Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2006
419 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if she will re-examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the hardship and exceptional circumstances of their case; and if she will expedite a positive response. [42307/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for acceptance of a late application under the 2005 Single Payment Scheme on the grounds of force majeure/exceptional circumstances was received from the person named on 4 August 2006. Following consideration of this appeal, it was decided that the circumstances as outlined by the person named could not be accepted as constituting force majeure. However, following further review of the circumstances of the case, it has been decided that the circumstances as outlined may be deemed to constitute acceptable force majeure/exceptional circumstances. An official of my Department will shortly be in direct contact with the person named in this regard.
420 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there are further developments in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary in relation to their entitlements under the single farm payment scheme national reserve. [42337/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated in my earlier reply to the Deputy the person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category C. Category C caters for farmers who sold their milk quota into the Milk Quota Restructuring Scheme and converted their enterprise to a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000 to 2002.
The person named sold his milk quota into a re-structuring scheme in April 2002 but he did not convert to a farming sector for which a direct payment under the Livestock and/or Arable Aid Schemes would have been payable in respect of the years 2000 to 2002 and therefore did not satisfy the criteria for an allocation of entitlements under Category C.
The person named submitted an appeal against this decision and provided additional documentation in support of his appeal. In all such cases, the procedure is that all contentions put forward in support of an appeal are first of all reviewed within my Department to see whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant any change to the original decision. In this case the documentation was examined by my Department but it did not provide grounds for a change to the original decision. The case was then forwarded to the Independent Single Payments Appeals Committee who have completed their review and disallowed the Appeal. A letter outlining the decision of the Committee has issued to the person named.
421 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there is a result from payment appeals committee in respect of allocation from the single payment’s scheme national reserve for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [42353/06]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs indicated in my earlier reply to the Deputy the person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category B. Category B caters for farmers who, between 1 January 2000 and 19 October 2003, made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000-2002. Investments can include purchase or long term lease of land, purchase of suckler and/or ewe quota or other investments.
The person named was not considered eligible under the National Reserve as the investments did not commence prior to 19 October, 2003 and a letter setting out my Department's decision has issued to the person named. Subsequently the person named submitted an appeal against this decision. In all such cases, the procedure is that all contentions put forward in support of an appeal, if any, are first of all reviewed within my Department to see whether there is sufficient evidence to warrant any change to the original decision. In this case the documentation was examined by my Department but it did not provide grounds for a change to the original decision. This case was then forwarded to the Independent Single Payments Appeals Committee. On completion of their review the Independent Single Payment Appeals Committee will correspond directly with the person named.
