Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 3 February 2005
143 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare qualifies for any payment under the revised farm support payments system; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3312/05]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, all livestock premia and arable aid schemes have been replaced, since 1 January 2005, by the new single payment scheme. Accordingly, the quota regime in respect of the livestock premia schemes does not apply to the single payment scheme and, consequently, quotas, including individual suckler cow and ewe premium quotas, no longer exist for any farmer after that date and are not required to ensure payment of the single payment scheme in the future.
The person named does not have any entitlements established for him as he did not receive direct payments during the reference period. He applied under the force majeure and new entrant measures but did not qualify under either provision as he was not an applicant under the direct payment schemes during the reference years, 2000-2002, or the earlier reference years, 1997 to 1999.
The position with regard to the 2005 single payment national reserve is that applications were invited to the reserve in December 2004 and the closing date for receipt of completed applications was extended from 14 January 2005 to 21 January 2005. If the person named commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or during 2002 without having received a direct payment in that year, he should have applied to the reserve under category D. All applications to the 2005 single payment national reserve, including those under category D, are being processed at present and in view of the number of applications received and accompanying documentation submitted, it will be some time before processing is completed. The Deputy will appreciate, therefore, that it is not possible to indicate whether the person named will qualify for an allocation of entitlements from the reserve on foot of any application submitted. Applicants will be notified of their eligibility or otherwise as soon as all applications are processed.
144 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will make a decision on the entitlement of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo to the single payment scheme in view of the circumstances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3313/05]
View answerA certificate of provisional entitlements under the single payment scheme issued to the person named on 5 October 2004. This statement included a detailed breakdown of how the provisional entitlements were calculated. Farmers who are not satisfied with their provisional entitlement statement may seek a review on a form which is available from all local offices of my Department and from my Department's website. To date, a review form has not been received from the person named. If the statement which issued on 5 October 2004 was not received by the person named, a copy can be provided. Officials of my Department will contact the person named in this regard.
145 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will take action on behalf of a person (details supplied) regarding entitlement from the 2005 national reserve and have them classed under section D; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3327/05]
View answerAll applications to the 2005 single payment national reserve, including those under category D, are being processed at present and in view of the number of applications received and accompanying documentation submitted, it will be some time before processing is completed. The Deputy will appreciate, therefore, that it is not possible to indicate at this stage whether the person named will qualify for an allocation of entitlements from the reserve on foot of an application submitted. Applicants will be notified of their eligibility or otherwise as soon as all applications are processed.
