Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 314: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Galway will receive their REP scheme payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5398/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named is a participant in REPS 3 but I understand that processing of her most recent payment application has not yet been finalised in my Department's local office. 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.

Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North, Fine Gael)
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Question 315: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when single payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5408/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on the 14th April 2007. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing the Single Payment Scheme, the application was selected for and was the subject of satellite eligibility and on the spot animal identification and registration inspections. All outstanding issues are now resolved and full payment will issue shortly.

Eamon Scanlon (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fianna Fail)
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Question 316: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will receive payment due to them. [5416/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 26 March 2007. The application has been fully processed and payments have issued as follows: Single Payment Scheme (Advance): €2,258.07, dated 16 October 2007; Single Payment Scheme (Balance): €2,258.07, dated 3 December 2007; Disadvantaged Areas Scheme: €4,456.75, dated 12 September 2007.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 317: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not received full payment of their single farm payment; when full payment will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5418/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named applied for Category B of the 2005 National Reserve which catered for farmers who made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000-2002. Investments can include purchase or long-term lease of land, purchase of suckler and/or ewe quota or other investments. The application was in respect of leased land and the person named was successful under this category. A letter outlining this decision issued to him on 24 November 2007.

The person named also applied for an allocation of entitlements from the 2006 National Reserve under Category B. Category B of the 2006 National Reserve catered for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December, 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002 but who received no direct payments in respect of that scheme year. The person named was also successful under this category and a letter outlining this decision issued to him on 29 January 2008. All monies due in respect of the first allocation from the National Reserve for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007 have already issued to the person named. A top-up payment due in respect of the allocation from the 2006 National Reserve will issue shortly.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 318: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford has not received full payment of their single farm payment; if full payment will be made; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5419/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named and his brother established entitlements during the reference period 2000-2002 and in 2005 they applied to transfer by way of lease 6.69 entitlements to the son of the person named. The person named and his brother received full payment on the remaining entitlements for 2005. In May 2006 an application was received to transfer a further 5.67 entitlements by way of lease again to the son of the person named. A request was received by letter dated 14 November 2006, to withdraw this transfer. This request was granted and the Department did not transfer the 5.67 entitlements.

In April 2007 the joint ownership between the person named and his brother was ended and the herd number was registered in the joint names of the person named and his wife. Documentation was received in December 2007 signed by all parties to have the position regarding the entitlements reviewed. In the course of this review it appears that the person named may have wished to rescind the 2005 lease arrangement and not the 2006 transfer as requested in November 2006. My Department is in direct contact with the person named to clarify all issues associated with the ownership and lease of the entitlements since 2005. If necessary an official from my Department will meet the person named as there seems to be some confusion as to what exactly is required. Following this clarification any payment due will issue to the parties concerned.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 319: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of REP scheme claims that have been cleared by local agriculture, environment and structure offices and are awaiting payment from the Wexford section of her Department; if she will provide details on a county basis and indicate if the claimants are participants in REP scheme 2 or REP scheme 3; the total amount to be paid out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5492/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Up to 10 February 2008, 4,895 payments to farmers in REPS 2 and REPS 3 were approved. A number of payments to farmers with contracts commencing in 2007 had also been processed. The total amount provided for REPS under Ireland`s Rural Development Programme during the period 2007-2013 is €2.968 billion. In relation to REPS 2 and REPS 3 the information requested is set out in tabular form.