Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are grants available to construct forestry roadways through plantations; the level of grant available; if the parcel of land that is committed to planting can be claimed for area aid and REP scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29085/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The Forest Service of my Department provides grant aid for the construction of both development and harvesting roads, on the basis that the road construction is compatible with the code of best Forest Practice and Forest Service environmental guidelines. Grants of up to 80% of the cost incurred in the construction of a forest road are available subject to a maximum of €45 per linear meter. Neither the land used in the construction of roading, nor any land planted under the afforestation schemes, nor any existing commercial forestry are eligible for REPS payments.

However, under my Department's Forestry Environment Protection Scheme (FEPS) there are grants and premiums available to farmers to combine the establishment of high nature-value woodland with participation in REPS on the remainder of their farms. Under the FEPS scheme farmers can qualify for a special 'top-up' premium which is payable for a five-year period over and above the usual afforestation premium. This additional premium is roughly equivalent to the REPS payment, which is otherwise foregone on the parcel of land planted.

In relation to the Single Payment Scheme, land that is used for forestry may not be declared as forage on the Area Aid application. However, farmers who plant lands under an approved Department scheme may apply to consolidate (stack) their Single Payment Entitlements where the land being planted was used by the applicant during the reference years 2000 — 2002 to establish their Single Payment Entitlements and provided they fulfil the Terms and Conditions for consolidation.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 129: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will take steps to have an application in relation to single farm payment by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath awarded as all matter pertaining to the inheritance of this farm has been clarified; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29088/07]

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 person named was submitted on the 26th of April 2007. During processing of the Transfer application it was necessary for an official of my Department to write to the person named requesting specific legal documentation. The requested documentation was received and the application is now fully processed. Payment in respect of 15.03 National Reserve entitlements and 28.07 standard entitlements transferred to the person named by way of inheritance will issue shortly.