Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 140: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be awarded their REPS 4 payments; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8558/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named has a REPS 4 contract with a start date of 1 February, 2008. Payments to farmers in REPS 4 are governed by a new Commission Regulation which reflects the Commission's objective of integrating and harmonising the operation of the various farm payment schemes including the Single Payment Scheme, REPS and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. Inevitably, for all farmers with contracts in REPS 4 starting on or after 1 January this year, the new rules will result in some changes from the previous payment pattern. My officials are in detailed technical discussions with the Commission services and both sides are committed to introducing any new arrangements in a way that will alleviate the impact of these changes on farmers. I expect the matter to be clarified shortly.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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Question 141: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will receive a sheep grant which they applied for in December 2007; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8559/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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I assume the Deputy is referring to the application by the person concerned for grant-aid under the Farm Improvement Scheme. Further information in relation to his application for payment has been requested from the person concerned, and the application cannot be further processed until this information is received.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be awarded their farm installation aid. [8591/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is an applicant for grant-aid under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. My Department has recently received further information in relation to this application which is currently being examined. The outcome will be notified to the person concerned as soon as possible.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 143: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a forestry grant; the amount due; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8604/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A grant aid application for a maximum of €51,295 in respect of a plantation of 20.19 hectares was refused for environmental reasons by the Forest Service of my Department last year. That decision is currently the subject of an appeal by the applicant. The appeals process will require a further site visit and is expected to be finalized within the next three to four weeks.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not been awarded installation aid; when they can expect to receive the aid; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8610/08]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for grant-aid under the Installation Aid Scheme but was deemed ineligible as, inter alia, his application had been received outside the time-limits laid down in the Scheme. The applicant was notified of this decision by Department letter of 26 May 2006.