Written Answers Nos. 177-83
177. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a decision on REP scheme 4 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8422/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named commenced REPS 4 in June 2008 and received payments for the full six years of their contract.
REPS 4 is a measure under the current 2007-13 Rural Development Programme and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before any payments can issue. According to the Terms and Condition of the Scheme "Farmers must make a valid application and carry out their farming activities in accordance with an Agri-environmental Plan prepared by an approved Planner respecting all relevant EU requirements and national legislation for the time being in force". Due to the reduction in the contract area from 22.8 hectares to 16.97 hectares as a result of the disposal of lands in 2012, a clawback of monies was applied. An appeal has been lodged by the person named and is currently the subject of a review by my Department. A decision will issue to the person named shortly.
178. Deputy Pat Breen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding an application for disadvantaged area scheme payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Clare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8423/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraPayment in respect of the 2013 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued directly to the nominated bank account of the person named on 27 January 2014, following clarification of matters concerning the contract rearing operation in which the person named is involved.
179. Deputy Denis Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will approve payment for a 2011 single farm payment application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; the reason for the delay in issuing payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8460/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application of the person named under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received in my Department on 19 November 2012. As the closing date for receipt of late applications under the 2011 Scheme was 10 June 2011, no payment was due to the person named. However, following direct contact on a number of occasions by Departmental officials with the person named and the submission in late 2012 of detailed medical evidence on behalf of the person named, the 100% late penalty was waived. Processing of the application is currently being finalised and payment is expected to issue shortly, directly to the nominated bank account of the person named.
180. Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a decision has been made on the appeal in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry against the request for reimbursement of their REP scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8466/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe applicant will be written to shortly advising that no reimbursement of their REPS payment is being sought.
181. Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the position regarding the single farm payment; the changes there are to this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8467/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe scheme year 2014 is the last year in which the Single Payment Scheme will be applied. All existing entitlements expire on the 31 December 2014 and a new set of entitlements will be allocated in 2015 to those who are eligible to participate in the new Basic Payment Scheme.
Under the new Regulation, Ireland will implement:
- The Basic Payment Scheme
- Greening
- Young Farmers Scheme
- Coupled Support for Protein Crops
In addition, Ireland will establish a National Reserve which will allocate entitlements to eligible persons under the Basic Payment Scheme.
The payment that a farmer receives under the new Direct Payment system is no longer a ‘single payment’ but will be a combination of payments arising from at least two schemes, the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening. Farmers who qualify as ‘young farmers’ will also receive a payment under the Young Farmers Scheme.
To participate in the Basic Payment Scheme and related schemes a person must be an ‘active farmer’ as defined in the Direct Payment Regulation.
Any farmer who received a direct payment in 2013 (Single Payment, Grassland Sheep Scheme, Burren Life Scheme, Beef Data Scheme) is automatically eligible to receive an allocation of entitlements under the Basic Payment Scheme in 2015. Ireland will also allocate entitlements to farmers who never held entitlements under the Single Payment Scheme, either owned or leased, but who were actively farming in 2013.
The number of entitlements that will be allocated to a farmer under the new Basic Payment Scheme will be based on the number of eligible hectares the farmer declares in 2013 and 2015, whichever is less.
The value of entitlements that will be allocated to a farmer in 2015 will be based on a percentage of the value held by the farmer in 2014. As of yet it has not been decided whether the ‘value’ will be based on the total value of ‘entitlements’ held by a farmer in 2014 or on the value of the ‘payments’ received by a farmer in 2014. Similarly the status of ‘leased entitlements’ remains the subject of negotiation at EU level.
All entitlements held under the Basic Payment Scheme are subject to convergence whereby low value entitlements will be increased while high value entitlements will be reduced over the five years of the Scheme. All entitlements must reach a minimum entitlement value of 60% of the national average entitlement value by 2019.
To qualify for participation in the Young Farmers Scheme, a farmer must be aged no more than 40 years of age in the year when s/he first submits an application under the Basic Payment Scheme, be setting up an agricultural holding for the first time or has set up such a holding during the five years preceding the first submission of the Basic Payment Scheme application and have successfully completed a recognised course of education in agriculture giving rise to an award at FETAC level 6 or its equivalent.
I have recently established the 2015 Direct Payments Information Centre which any member of the farming community may contact at 0761 064438 or CAPdirectpayments@agriculture.gov.ie to discuss their individual circumstances in more detail.
183. Deputy Noel Coonan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment for 2013 will be finalised in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8562/14]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme from the person named was not received until after the final deadline of 9 June 2013. Payment may not be made in respect of applications received after that date except in exceptional circumstances. The original of the application form concerned has been lodged by the person named together with some supporting documentation. My Department is currently reviewing the case taking account of the information submitted and a final decision will issue in the near future.
