Michael Ring
Question:73 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans, if any, he has to increase the ceiling for payments under the headage schemes. [15685/00]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Under the current headage scheme farmers receive payment based on the type of livestock on their holdings up to an overall limit of £4000. For example, suckler cows attract a payment of £84 per cow up to a maximum of 40 cows in the more severely handicapped area and £75 per cow up to a maximum of 30 in the less severely handicapped area while in the sheep sector hogget ewes were paid £12 each and mountain breeding ewes £11 each up to a maximum of 200 sheep. Other payment rates apply to equines, goats and other bovines.
I have now submitted proposals seeking European Commission agreement for an area based compensatory allowance scheme to be introduced next year. The rates being proposed are as follows:
More Severely Handicapped Areas –
Suckler Cow enterprises: 106.65 euro/£84 per eligible hectare up to a maximum of 40 hectares.
Other Cattle enterprises: 44.44 euro/£35 per eligible hectare up to a maximum of 30 hectares, small dairy enterprises to qualify on up to ten hectares-each 876 gallons of milk quota being equivalent to one eligible hectare
In the Less Severely Handicapped Area and Coastal Areas –
Suckler Cow enterprises: 95.23 euro/£75 per eligible hectare up to a maximum of 30 hectares.
All Disadvantaged Areas –
Sheep enterprises* (mountain breeding ewes and hogget ewes) on mountain land: 143.89 euro/£113.33 per eligible hectare.
Lowland Sheep enterprises* (breeding ewes and hogget ewes): 59.24 euro/£46.66 per eligible hectare.
*Subject to a maximum of 30 hectares or one hectare for each Livestock Unit where quota is less than 200. On both mountains and lowlands, hogget ewes may not comprise more than 25% of the animals qualifying for payment.
Goats enterprises: 84.64 euro/£66.66 per eligible hectare up to a maximum of 30 hectares.
Equine enterprises: 88.88 euro/£70 for first eight eligible hectares, 83.80 euro/£66 per eligible hectare thereafter up to a maximum of 30 hectares.
In cattle, goat and equine enterprises the individual scheme limits remain the same. However for mountain sheep enterprises the existing limit of £2,200 increases to £3,400. In order that producers with a mix of cattle and sheep can benefit from the increased rates in the sheep sector I am proposing to increase the existing overall individual ceiling from £4,000 to £5,000.
Michael Ring
Question:74 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his 1999 headage and premia entitlements in view of the fact he has submitted all evidence to the area aid unit; and if there is any problem still outstanding with any of the parcels to give details of the parcels involved. [15686/00]
As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 147 of 15 February 2000, there are various problems with the 1999 area aid application for the person named in that a dual claim, an overlap, and an overclaim on the application have been determined.
In the case of the dual claim and overlap both herdowners have been written to but thus far neither has adequately clarified the position. The above named person has also been contacted regarding the overclaimed parcels.
In an effort to resolve these difficulties, the area aid unit will keep in contact with both herdowners. No payments can issue until all these matters have been satisfactorily resolved.
The parcels in respect of which problems have been identified are: P16404043 – dual claim has been determined; P16404085 and P16404086 – overclaims have been identified and P16404087 – overlaps with a parcel of land claimed by another applicant.