Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1550: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a single farm payment for 2008 has not been processed for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29914/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application was received on 20 February 2008 requesting the transfer of 19.72 standard entitlements to the person named from his late father. The herdnumber was transferred into the sole name of the person named from the sole name of his father on 11 May 2007. In October 2006, the father of the person named executed a Deed of Transfer in which he transferred land 'together with all stock, entitlements, single payment', etc into the joint names of the person named and his father. A copy of this Deed was included with the above Transfer of Entitlements application form. At the time of the father's death therefore, the person named was automatically entitled to half of the entitlements in question, namely 9.86 standard entitlements. The remaining 9.86 entitlements form part of the father's estate and are governed by normal testamentary procedures.

On 23 July 2008, a letter issued from the Transfer of Entitlements section to the person named requesting a copy of the Will and Probate of his late father,or in their absence, other relevant documentation. A further copy of the Deed of Transfer was received from the person named on 10 August 2008 along with a completed Indemnity Form. A copy of the Will of his late father was again requested on 25 August 2008. To date, the person named has not forwarded a copy of the Will or other testamentary documentation to my Department.

If instructed to do so, my Department can proceed with the transfer of 9.86 entitlements to the person named. The remaining 9.86 entitlements can only be transferred upon receipt of the requested documentation i.e. copy of late father's will.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1551: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a single farm payment for 2007 has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the number of entitlements available to them by way of a long term lease which they entered into in early 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29916/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Applications were submitted in May 2007 requesting the transfer from two other farmers of 6.25 standard entitlements and 17.00 standard entitlements respectively to the person named. The entitlements in question are not in the possession of the two farmers and consequently it has not been possible to complete the requested transfer to the person named. The two farmers concerned have been advised of the need to complete transfers to themselves by way of inheritance before they can proceed with a lease to the person named.

Once the two farmers concerned have supplied all necessary documentation required to complete transfers to themselves, the requested transfer to the person named will be processed without delay.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1552: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a top up from the National Reserve has not been granted to a person (details supplied) in County Galway for the years 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the applicant is a new entrant to farming having taken out a long term lease on this farm in 2004; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29917/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Under the 2005 National Reserve the person named was successful under Category B 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 person named applied in respect of leased land and he was deemed successful under this category. As he had leased in entitlements with the land the national reserve allocation was applied as a top-up to the leased in entitlements.

Following the termination of the leased in entitlements by the person named in 2006 there was a requirement to convert the top-up given in 2005 to Standard entitlements for payment purposes. In addition the person named also qualified under the national reserve in respect of additional rented land in 2006 and in 2008. All applications from the person named have now been fully processed and outstanding payments will issue shortly.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 1553: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway is not entitled to get their REP scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29918/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The independent Agriculture Appeals Office has upheld my Department's decision to seek recovery of REPS monies paid in respect of lands incorrectly claimed as eligible for payment. The amount to be recovered will be deducted from payments due from all schemes until the full amount has been recovered.