Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 494: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) did not receive their area aid or single farm payment for the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40717/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Single Payment in Ireland is based on the 'Historical Model'. This means that the Single Payment Scheme is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during the reference years 2000, 2001 and 2002, who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid in one or more of those years and who will continue to farm in 2005 and onwards. The gross Single Payment is based on the average number of animals and/or the average number of hectares (in the case of Arable Aid) on which payments were made in the three reference years. Single Payment entitlements in respect of dairy production are based on the number of litres of milk quota held by the farmer on 31st March 2005.

As the person named only commenced farming on 24 April 2006 he did not establish a Single Payment.

The person named submitted an application under Category B of the 2008 National Reserve that caters for farmers who entered farming for the first time after 31 December 2005. Other criteria that include on farm income, off farm income and educational qualification must also be met. The person named did not submit sufficient documentation to fully process his application and my Department wrote to him on 15 October 2008 requesting additional information. While the person named submitted some of the required documentation he did not submit all the information requested. A further letter was issued to the person named on 4 November 2008 requesting the outstanding information. When this information is received my Department will be in a position to finalise his application.