David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a farm waste management grant will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2796/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A decision will be made in respect of the application as soon as possible.

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 145: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment of grant under the waste management scheme will issue to persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [2814/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named is an applicant for grant-aid under the Farm Waste Management Scheme. A decision will be made in respect of the application as soon as possible.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the case of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [2816/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme state that entitlements, which were activated (claimed) by the farmer in 2005, had to be used at least once in every three-year period i.e. 2006, 2007, 2008. "Used" in this context means that in any year one hectare of eligible land must have been declared in respect of each entitlement held. The Regulations further state that any entitlements that remained unused over a three-year period must revert to the National Reserve and are thereby lost to the farmer.

My Department's records show that the person named used his Single Payment entitlements fully in 2005 but as he did not utilise the entitlements in any of the subsequent scheme years — 2006, 2007 and 2008 — the entitlements were lost to the National Reserve. My Department has received an appeal from the person named on the grounds of force majeure. Having examined the circumstances of the case it has been decided to accept the appeal. Therefore, the entitlements will be removed from the National Reserve and will be made available for use by the person named for the 2009 Single Payment Scheme.

Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fodder shortage in the Shannon Callow region due to the extensive flooding in 2008; if he has plans to assist farmers in the region in view of the financial pressure this has put them under; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2829/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I am keenly aware of the problems encountered by farmers as a consequence of the bad weather, particularly the harvesting of forage and cereal crops in 2008. In recognition of these problems, I wrote to the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Ms Fischer Boel, seeking approval for the early payment of the 2008 Single Payment. My request was for advance payment at a rate of 50%, payable from 16 October 2007. The reason for my request was based on the very adverse weather conditions being experienced in Ireland.

I am pleased to say that the European Commission responded favourably and the advance payment of 50% of the Single Payment effective issued from 16 October. I believe that these advance payment went some way in alleviating the difficulties faced by farmers due to the exceptional weather conditions. The balance of Singe Farm Payments issued in early December.