Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 437: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an agri-environment options scheme application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [12364/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st November 2010.

Under the EU Regulations governing the Scheme and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, have to be completed before any payment can issue. During these checks a query arose in respect of land parcels declared which required digitisation. This is being dealt with by my Department at present and once the digitisation process is completed, the application will be processed with a view to making payment in respect of 2010 at the earliest opportunity.

Payments in respect of the 2011 Scheme year are subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investments related to approved AEOS actions. These checks have now been completed and following the payment of year 1, the payment in respect of year 2 will be finalised.

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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Question 438: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a farmer can establish entitlements if they have rented land on a year to year basis only; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12372/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Under the Single Payment Scheme introduced in Ireland in 2005 entitlements were established for farmers who were actively farming during the 2000-2002 reference years and who were paid Livestock and/or Arable aid in those years. Generally speaking, the number of entitlements established was equal to the three-year average number of hectares of land farmed during the reference period. Farmers holding single payment entitlements must declare one hectare of eligible land each year for each entitlement held in order to maximise their payment. The eligible land declared each year can be owned, leased or rented.

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, further to Parliamentary Question No. 544 of 24 January 2012, when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12379/12]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named was approved for participation in the Agri-Environment Options Scheme with effect from the 1st September 2010 and full payment totalling €878.08 issued in respect of 2010.

Payment in respect of the 2011 Scheme year is subject to a similar administrative checking process which includes verification of capital investment through checks on receipts. During these checks a query arose in relation to an overclaim on the capital expenditure claim of the person named. My Department issued a letter dated 13 February to the person named regarding this particular matter. The other elements of the application is currently being processed and payment in respect of 2011 will issue to the person named at the earliest opportunity.