The person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the single payments scheme national reserve under categories A and D. Category A caters for farmers who inherited land or received land free of charge or for a nominal sum from a farmer who had retired or died by 16 May 2005, where the land in question was leased to a third party during the reference period 2000-2002. While the land concerned is being leased by the person named, the fee involved does not satisfy the criteria for eligibility under category A.
Category D caters for farmers who commenced farming after 31 December 2002 or who commenced farming in 2002, but who received no direct payments in respect of that scheme year. In addition the farmer must have either purchased or inherited land. As the person named applied for an allocation of entitlements on leased land only he does not qualify under this category. Formal letters setting out my Department's decision will issue early in the new year and all applicants will be given the opportunity to appeal my Department's decision to the independent single payment appeals committee.