Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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193. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a herd number in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19481/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An application for a herd number from the person concerned was received on 25 March. The application is currently being processed by the Regional Veterinary Office of my Department and will be finalised as soon as possible. I should clarify that, where an applicant under the National Reserve priority categories of ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant’ had not been issued a herd number or added to a herd number by the closing date of 31 March 2015, their application under the National Reserve will be accepted once they had applied for a herd number or to be added to a herd number prior to 31st March 2015. Similarly, applicants under the Young Farmers Scheme who have not been issued a herd number or added to a herd number by the closing date of 29 May 2015 will have their applications under the Scheme accepted once they have applied for a herd number or to be added to a herd number prior to 29 May.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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194. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding a herd number in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19482/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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An application in respect of the person concerned was received on 4 March. The application is currently being processed by the Regional Veterinary Office of my Department and will be finalised as quickly as possible. As the Deputy is aware, there has been a considerable increase in activity in this area and, to date this year, my Department’s Regional Offices have processed over 3,000 new herd number applications and over 3,200 amendments to existing herd numbers.

I should clarify that, where an applicant under the National Reserve priority categories of ‘young farmer’ and ‘new entrant’ had not been issued a herd number or added to a herd number by the closing date of 31 March 2015, their application under the National Reserve will be accepted once they had applied for a herd number or to be added to a herd number prior to 31st March 2015. Similarly, applicants under the Young Farmers Scheme who have not been issued a herd number or added to a herd number by the closing date of 29 May 2015 will have their applications under the Scheme accepted once they have applied for a herd number or to be added to a herd number prior to 29 May.