John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will intervene on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo whose parcel of land of 7.6 hectares has been reduced to 7.46 hectares as a result of being measured by satellite; if his Department will correct their files to show the original mapped holding of 7.6 hectares; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43818/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The forage area of the parcel in question was reduced to 7.46 hectares in 2005 to reflect the available forage area for Single Payment purposes following deduction of ineligible area (buildings).

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will be awarded REP scheme four. [43831/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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REPS 4 is a measure under the current Rural Development Programme 2007–13 and is subject to different EU Regulations from the preceding versions of REPS. Under REPS 4, all payments are to be made in just two instalments. The first payment, of 75%, can be made only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme are completed. This is why it has not yet been possible to release payments even to farmers who applied for REPS 4 some time before the closing date of 15 May.

The process of checking and approving applications is subject to a detailed set of procedures designed to meet national and EU audit requirements, and in line with these requirements the various stages of the process are assigned to different grades of staff. An effect of recent industrial action in my Department's local offices was that the process was temporarily interrupted. I am pleased to say that, with the assistance of the Labour Relations Commission, the industrial action was brought to an end and work resumed last week. The administrative checks are now at an advanced stage and I hope that payments of the 75% instalment can start to be released soon. The second instalment of 25% cannot be paid before the last REPS on-farm inspection has taken place.

While I am anxious that the REPS 4 payments should go out as soon as possible, there are of course still over 48,000 farmers in REPS 3, and just under 16,000 of those have anniversary dates on 1 November and 1 December this year. Staff in my Department's local offices are currently engaged in processing the annual payment applications for these farmers as well as the REPS 4 cases. Where possible, payment will issue before Christmas on valid REPS 3 applications (1Cs) returned before 5 December, 2008. At this time of the year the workload of local office staff is therefore exceptionally heavy, and while every effort is being made to release all payments promptly it is not possible to avoid delays entirely. I have asked senior management in my Department to prioritise the processing of payments and give me regular updates on the situation.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received their single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43833/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 30th April 2008. This application was selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility inspection. The inspection process is completed and the application has now been fully processed. Payment will issue within one week.