Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 980: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) has not received their full payment for the REP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11715/09]

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 EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared.

Queries have arisen during the administrative checks on the plan of the person named and it is currently under further examination.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 982: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of people who have been granted REP scheme four payments since they were first issued in January 2009 to date in 2009 on a county basis in tabular form. [11730/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The information requested is set out in the table.

Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 983: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) will receive payment for REP scheme four; the reason for the delay in this payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11759/09]

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 EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared.

Queries have arisen during the administrative checks on the plan of the person named and it is currently under further examination.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 984: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the 2008 single farm payment will be granted in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11770/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme on 21st April 2008.

The application as been fully processed and payment due under the scheme issued on 19th March 2009.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 985: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a hardship grant has not been awarded in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11771/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The Hardship Grant Scheme, which runs from 1 November to 30 April, is designed to alleviate the additional feed costs incurred by some owner/keepers whose holdings are restricted during this period on foot of a full herd re-test. The terms and conditions of the scheme provide that the onus is on potentially eligible owner/keepers to apply for the grant and that payment is determined from the date of receipt of the completed application form ER97 in the District Veterinary Office. Application forms are automatically generated by the AHCS computer system in respect of all herds restricted during the eligibility period and issue to all potentially eligible herdowners.

In this case, the forms in question were issued by the District Veterinary Office to the person concerned on 23 October 2008. The herdowner contacted the DVO regarding payment but was advised that there is no record of receipt of an application in this case and the person concerned could not provide proof of postage. The herdowner subsequently submitted an application under the scheme on 10 March 2009. Payment under this scheme is made monthly in arrears and, if the herdowner fulfils all of the conditions of the scheme, payment will be made in April 2009.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 986: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position with a REP scheme application in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11776/09]

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 EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared.

Queries have arisen during the administrative checks on the plan in this case and it is currently under further examination.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 987: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason the farm waste management grant has not awarded in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11777/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The arrangements for payment of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis have been confirmed with 40 per cent being paid this year as claims are approved. A further 40 per cent will be paid in early January 2010 and the remaining 20 per cent in January 2011. I have also announced that a special ex-gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the deferred amount will be made to farmers whose Farm Waste Management grants have been partially deferred. This payment will be made in January 2011 along with the final instalment.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 988: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a REP scheme payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11778/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A letter requesting an amended plan was issued to the person named on 11 March. No payments can be processed until this plan is received.

Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 989: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will be granted their REP scheme payments. [11779/09]

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 EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared.

Queries have arisen during the administrative checks on the plan of the person named and it is currently under further examination.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 990: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be compensated. [11781/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Under the TB and Brucellosis Eradication Scheme, animals removed as reactors may be eligible for compensation, subject to compliance with the terms and conditions of the individual schemes.

In this instance the herdowner was restricted on the 10 November 2008, as a result of a positive factory lesion on an animal which the herdowner had sent for slaughter. However, since the animal was not removed by the Department as a reactor, the herdowner received the normal market value for the animal from the slaughter plant and therefore does not qualify for payment of compensation for this animal under the TB and Brucellosis On-Farm Market Valuation Scheme. The herdowner in question has received compensation under the Hardship Grant Scheme which is aimed at assisting eligible owner/keepers(s) whose herds continue to be restricted following a full herd reactor re-test, during the period 1 November to 30 April.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 991: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their REP scheme four payment. [11784/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The first phase of the REPS 4 payment will issue to the person named within the next ten days.

Billy Timmins (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Question 992: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11788/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application was received on 8 April 2008 requesting the transfer of 178.91 Single Payment entitlements to the person named from his father by way of gift.

As the entitlements held by the father of the person named included a set of 53.01 entitlements that had been leased from a third party, it was necessary to arrange for this pre-existing lease to be ended and for a new lease to be prepared between the third party and the person named.

Once these arrangements were in place, an application to transfer 53.01 entitlements from the third party to the person named was submitted and both transfer applications were processed on 9 March 2009. Payment for both sets of entitlements has issued to the person named.

P J Sheehan (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 993: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be paid his REP scheme four payment; the amount of the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11794/09]

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 EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before the first payments issue. The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared.

Queries have arisen during the administrative checks on the plan of the person named and it is currently under further examination.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 994: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be granted a REP scheme three payment. [11800/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named received his first-year REPS 3 payment in November 2006. An issue has since arisen regarding the eligibility for payment of certain lands, and officials of my Department have discussed the position with him and his planner. It will be necessary for the issue to be resolved before any further payment can be made.

Seymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Question 995: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of farmers who applied for REP scheme four in 2008 that have been paid; when other farmers will be advised as to the problems with their applications; if he is satisfied that sufficient staff are available to deal with the backlog; his views on whether all payments should be paid on time to relieve the difficult farm income situation especially in view of lower milk prices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11808/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The total number of applications for REPS 4 received in 2007 and 2008 was 12,292. As of today, REPS 4 payments have been made to 6,194 applicants or just over 50% of the total. These payments amount to some €20.5 million.

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 each year. The first payment, of 75%, could be made only when all administrative checks on all 2008 applications for REPS 4 and the Single Payment Scheme were completed. These included checks on areas and on the plan details. My Department's controls have to satisfy stringent EU regulatory and audit requirements.

The first payments for 2008 REPS 4 applications issued in the last week of January, 2009 to those whose applications required no correction following the administrative checks. Further payments continue to be made as applications are cleared. As processing of the remaining applications is continuing, it is not possible at this stage to say how many applications will be found to be ineligible or how many can be accepted at a reduced rate of payment for the first year, subject to later adjustment. Letters have begun to issue to farmers whose applications have already been examined and found to be in one or other of those categories and these letters will continue to go out in the coming weeks. My officials are in contact with Teagasc and the Agricultural Consultants' Association, which represents private planners, about the issues that are arising.

All available staff have been assigned to the processing of REPS 4 applications.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 996: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a decision will be made on an application in respect a person (details supplied); the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11829/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named applied on 12 animals under the Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payment in respect of one calf issued on 05/03/09. Errors were identified on the remaining calves, 6 of these have now been resolved and payment will issue shortly.

The remaining 5 animals are ineligible for payment as the calves were moved from the holding on 20/10/2008, less than two weeks after the weaning date. This is a breach of the Terms and Conditions of the Suckler Welfare Scheme as all animals must have been weaned a minimum of 2 weeks before they can be sold or moved from the herd.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 997: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a single farm payment will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11838/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The 13.48 Single Payment entitlements in question were rented out by the person named to another farmer for the 2007 scheme year only and reverted to the person named on the expiry of that agreement on the 29 April 2008. Consequently they were not available to the lessee for the 2008 scheme year and payment did not therefore issue to the lessee.

An application was received on the 9 January 2009 requesting the transfer of 13.48 standard entitlements from the person named to the other farmer for the scheme year 2008. The closing date for receipt of transfer of single payment entitlements for the 2008 scheme year was 15 May 2008. A review of documentation received in my Department did not uncover any previous transfer application from the person named for the 2008 scheme year.

Following further explanations received from the parties concerned and from their Teagasc advisor, the application to transfer the entitlements for the 2008 scheme year has been accepted and the requested transfer has been processed. Payment will issue to the lessee in the near future.

James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 998: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Longford will receive their slatted shed grant under the farm improvement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12020/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned is an applicant under the Farm Improvement Scheme. My Department is currently processing his application and a decision will be made as soon as possible.

Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 999: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been deemed eligible with regard to two calves and a cow under the cow welfare scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that details of each case have been submitted to his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12035/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named has 15 cows for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. On 8 December 2008, four cows were paid grants totalling €328.00. Another cow was slaughtered on veterinary advice and payment will issue shortly in respect of this animal. There are errors on two other animals, and these have been queried with the applicant by an official from my Department in Portlaoise, with a view to resolving the matter. The remaining eight animals have not yet been weaned.