farmers to remain in farming; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [15778/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As indicated to the Deputy in a previous answer the person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Categories A B 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 the leased land was not acquired free of charge or for a nominal fee.

Category B caters for farmers who 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 in relation to investment in land and was deemed successful.

A formal letter outlining my Department's decision on the National Reserve has issued to the person named and the relevant payment due has issued.

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 was not eligible under this category in 2005.

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 they have upheld my Department's decision. A 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 person named has been deemed eligible under this category and a letter outlining my Department's decision and the relevant payment due will issue shortly.

The Deed of Transfer relating to the lands acquired by the person named is dated after the closing date for receipt of Single Payment applications in 2005. Therefore, it was not possible to take it into consideration when processing the 2005 National Reserve application. However it is eligible under the 2006 National Reserve.