Written answers

Wednesday, 15 December 2010

Department of Agriculture and Food

Grant Payments

11:00 pm

Photo of Phil HoganPhil Hogan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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Question 212: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when an application for single farm payment will be processed in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47452/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 7 May 2010.

This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. The inspection process is complete and the results are now being processed.

Under EU regulations governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Single Payment Scheme all Ground Eligibility Inspections must be completed before any payment can issue to any applicant under either scheme, including those not selected for a Ground Eligibility Inspection.

In the vast majority of cases that were inspected amendments have had to be made to the maps in order that the Land Parcel Identification System that is used for making payments to farmers is kept up-to-date. Processing of these changes is continuing with priority being given to applications that were the subject of a Ground Eligibility Inspection.

Photo of John BrowneJohn Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford [47456/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on the 20 April 2010. This application was selected for a Ground Eligibility and Full Cross Compliance inspection. During the course of the Ground Eligibility inspection, discrepancies were found with some of the parcels applied on, and deductions were made accordingly. The claimed area for the Single Payment Scheme of 357.25ha was reduced to 348.83ha. As the total area found is not sufficient to support the number of entitlements held penalties will be applied per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. In this case the number entitlements held by the person named is 396.83. As the difference between the area declared and the area found is more than 3%, under EU Regulations, the difference between the area found and the area claimed is doubled and deducted from the area found. As a result the area put forward for payment under the Single Payment Scheme was 337.51ha.

A formal decision issued to the person named on 28 October 2010 that advised him of his right to seek a review of the decision within 21 days to the District Inspector and of his right to appeal the outcome of any such review to the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office.

The inspection process is complete and the application has now been fully processed. The advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued on 10/12/2010 and the balance issued on 14/12/2010.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 214: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive financial approval for their forestry grant application. [47458/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I understand that an application on behalf of the person in question for financial approval has been received by my Department. It should be noted that the funding for the 1,500 hectares, which the Government approved in October, has now been allocated and further financial approvals will not issue this year. Arrangements are currently in train in relation to issuing financial approvals for 2011. This application will be considered in this context, however, as of now, I cannot give any assurance regarding financial approval to the person in question.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 215: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will obtain their REP scheme 4 payment [47459/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Each year my Department is required to carry out controls on 5% of scheme participants under the EU Regulations governing the REPS 4. These controls involve a full check of the farm plan submitted by scheme applicants as well as an on-farm inspection. The person named was selected for this control procedure and the REPS 4 application cannot be processed for payment until these checks are completed.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 216: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive their single farm payment. [47460/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2010. On processing the application over- claims and dual claims were identified on a number of the parcels declared by the applicant. The person named was written to in this regard on the 22 and 23 September 2010 respectively. This issues have now been resolved and payment due in respect of the Single Payment Scheme will issue shortly.

Photo of John O'DonoghueJohn O'Donoghue (Kerry South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive their area based single payment for 2010 and headage for 2010. [47463/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2010. A number of the land parcels listed on the application required re-digitisation, following which dual claims were identified on a number of parcels. This issue was resolved, following correspondence with the person named, which allowed payments under both Schemes to issue to the person named on 10 December.

Photo of Tom SheahanTom Sheahan (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will review an alleged overpayment under the disadvantaged area scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47466/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I have arranged for an official of my Department to make direct contact with the person named regarding the matter of the alleged over-payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their REP scheme 4 payment [47492/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted an application under REPS 3 and payment issued on 29th November 2010.

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when persons (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their disadvantaged area scheme payments [47493/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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One of the primary provisions of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme is that applicants must maintain a minimum stocking density of their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare for at least three consecutive months. While an application under the 2010 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 16 April 2010, as it was established that the holding of the person named did not meet this minimum stocking density requirement, the person named was contacted directly by an official of my Department, who explained that payment could not be made before this requirement was met. I have arranged for an official of my Department to again make contact with the person named.

Photo of Pat BreenPat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 221: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Clare will be facilitated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47506/10]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. Payments under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme have commenced nationally on 18 October 2010 and 22 September 2010 respectively.

The person named submitted an application with 22 land parcels, seven of which required re-digitisation, which has been completed by my Department. Payments to the person named have been made under the Single Payment Scheme on 21 October 2010 and 1 December 2010. The advance payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was issued to the applicant on 22 September 2010.

On further processing of this application dual-claim and over-claim errors were identified. The person named was written to in this regard on 9 September, 10 September and 13 December 2010. No reply to these queries has yet been received. On receipt of replies to the aforementioned queries, this application will be further processed with a view to final balancing payments issuing under both Schemes, provided no further errors are identified. An official from my Department will make contact with the person named to assist him in revolving the outstanding issues.

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