Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 429: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will arrange direct payment of grant due under the single farm payment scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [46039/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The payments due to the person named under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme amounting to €1,237.40 in respect of the 50% advance payment, and the balancing payment, also €1,237.40, have not issued, as the person named has not signed-up for Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) as required of all Scheme applicants.

Prior to the 2009 EU financial year, farmers could choose to have their payments made by cheque or electronic funds transfer into their bank account or an account with a similar type institution. However, as and from the 2009 EU financial year commencing on 16 October 2008, payment by cheque is no longer permitted in accordance with EU Council Regulation 1290/2005, which lays down the rules on the financing and management of the Common Agricultural Policy from 2007 to 2013. The detailed implementing rules for that Regulation, as set out in EU Commission Regulation 885/2006, require that all EU paying agencies, including my Department, must adopt procedures to ensure that payments are made only via electronic funds transfer from the 2009 financial year.

My Department has notified the new requirement to all farmers on a number of occasions over the past year. An Post have launched a new Postbank service, which will facilitate electronic funds transfer. This service is also available to any Credit Union, which has the appropriate processing facilities.

The person named has been directly contacted by an official from my Department regarding his situation. He has been advised to contact his bank, post office or credit union with a view to facilitating the electronic payment of his Single Payment entitlements.

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 430: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment of installation aid will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny whose application was submitted in August 2008. [46040/08]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is an applicant under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme. His application for payment is currently being examined and a decision will be made in regard to the application as soon as possible.