Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 422: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of applications received to date under a scheme (details supplied); and the projected number of applications expected by the scheme closing date of 31 March 2008. [4805/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Over 37,000 applications have been received so far. It is impossible to predict the number of applications that will be received by the closing date.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 423: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cavan will be granted their area aid and single farm payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4823/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application for Single Payment 2007 was received from the late husband of the person named on 11 April 2007. My Department has forwarded an Indemnity Form to the person named, which should be completed and returned. When the returned form has been processed, the payments currently held in the amount of €7,991.74 will be released to the legal representative acting on behalf of the estate of the husband of the person named.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a REP scheme payment due to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be granted to them; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4951/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The holder of the herd number referred to is a participant in REPS 3. In the course of the ongoing discussions on the payment arrangements for REPS 4, the European Commission raised questions early in January 2008 about the established practice of paying REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers at the beginning of each contract year. At that stage, some €6 million had already been paid to REPS 2 and REPS 3 farmers since 1 January 2008.

My officials have argued strongly with the Commission that the practice of paying at the start of the contract year is well established and one of which the Commission is well aware. My Department's position was outlined in considerable detail at a meeting with the Commission in Brussels on 25 January. When Commissioner Fischer Boel was in Dublin two weeks ago to attend the Annual General Meeting of the IFA, I took the opportunity to make the same points directly to her and I emphasised the seriousness with which I regarded the situation. I am continuing, along with my officials, to press for a quick resolution to the issue and high-level contacts are ongoing with the Commission. However, until the matter is clarified, my Department is not in a position to release any further payments under REPS 2 and REPS 3. Payments to REPS 4 farmers under contracts which commenced in 2007 are beginning to issue this week.