Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 647: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the fact that a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has submitted the further information which was requested by her Department, they will be awarded their DAS. [34011/07]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 29 March 2007. One of the primary provisions of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is that applicants must maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for at least three consecutive months. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as potentially not meeting this minimum stocking density requirement, the applicant is invited to submit evidence of satisfactory stocking i.e. Flock Register, Horse Passports. Alternatively the applicant may submit details of a REPS plan or a Commonage Framework Plan, which provides for a lower stocking level.

The applicant in this case was written to and invited to submit appropriate evidence of the number of sheep maintained on the farm and a copy of the REPS Plan. My Department received a flock register relating to the holding. However, the applicant did not submit a full REPS plan, which provides for a lower stocking level on the holding. The applicant has been contacted directly by an official from my Department and requested to submit the relevant documentation. On receipt of this documentation, the application will be processed with a view to issuing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme payment at an early date, provided that the applicant is eligible for payment.