Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 1545: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford under the farm improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29859/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The claim for payment lodged by the person concerned under the Farm Waste Management Scheme is being processed by my Department. I would expect that payment will be made in the near future provided that the claim is in compliance with the terms and conditions of the Scheme.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 1546: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will expedite a single farm payment for a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29881/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2008. While payments under that scheme are scheduled to commence on 1 December 2008, in light of the severe weather conditions which prevailed here over the summer months, I recently sought the approval of the EU Commissioner to my proposal that advance payments of the 2008 Scheme be allowed as and from 16 October 2008, with balancing payments to begin issuing on 1 December 2008. I raised the matter again with the EU Agriculture Committee this week. While I am optimistic that the necessary approval will be forthcoming, a formal decision has to await approval of the Direct Payments Management Committee in Brussels. In the meantime, I have had the necessary arrangements made to allow the advance payments begin issuing on 16 October subject to receiving a positive Commission response. This date is the earliest date the payments may be made, as it is the beginning of the new EU financial year.

The holding of the person concerned was restricted following the disclosure of TB in his herd on 22 May 2008. My Department implements a number of compensation schemes to compensate farmers for animals removed for disease reasons. These include the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme, the Income Supplement Scheme and the Hardship Grant Scheme.

The person concerned has been paid €1,527.97 under the On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme in respect of one reactor animal valued and removed in May 2008. A further 23 animals were valued under the scheme and removed as reactors on 3 September. The documentation, which is required to be submitted in order for valuation payments to be processed for those animals, has not yet been received from the person concerned. Since the animals removed exceeded 10% of the herd, the person concerned is now eligible for consideration for payment under the Income Supplement Scheme, which provides for payments for loss of income for animals removed. The conditions governing this scheme provide for payments to be made on a monthly basis, following receipt of appropriate documentation. The person concerned may also be eligible for the Hardship Grant Scheme, if the herd continues to be restricted on or after 1 November 2008. The eligibility period for this scheme, which is aimed at assisting eligible owners/keepers with a restricted holding where animals are retained and fed over the Winter months, is from 1 November 2008 to 30 April 2009. Application forms in respect of this scheme will issue to those herd-owners who are potentially eligible in mid October.