Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

131. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that a single farm payment was made for land for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim [52117/13]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

132. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that only one applicant sought single farm payment for the years 2002, 2003 and 2004 for a land parcel (details supplied). [52118/13]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

133. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will confirm that more than one applicant sought single farm payment for the years 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009 in respect of a land parcel (details supplied). [52119/13]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North-West Limerick, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

134. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the necessary steps required in order to claim single farm payment for land parcel for the years 2005 to 2009 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim [52120/13]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 131 to 134, inclusive, together.

The Single Payment Scheme commenced in 2005 and generally is applicable to farmers who actively farmed during all or any of the three reference years 2000, 2001, and 2002, and who were paid Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid payments in one or more of those years and for whom Single Payment entitlements were therefore established. In order to remain eligible, they, or their successors, must continue to farm. Other farmers, including new entrants to farming since the reference period, are also eligible for the Single Payment Scheme where they have received entitlements from the National Reserve or by way of a transfer.

In order to qualify for payment under the Single Farm Payment Scheme, an individual is required to submit a Single Payment Scheme application form each year, declaring one eligible hectare of land for each eligible SPS entitlement held. Applications were received from the person named under the Single Payment Scheme for years 2005 through to 2009, on which land parcel L12923018 was declared. Following validation of these applications, it transpired that this parcel was also claimed by another applicant and, following standard procedure, where both parties were requested to confirm their entitlement to claim the said parcel, it was confirmed that the person named did not have the right to claim this parcel and his applications were amended accordingly.

The person named subsequently availed of his right to pursue the matter through the Office of the Ombudsman. This course ultimately proved unsuccessful.