Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the top-up payment to sheep farmers under the national reserve who have been paid to date; the number yet to be paid; the number of additional farmers envisaged to be eligible following his recent announcement of an increase in the single farm payment cut off; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17158/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The 2007 National Reserve was advertised on 16 May 2007 with a closing date of 8 June 2007. On initial examination of the Department's records it appeared that up to 8,000 farmers could qualify under the special sheep measure of the National Reserve but up to 11 June only 1,000 farmers had applied under this category. The deadline for applications was then extended to the 22 June 2007. In addition my Department wrote to the farmers identified as likely qualifiers inviting them to apply for the measure and this resulted in the number of applications increasing to 6,000. To date some €2.1m has been paid to 2,700 successful applicants and some 900 applicants have been rejected as not meeting the qualifying criteria. The remaining applications are still being processed.

It was recently decided to amend the criteria by increasing the existing threshold of the Single Payment for qualification for the 2007 National Reserve special sheep measure from €6,000 to €10,000. It is estimated that another 1,300 farmers could be eligible for this category and my Department will now write to these farmers inviting them to apply.

Niall Collins (Limerick West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 345: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if grant aid is available for farmers constructing an underpass to keep livestock off the public roads; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17168/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There is no grant-aid available from my Department for the construction of cattle underpasses.