Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 527: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not been paid their area based payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27028/11]

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 10 May 2011, processing of which has been completed, thereby allowing payment to issue under the 2011 Disadvantaged Area Scheme on 23 September 2011. The 50% advance payments under the Single Payment Scheme are scheduled to commence issuing as and from 17 October 2011.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)
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Question 528: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will receive the final 25% of their REP scheme payment; the reason for the delay; his views on whether the delay in issuing payments is acceptable; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27036/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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REPS 4 is a measure under the Rural Development Programme, 2007-13, and is subject to EU Regulations which require that detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before payments can issue. I appreciate the difficulties suffered by farmers in these instances where penalties have been imposed and accordingly officials in my Department are making every effort to ensure that these cases are paid as soon as possible. The person named commenced REPS 4 in 2008 and has received full payments for the first two years of their contract.

In addition, 75% of the third year payment issued on 17th December 2010 for the amount of €7,787.75. My Department is currently making arrangements to process the outstanding 25% payments to farmers in instances where penalties have been imposed, including the person named, and I now expect that these outstanding payments will commence later this month.