Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 70: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the amount of single farm payment paid out in each of the years 2005, 2006 and 2007; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37434/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The following is the value of payments issued in respect of the Single Payment Scheme for the years 2005, 2006 and 2007:

2005: €1,193 billion;

2006: €1,249 billion;

2007: €1,240 billion.

Payments under the Single Payment Scheme are governed by a number of factors: while payment entitlements were initially calculated by reference to scheme participation of individuals during one or more of the three reference years, farmers were subsequently free to trade entitlements, some farmers obtained additional entitlements from the National Reserve, others forfeited entitlements to the National Reserve because of non-usage, while others were awarded entitlements following the incorporation of the Dairy Premium and compensation granted to sugar beet growers following the EU Reform of the Sugar Sector.