Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 267: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40411/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2011, processing of which has recently been finalised, thereby allowing payment to issue on 7 December, directly to the nominated bank account of the applicant.

Paudie Coffey (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 268: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40412/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 15 April 2011, following processing of which over-claims were identified on three of the land parcels declared by the person named. The person named has been written to in this regard and, on receipt of a satisfactory reply, the application will be further processed with a view to the appropriate payment issuing immediately thereafter.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 269: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will outline the detail of the new water harvesting scheme including the level of grant and eligibility criteria; when the scheme will open up; the period of the funding programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40440/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I have provided funding in the Department's Vote for 2012 to allow the Targeted Agricultural Modernisation Schemes (TAMS), including the Rainwater Harvesting Scheme, to be re-opened and I will be announcing the details very shortly.

The grant rate of 40% which was available under the previous version of the Rainwater Harvesting Scheme will be retained and the maximum eligible investment ceiling will remain at €25,000 per holding, i.e. a maximum grant of €10,000. My intention is that the Scheme will remain open for applications until the end of the current Rural Development Programme, i.e. until end-December 2013. However, the number of projects approved will be subject to the limit of the funding available.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 270: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment for grazing sheep scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40446/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on the 7 May 2010. This application was fully processed and payment under the Grassland Sheep Scheme issued on 1 February 2011, based, in accordance with the provisions of the Scheme, on the original Sheep Census return received by my Department, which indicated that the person named had 50 breeding ewes in his flock.

An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Grassland Sheep Scheme was received from the person named on the 4 May 2011, processing of which is not yet finalised. Payment in respect of the 2011 Grassland Sheep Scheme is due to commence issuing in early 2012.

Marcella Corcoran Kennedy (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 272: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will reinstate entitlements to a person (details supplied) in County Offaly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40482/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person named had 6.01 standard entitlements with a unit value of €58.49 (total value of €351.52) that expired in scheme year 2010 due to non-usage. These entitlements were reverted to the National Reserve on 2 February 2011.

EU Regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme provide that entitlements must be used at least once in each two year period. 'Used' in this context means that in any one of these years a hectare of eligible land must be declared in respect of each entitlement held. The Regulations further provide that any entitlements that remain unused over the two year period revert to the National Reserve and are thereby lost to the farmer.

A letter issued to the person named on the 22 February 2011 explaining that her 6.01 expired entitlements had been reverted to the National Reserve due to non-usage and invited her to put forward any extenuating circumstances that might be relevant to her case. The person named submitted an appeal under Force Majeure supported by medical evidence, which has been examined by my Department and has been deemed to be acceptable. The entitlements concerned have now been returned and a letter to this effect has issued to the person named.