Vol. 489 No. 6
340 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the delays in payments of headage and premia to some farmers arising from the digitisation of maps; the steps, if any, he will take to remedy this situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9465/98]
The outstanding area aid applications are being processed as quickly as possible. Any difficulties encountered with these applications are being addressed and it is anticipated that all but the most intractable cases will be resolved in the coming weeks.
342 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be paid the second instalment of his ten and 22 months beef premium application. [9467/98]
According to the area aid application submitted by the person named, he is in an official milk recording scheme. Before the beef premium payment can issue to the person named he must submit the certified average milk yields for the years 1996 or 1997 for use in the calculation of stocking density levels.
343 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo with leased commonage will receive his first REP scheme instalment. [9468/98]
Documentation required to process the application was received in my Department from the person concerned on 15 April. Assuming all is in order, payment will be made on the application within the next ten days.
344 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his balancing payments for the 1997 suckler cow and special beef premium. [9469/98]
Maps have been received from the person concerned and the necessary digitising should be completed within the next two weeks. The processing of the area aid application will then be finalised and any outstanding payments will be issued.
345 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his 1997 suckler cow premium. [9470/98]
An advance payment of £673.10 issued to the person concerned on 18 November 1997 in respect of 1997 suckler cow premium. However before the balance of the premia payments can issue the 24.83 hectares of forage area declared by the person concerned on his 1996 area aid application form has to be validated by the land parcel identification system (LPIS).
The forage area declared in 1996 and outlined on the maps which accompanied the area aid application form has been digitised and validated against aerial photography. The digitised area amounted to 22.81 hectares. In order to reconcile this apparent overclaim I have arranged for maps of the digitised area to be sent to the person concerned for examination.
When the maps have been returned, duly amended, the case will be finalised and any outstanding payments will issue.
