Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 58: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if assistance will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [14800/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named is not the registered owner of the herd-number listed and consequently is not the legal owner of any Single Payment Scheme entitlements that are held under that herd-number. If the person named wishes to obtain further information regarding transfer or consolidation of entitlements he may contact officials in my Department at lo-call 1890 200 560.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food his proposals to seek a ewe subsidy for all sheep farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14811/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Subsequent to the outcome of the recent CAP Health Check, which allows Ireland to fund measures that are targeted at specific sectors in need of assistance, I recently announced my decision to allocate the extra funds available under the National Reserve in 2009 to hill sheep farmers, in the form of an Uplands Sheep Payment. This payment will be made in December of this year.

In reaching my decision to allocate this funding to hill sheep farmers, I recognised the difficulties and costs, including compliance costs, facing this sector. I also wanted to ensure that this aid would not create any additional administrative burden for hill sheep farmers. Subject to Commission approval, payments will commence on 1 December 2009, the first date that payments can commence under the EU Regulations. Based on the estimated National Reserve funds of €7 million for 2009 and the eligible area declared by farmers in 2008, approximately 14,000 hill sheep farmers will benefit from this payment. It has also been estimated from data available for 2008, that the level of aid will be €35 per hectare. The maximum payment per farmer will be €525.

This measure is solely for 2009. A decision on the use of the unspent CAP funds and modulation monies, from 2010 onwards, will be made when further information is available on the detailed rules that will apply to these measures. The EU Commission will shortly table its proposals for the detailed rules for the use of the unused funds and it is expected that they will be finalised in May/June of this year. It is important that these funds are used efficiently for the development of Irish agriculture. All sectors, including in particular, both hill and lowland sheep production, will be considered in this regard.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will approve and award all farm waste management scheme grants by June 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14812/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The payment on a phased basis of grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme continues within my Department as claims are approved. It is hoped that all approved claims will have been paid their first instalment by end-June 2009.

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 61: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will award the REP scheme amounts due; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14813/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Given the level of participation in REPS 4 and the pressures on the public finances and having considered other alternatives I have decided to reverse the 17% increase in REPS 4 payments. Applications received in 2007 and 2008 will, if valid, be paid at existing rates in respect of those years. REPS applications will continue to be accepted up to the predetermined closing date of 15th May and, depending on the number of applications received, I will then review the payment level for REPS 3 participants. I will be also be carrying out a review of the scheme in the context of the overall level of participation, the funding which is likely to be available to me and the flexibility provided by the additional funding which I negotiated in the recent CAP "Health Check".

In the context of 2010, I intend to look at and discuss with our stakeholders how we can use unused CAP funds and modulated monies, including the options in relation to REPS, to achieve the maximum benefit for Irish farmers and the agrifood sector.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 62: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded the remaining amount under the suckler cow welfare scheme. [14823/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named has 47 animals for consideration under the 2008 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Payments totalling €1900.00 have issued in respect of 25 eligible animals. One cow will not qualify for payment under the Terms and Conditions, as she was aged less than 22 months at the date of calving. There were 17 cows, which calved for the first time during 2008, and of these 5 were aged between 22 and 24 moths of age at the dates of calving. Under the Terms and Conditions a tolerance applies to this age group, and 2 of these cows have qualified for payment, while the other 3 will not qualify. The remaining 18 animals have errors mainly relating to disbudding and castration issues. There has been ongoing correspondence regarding these errors since November 2008, with the latest letter issuing on 6 April 2009. An officer from the Suckler Welfare Section of my Department in Portlaoise will be in contact shortly with the applicant with a view to resolving the matter.