Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application for disadvantaged area scheme and single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26753/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 12 April 2011. The Terms and Conditions governing the Scheme require, inter alia, that applicants maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare declared, for at least three consecutive months, during the calendar year of application. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as not meeting this minimum requirement, the person in question is invited to submit evidence of satisfactory stocking i.e. Flock Register, Horse Passports or details of an environmental plan, which provides for a lower stocking level.

The person named was written to on 1 September 2011 and invited to submit appropriate evidence of the numbers of livestock maintained on his farm, as Department records currently do not show that the holding of the person named as having yet achieved the minimum stocking density. On receipt of a satisfactory response from the person named, the application will be further processed with a view to payment at an early date.

The 50% advance payments under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme are scheduled to commence issuing as and from 17 October 2011, with balancing payments scheduled to commence issuing as and from 1 December 2011.