Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 377: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive their single farm payment. [26077/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named did not draw down any premia payments during the reference period (2000-2002) and therefore did not establish any Single Payment entitlements. The person named submitted applications for allocations of entitlements from the 2005, 2006 and 2007 National Reserve.

The person named applied under the New Entrant Category of the 2005 and 2006 National Reserves. This category 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 received his herd number in September 2000 and while he did not claim any premia payments during the reference period he has however received Area Based payments in 2001, 2002 and 2003. Therefore the person named has been actively farming during the reference period and cannot be regarded as a New Entrant to farming and my Department has notified him of this decision.

The person named appealed this decision to the Independent Single Payments Appeals Committee. The Committee have completed their review of his 2005 appeal and they have upheld my Department's decision and the person named has been notified in this regard. The Appeals Committee are currently carrying out a full review of the 2006 appeal and will correspond directly with the person named following the outcome of their review.

In his 2007 National Reserve application the person named applied again under the New Entrant category and also under Category A. Category A caters for farmers who inherited, leased or otherwise received free of charge, or for a nominal amount, from a farmer who retired or died before 16 May 2005, a holding that was leased out to a third party during the reference period 2000-2002. My Department has requested further documentation with regard to a lease submitted by the person named. When this documentation is received my Department will be in a position to fully process both the New Entrant category and Category A applications. The person named will be notified of the outcome in due course.

In relation to 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, payment for €3,778.10 issued on 19 September 2007 in respect of 37.93 hectares.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 378: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application for the area based payment by a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [26096/07]

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 the 2 May 2007. The case was selected for inspection, which is now completed. Accordingly, the advance payment under the Single payment Scheme and the full payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue to the person named shortly.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 379: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason payment of the single farm payment to a person (details supplied) in County Galway has been reduced as a result of their receipt of a forestry grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26097/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted a Single Payment application on 17 April 2007, including parcel number G19315004. Due to inconsistencies as to how this parcel should be declared on the application, the processing of the application was delayed pending clarification from the applicant. This is now resolved and payment in relation to this parcel will issue in due course.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment of 2006 pruning grant payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26120/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for a pruning grant under the Woodland Improvement Scheme was received from the person in question in January 2007. This scheme was one of several measures introduced under the last Rural Development Programme which closed on 31st December 2006. Accordingly, it is not possible to process this application until such time as a new Forestry Programme is introduced and this is under consideration at present.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the situation regarding a person (details supplied) in County Cork and their entitlement to the single farm payment. [26137/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The issue regarding the unpaid element of the Single Payment due to the person named has now been satisfactorily resolved and the balancing payment will issue in the coming days.