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Grant Payments

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 19 October 2011

Wednesday, 19 October 2011

Questions (110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119)

Noel Harrington

Question:

110 Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will introduce a scheme for the tracking of maps sent for digital imaging in order to provide an clear estimate time to farmers on his Department’s website when the process will be completed and the completed image returned to the Department for processing of grant applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30293/11]

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Written answers

I can assure the Deputy, and the wider farming community, that my Department is committed to allocating such resources as is necessary to ensure that the essential digitisation of applicants' maps onto the Department's Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) and the processing of payments are proceeding as quickly as possible . However, I must emphasise that any failings or shortcomings in LPIS would leave the Department open to the very real risk of significant fines. I am not prepared to take such a risk, nor will I compromise the value of direct payments to Irish farmers.

I again wish to state categorically that there are no delays in payments to farmers under either the Single Farm Payment Scheme or the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. In the case of the SFP, the earliest payment date under the governing EU rules is 1 December, while in respect of DAS there is no regulatory payment date — however, it is generally recognised and indeed acknowledged in the Farmers' Charter, that a payment target of late September of the year in question is the most realistic.

In the case of the Single Farm Payment, it should be remembered that, while the earliest payment date provided for under EU rules is 1 December, I am acutely aware of the significance to the wider rural economy of the Single Payment. Therefore earlier this year, I successfully sought the approval of the Commissioner to have advance payments made as and from 17 October. This is the earliest possible legal date for making payments, being the start of the new EU financial year. Following this agreement to my request for an advance payment of the SFP, I set a very demanding schedule of payments for the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Single Payment Scheme, with payment of DAS scheduled for 22 September, the 50% advance of the SFP scheduled for 17 October and the 50% balance of the SFP scheduled for 1 December. I am pleased to say that the DAS payments commenced on target and €180m has been paid to date. This week €475m will be paid to 100,000 farmers in advance payments for the SFP. In all cases, my Department will continue to make multiple payment runs, under both schemes, on a weekly basis, to pay farmers as their applications become fully processed and cleared.

I fully appreciate the value and importance of these schemes to Irish farmers and remain committed to ensuring that the maximum numbers are paid at the earliest possible date, mindful, of course, of the over-riding necessity to ensure compliance with the governing EU requirements. I note that Ireland continues to be among the very first countries throughout the EU to be in a position to make such payments and perhaps sight should not be lost of this fact.

Noel Harrington

Question:

111 Deputy Noel Harrington asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the digital imaging of land will be completed in respect of a person (detail supplied) in County Cork; when their single farm payment application will be processed; the amount of the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30298/11]

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An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 9 May 2011, processing of which is now complete, thereby allowing the appropriate payments under the Single Payments Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issue in the near future.

Brendan Smith

Question:

112 Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a REP scheme payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30344/11]

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The person named commenced REPS 4 in November 2007 and received payments for the first two years of their contract.

An adjusted agri-environmental plan was requested in July 2011 following the discovery of an query in relation to Nitrates. The person named submitted an adjusted plan and this has passed the cross check. Payment for the amount of €5209.69 representing 75% will issue within the next week while the remaining 25% totalling €1736.56 will issue shortly thereafter.

Arrangements are also well advanced to issue payments in respect of 2011 and I expect that these payments will commence in November.

Denis Naughten

Question:

113 Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the reason for the delay in same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30348/11]

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An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 12 April 2011. Payments under the Single Payment Scheme and the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme have commenced nationally on 17 October and 21 September respectively. The processing of the application of the person named is now complete and payments under both schemes will issue shortly.

Pat Breen

Question:

114 Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30350/11]

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An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2011. Following processing a number of dual claims were identified on some of the land parcels declared by the person named. The person named has been written to in this regard and, on receipt of a satisfactory response, the application will be further processed, with a view to the appropriate payments issuing shortly thereafter.

Heather Humphreys

Question:

115 Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30351/11]

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An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 3 May 2011, following processing of which, over-claims were identified in respect of a number of parcels declared by the person named. The person named has been written to regarding these matters and, on receipt of a satisfactory reply, the application will be further processed with a view to appropriate payment issuing shortly thereafter.

Heather Humphreys

Question:

116 Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30352/11]

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An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Area Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2011. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Animal Identification Inspection. Following completion of the inspection process the application was further processed, with payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme due to issue in the coming days and the 50% advance of the Single Payment issuing shortly thereafter.

Heather Humphreys

Question:

117 Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area payment will issue to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30353/11]

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An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 29 April 2011, following processing of which over-claims were identified in respect of a number of parcels declared by the person named. The person named has been written regarding the matter and, on receipt of a satisfactory reply, the application will be further processed with a view to appropriate payment issuing at an early date thereafter.

Heather Humphreys

Question:

118 Deputy Heather Humphreys asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a disadvantaged area payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30354/11]

View answer

An application under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 7 May 2011, processing of which was recently completed, thereby allowing payment to issue to the person named on 18 October.

Dan Neville

Question:

119 Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30362/11]

View answer

An application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 10 May 2011. I can confirm that the issue relating to the dual-claim referred to by the Deputy has been resolved and that payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme issued on 14 October 2011, while the 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme on 17 October 2011.

The person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received full payments for the first two years of their contract. In addition, 75% of the year three payment was issued for payment in December 2010 for the amount of €5,919.53. My Department is currently making arrangements to process and check the outstanding 25% payments to farmers in instances where penalties have been imposed. I expect that these outstanding payments will commence in October.

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