Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 16 December 2004
157 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Limerick has been refused single farm payment; if the decision will be reconsidered; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33950/04]
View answerThe person named submitted applications for consideration in respect of both the new entrant farmers commencing during the reference period and inheritance measures of the single payment scheme. However, as the person named commenced farming on 27 June 2003, after the 2000 to 2002 reference period, his application was rejected on the grounds that he did not commence farming during the reference period.
The person named was not eligible under the inheritance measure as the land in question was leased by him and not acquired by way of gift or inheritance. The option to appeal these decisions to the independent single payment appeals committee has not been availed of to date.
The person named has been advised that he may avail of the private contract clause, whereby the lessor may transfer to him as the lessee any entitlements generated by the person in question during the reference years. It is also open to the person named to apply for entitlements from the national reserve if he considers that he satisfies the criteria of category D, new entrant. I have arranged to forward an application form to him.
158 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason force majeure has not been applied to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if a review of the decision to refuse will be carried out. [33951/04]
View answerThe person involved submitted an application for consideration of his circumstances under the force majeure measure of the single payment scheme. Following processing of this application, it was considered that the new entrant — inheritance measures would be more beneficial and he was advised to apply under these measures in the notification of the decision that issued to him.
Subsequently, the person involved submitted applications for consideration in respect of both the new entrant and inheritance measures of the single farm payment scheme. Following an examination of these applications, he was informed that both the new entrant and inheritance applications were successful. However, the inheritance measure, which is the inherited entitlements combined with those earned by the person involved, in his own right, was more favourable than either the force majeure or the new entrant measures and generated the highest single farm payment.
159 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in approving a headage payment for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33958/04]
View answerThe person named was paid his full entitlement of €1,933.14 under the 2004 area based compensatory allowance scheme on 20 September 2004. The person named applied for premium on ten animals under the 2004 suckler cow premium scheme. The application has been processed and his 60% advance instalment amounting to €1,344.90 issued on 2 December 2004. The balancing payment will be made in March-April 2005. The person involved was notified on 24 November 2004 that this measure would be the one reflected in his statement of provisional entitlements scheduled to issue shortly.
