The delay in making payment under the 2006 Single Payment Scheme arose from the fact that the person named did not declare land parcels during the 2000-2002 reference period. Under the regulations governing the old coupled schemes, the person concerned was not obliged to declare his land. Under the Single Payment Scheme it was necessary for my Department to establish what land was owned by such applicants in order that a number of payment entitlements could be determined. Under EU regulations, the number of entitlements could be determined based on either the land declared during the reference period or, alternatively, on owned land declared in either 2004 or 2005. This case was complicated due to the fact that the applicant also leased out some land and entitlements in 2006 that he acquired from another farmer.
Insofar as the 2007 Single Payment Scheme is concerned, an application was received on the 15 May 2007 requesting a transfer of 5.77 entitlements from the person named to a third party by way of one-year lease. As essential elements of the application form were not completed, it was necessary to return it to the herd owners for completion. In addition it was also necessary to query the number of hectares being transferred.
It transpired that the net area of land being transferred was 5.6 hectares and, as each leased entitlement must be accompanied by one hectare of eligible land, it was necessary, in consultation with the herd owners, to reduce the number of entitlements being transferred to 5.6. The transfer has now been fully processed and payment will issue as soon as possible.