Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 426: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if she will inform the Agricultural, Environment and Structures offices in County Mayo that farm improvement scheme applications received prior to 31 October 2007 should be accepted and processed, as this is currently not the case; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5019/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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As is the case with other local AES offices of my Department, applications received in the AES offices in County Mayo under the Farm Improvement Scheme prior to its suspension on 31 October 2007 are being processed by my Department up to the level of funding provided for the Scheme in the 2006 partnership agreement, Towards 2016.

Tom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 427: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry has not received payment for REP scheme four; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5053/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application from the person named was received in my Department on 18 December 2007. His contract cannot therefore commence before 1 January 2008. As regards REPS 4 contracts commencing on or after 1 January 2008, my Department is in discussions with the European Commission as to whether the previous practice of paying farmers at the start of each contract year in REPS can continue. 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. Payments to REPS 4 farmers under contracts which commenced in 2007 are beginning to issue this week.