Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
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Question 477: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reasons an application for the 2010 organic farming scheme was rejected in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; the number of other persons in this situation; if other persons in these circumstances have been approved for payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31016/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Organic Farming Scheme was suspended in July 2009 to facilitate a review of the Scheme. Following this review, the Scheme was re-opened from 1 January, 2010 with revised scheme conditions. The purpose of the new requirements, which include the submission of a five year business plan and the completion of an approved training course, is to identify applicants who are most likely to deliver increased organic output nationally and to target support towards those operators who intend producing products which are currently in deficit.

On applying to join the Scheme, the person named made a written declaration that he agreed to be bound by the terms and conditions of the Scheme and that he understood that it was his responsibility to acquaint himself with the conditions of the Scheme. While the requirement to submit a business plan with the application is clearly stated in the Scheme conditions which were published in 2010 the person named did not submit a business plan and was subsequently informed that he was ineligible.