P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 127: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the assistance that may be available to a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding purchase of a thoroughbred stallion; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26665/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Quality Stallion Purchase Incentive Scheme which operated under the NDP 2000-2006 provided for grant aid for the purchase of stallions. This aid was approved by the European Commission under the terms of the State Aid Guidelines in place at that time. The Scheme terminated on 31 December 2006

The Deputy will be aware that under the current Community Guidelines for State Aid in the Agriculture Sector it is prohibited to make direct payments to producers save in certain exceptional circumstances. As a result my Department does not have any scheme currently in place to provide grant assistance for the purchase of a stallion.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a person who sells land for development purposes which had entitlements attached can sell the entitlements to another person or consolidate on the sale of the farm; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26750/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The EU regulations governing the transfer of entitlements allow that Single Payment entitlements can be transferred with or without land but may only be transferred without land if 80% have been used in one calendar year. A farmer uses entitlements by declaring one hectare of eligible land per entitlement on his/her Single Payment application form.

Under the relevant EU regulations, the position in relation to the consolidation of entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme is that an applicant can consolidate on the sale of land, only in cases where the land is acquired a public authority, for non-agricultural purposes.

It is not possible for a person who has sold land for development purposes to a private individual or concern to consolidate. In order for persons concerned to benefit for their full Single Payment, the lands so sold would have to be replaced by other lands acquired by purchase, lease or rent.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is an upper or lower age limit for new entrants to farming and particularly to purchase single farm payment entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26751/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The position is that under the rules governing the transfer of Single Payment entitlements in respect of the 2006 and 2007 Single Payment Scheme, there was no claw-back applied where entitlements were transferred to a new entrant to farming. For this purpose a new entrant was defined as a person who was at least 18 years of age and the holder of a registered herdnumber. Certain educational and income criteria also applied. There was no upper age limit but the new entrant must not have pursued an agricultural activity at his/her own risk during the five years immediately preceding the new agricultural activity. All persons qualifying as a new entrant under these criteria were free to purchase single payment entitlement without a claw-back.

The Deputy should note however that, following a recommendation from the Single Payment Advisory Committee (comprising representatives of the farming organisations, Teagasc and officials from my Department) I decided, some time ago, that no claw-back would be applied to entitlements sold with or without land for the 2008 and subsequent years' Single Payment Scheme regardless of whether the entitlements were being sold to a new entrant to farming.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Question 130: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a single farm entitlement purchaser is required to lease a hectare of land for each entitlement sought for activation purposes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26752/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Eligibility under the Single Payment Scheme requires, inter alia, that applicants hold one eligible hectare for each payment entitlement claimed. A person would need to have established entitlements in his/her own right during the 2000 to 2002-reference period, or otherwise have acquired entitlements to qualify for payment under the Single Payment Scheme.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the trading entitlements application for persons (details supplied) in County Mayo will be processed. [26754/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for the Transfer of Entitlements under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme to the persons named was submitted on the 20 April 2007. During processing of the transfer application, it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the persons named requesting an additional signature on the transfer application form. Upon receipt of the requested information my Department will process the application.