Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 253: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the clawback provision where single farm payment entitlements are traded; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22967/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that the EU Regulations governing the transfer of Single Payment entitlements provide that the Member State may apply a claw-back in respect of entitlements sold with or without land in order to replenish the National Reserve. The claw-back arrangements are non-mandatory. Claw-back arrangements were applied in respect of entitlements sold in 2006 and 2007 with a maximum rate of 30% claw-back in 2006 reduced to 15% in 2007.

The total amount of money raised through claw-back proved negligible and did not justify the amount and cost of administration associated with the process. Therefore having consulted with the Single Payment Advisory Committee comprising members of the farming organizations, Teagasc and my Department, I decided earlier this year to abolish the claw-back on the sale of Single Payment entitlements. As a result, entitlements traded with or without land from 2008 will no longer be subject to claw-back.

This will have the effect of simplifying the process of transferring entitlements for farmers and administrators alike.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 254: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive the balance of single payment due to them from 2006; if she will have payment made or an explanation as to the reason it is being held up; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22969/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that the person named submitted three applications to transfer entitlements in 2006, two of which involved transferring in leased entitlements and the third involved transferring the original entitlements established for him into a Milk Partnership arrangement.

All applications have been fully processed and full payment on 73.72 entitlements for 2006 has issued to the person named. The final payment issued on 6th February 2007.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be awarded their area aid; if there is a problem with the application; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22970/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on 2 May 2007. Payments under the 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 21 September, with payments issuing to all applicants whose applications were clear on that date. Payments continue to issue as individual cases are confirmed eligible for payment. Payment in full issued to the person named on 9 October, for an amount of €2,287.44.

The person named does not hold any Entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme and, therefore, no payment is due to him.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 256: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cavan has never had payments made to them regarding single premium transferred after their fathers death; her views on whether two years is a long time to do without payments; and if she will make every effort to have this issue sorted out. [22971/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that the person named did not submit an application for the transfer of single payment entitlements from his father as his father did not establish any entitlements during the reference period 2000-2002. The person named did however submit an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 and 2006 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve.

As indicated in reply to a previous 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, 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. A letter outlining my Departments decision issued on 18th September, 2007 and the relevant payment has now been made.