Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 120: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded the disadvantaged area scheme. [25859/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 1 May 2007.

The Terms and Conditions governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme require, inter alia, that applicants maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare declared for at least three consecutive months. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as not meeting this minimum requirement, the person in question is invited to submit evidence of satisfactory stocking i.e. Flock Register, Horse Passports, or details of a REPS or Commonage Framework Plan, which provides for a lower stocking level. The person named was written to and invited to submit appropriate evidence of the number of sheep maintained on his farm. On receipt of a satisfactory response from the person named, the application will be further processed with a view to payment at an early date.

With regard to the Single Payment Scheme, the governing regulations provide for a payment date of 1 December, however, following my approach to the EU Commissioner, I secured approval for the early payment of advances from 16 October, with balancing payments to be made from 1 December. The advance payment of €4,484.44 issued to the person named on 16 October 2007.