Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 1598: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a 3% penalty was imposed as a result of a compliance test, that the herd owner has no objection to the penalty being imposed and that they would appreciate prompt payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30635/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The position is that an application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Compensatory Allowance Scheme was received from the person named on the 1st May 2008. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation, governing these Schemes the application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and full cross compliance inspection.

The inspection was carried out on the 3rd September and the details of the inspection are currently being examined by my Department officials. Once the inspection details have been entered on the system the application will be cleared for payment.

Under the provisions of Council Regulation 1782/2003 governing the implementation of the Single Payment Scheme, it is laid down that payments shall be made once a year between 1st December and 30th June of the following year. In exceptional circumstances, where farmers face severe financial difficulties, the Commission may, taking account of the budgetary situation, authorize advance payments of up to 50% prior to 1 December. Due to circumstances experienced by Irish farmers this year I have asked the Commission to approve an advance payment of 50% in Ireland to be paid after 15 October and I am optimistic of a favourable response. In the meantime payments of some €250m to over 100,000 farmers under the Disadvantaged Areas' Compensatory Allowance Scheme are commencing this week.