Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
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88. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding entitlements on a herd number (details supplied); if a payment may be expected under the basic payment scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21094/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The person named established 32.33 entitlements with a total value of €363.07 under the Single Payment Scheme in 2005. The EU Regulations governing the Single Payment Scheme provide that payment entitlements must be used at least once in a two year period. ‘Used’ in this context means that one hectare of eligible land must have been declared in respect of each entitlement held. The Regulations further provide that any entitlements that remain unused over a two year period must revert to the National Reserve and are thereby lost to the farmer.

While applications under the Single Payment Scheme were submitted each year, the person named did not declare any eligible land from 2008 onwards and consequently these Single Payment entitlements reverted to the National Reserve for non-usage by 2012. While a Single Payment application was submitted in 2013 and eligible land declared, no payment issued as there were no entitlements. Similarly while there was stock on the land, no sheep census was completed and consequently no payment issued under the Grassland Sheep Scheme.

As the person named did not receive a direct payment in 2013, his estate does not hold an automatic right to establish entitlements in 2015 under the new Basic Payment Scheme. In this context the estate of the person named may wish to makes a case under force majeure for an allocation of new entitlements. This application is available on the Department’s online facility at or alternatively, on the Department’s website at and must be submitted by the 29 May, 2015.

Further information regarding such an application may be obtained from the CAP Advisory Centre at 0761 064439 or by email at .