Written answers

Wednesday, 26 May 2010

Department of Agriculture and Food

Grant Payments

10:30 am

Photo of Noel CoonanNoel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when an application for the traditional farm buildings grant scheme 2010 will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22160/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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There has been considerable interest in this scheme, which was a Supplementary Measure under REPS 4. The Heritage Council, which has responsibility for assessing applications on behalf of my Department, acknowledged the application from the person named on 26 April 2010. This letter explained that he would be informed of the outcome of his application at the end of July 2010.

Photo of Noel CoonanNoel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the grants that are available for persons to carry out works to old traditional farm buildings on their property; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22161/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Under REPS 4, grants were available to carry out approved conservation works to the exterior of farm outbuildings and associated structures, as a supplementary measure to the Scheme. The grant covers up to 75% of the cost of the works and grant awards vary between €5,000 and €25,000. The smallest project that could be funded would cost €6,700. The traditional farm building must have architectural or vernacular heritage character, make a contribution to its setting and not be overwhelmed by large-scale modern buildings. It is an objective of the Heritage Buildings measure that a reasonable geographical spread of grantees across Ireland is achieved.

This scheme is now closed for applications. The Heritage Council, which has responsibility for assessing applications on behalf of my Department, informed all applicants on 26 April 2010 that they will be notified of the outcome of their applications at the end of July 2010.

Photo of John O'MahonyJohn O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 228: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 343 of 11 May 2010, when this person will be contacted by his Department; when they will receive their payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22168/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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A letter requesting an adjusted plan issued to the person named on 21 May 2010.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 229: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 364 of 5 May 2010, when payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22173/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application submitted by the person named under the 2009 Single Payment Scheme was received after the deadline for receipt of applications for the Scheme. Following direct contact between an official of my Department and the person named, evidence was provided by the person named, which, following clarification, allowed the application form to be processed for payment. Payment in full was issued to the applicant on 25 May 2010.

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if all payments due to farmers under the various aid and or headage payment schemes are up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22258/10]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 232: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to the farming community by the failure of his Department to make farm payments promptly; the action he proposes to address the issue in the short term; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22260/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 230 and 232 together.

As has been mentioned in answer to recent parliamentary questions there are no appreciable delays in issuing of payments to farmers under the various schemes operated by the Department with the exception of the REPS scheme and the Young Farmers Installation Scheme. REPS By the closing date of 15 May, 2009 my Department received 29,376 REPS 4 applications and these are the potential applicants for participation in the Scheme and payment in 2009. The acceptance of REPS 4 applications is governed by EU Regulations which require exhaustive administrative checks and on-the-spot inspections. In a significant number of the applications received, the administrative checks raised issues and queries which required further detailed examination. My Department's staff have been working to resolve these as quickly as possible. Many of these cases required the applicants' planners to amend the farm plans that were submitted originally. The applicants concerned were made aware of the position and the applications are being further processed without delay on receipt of amended plans. So far, 24,023 applicants have received full payment for 2009 and work is continuing to process the remainder as quickly as possible.

My officials have also been in contact with the 111 applicants whose plans had been rejected, to inform them of their right to appeal the decision. Alternatively, unless the application had been found to be fundamentally ineligible, applicants were given the opportunity to submit a new REPS 4 plan and application form on or before 17 May 2010. The latter cases will be dealt with as a priority. Young Farmers' Installation Scheme Due to the redeployment of relevant staff onto the checking of REPS applications, delays have occurred in the processing of grant applications under the Young Farmers' Installation Scheme and the preceding installation aid schemes. However, arrangements are now in place to expedite the processing of these applications and the delays concerned should be eliminated in the very near future. It is hoped to have completed the county by county listing of payments to those in receipt of Installation Scheme payments and forwarded to the Deputy, as requested, shortly.

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