Vol. 525 No. 5
195 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his cattle and sheep headage payments and extensification for 1998, 1999 and 2000 in view of the fact that his PRSI number has now been submitted. [25443/00]
The 1998 area aid application for the person named is fully processed with no outstanding errors, and the area for payment purposes has been determined at 70.30 hectares. The 1999 and 2000 area aid applications for the person named have also been fully processed with no outstanding errors, and the area for payment purposes has been determined at 69.86 hectares for both years.
The person named was paid his full entitlement of £420 under the 1998 cattle headage scheme on 10 November 1998. He was paid his full entitlement of £172.52 under the 1998 extensification premium scheme on 8 June 1999, based on his forage area of 70.30 hectares. He was paid his full entitlement of £172.52, including euro compensation of £8.72, under the 1999 extensification scheme on 9 June 2000, based on his forage area of 69.86 hectares. Any 2000 extensification premium due will be paid in 2001 after the expiry of any relevant retention period(s) and completion of all checks.
Following receipt of his PRSI number, the applications of the person named under the 1999 and 2000 cattle headage schemes, and the 1998, 1999 and 2000 sheep headage schemes have been fully processed, and all payments due will issue as soon as possible.
196 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive sheep headage for 2000 in view of the fact that the difficulties with his land were resolved in prior years. [25444/00]
The person named furnished an incomplete 2000 area aid application in that he did not include a map for a new parcel of land on which he is claiming area aid. Maps have now issued to the applicant so that he can outline the parcel of land concerned. When these are returned his application will be processed with a view to ensuring that any payments due can be made as soon as possible.
197 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive sheep headage for 2000, particularly as they have been inspected and the delay has caused severe hardship. [25445/00]
198 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in paying the suckler cow premium and the sheep subsidy to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny, in view of the fact that all outstanding queries were dealt with through the local office in a satisfactory manner and the position conveyed to the Department; and if payment will now be made. [25481/00]
The person named was a new applicant for area aid and was thus selected for inspection. The applicant declared an area of 8.94 hectares. The area determined at inspection was seven hectares. This represents an overclaim of 1.94 hectares or 27.7 %.
Under Article 9 of EU Regulation 3887/92, no penalty is applied when the difference is less than 3%, the penalty is based on double the difference when it is between 3% and 20% and when the difference is over 20%, a 100% penalty must be applied. In this case a 100% penalty must be applied and no payments can issue.
199 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will now have headage grant payments made to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [25533/00]
The person named submitted an area aid application which included land in respect of which a dual claim was determined. My Department contacted both herdowners to clarify the matter. The person named has responded indicating that he does have a right to claim the parcel in question, and has been given the benefit of the dual claimed parcel. The application is now fully processed, and any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
200 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a REP scheme euro compensation payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [25534/00]
The second phase of compensation to REPS participants for the reduction in their payments arising from the introduction of the euro will be made in early 2001 and will relate to the reduction in payment during 2000.
201 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will have his eligibility for payment of full ewe premium for 2000 approved in view of the fact that he had the total number of sheep on his original application and it is the same amount as in previous years; and if he will consider payment of the full amount of his flock. [25535/00]
The person named has a permanent ewe quota of 92 rights. While he did lease in quota rights for the years 1994-99, inclusive, there is no record in my Department of any application to lease in quota rights for 2000. His ewe premium entitlement for 2000 is therefore limited to 92 ewes.
202 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is entitled to sheep headage and ewe premium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25536/00]
Following an inspection of the flock of the person named it was found that the number of sheep missing from the flock exceeded 20% of the number claimed on his application form under the 2000 ewe premium and sheep headage schemes. Consequently, under the terms and conditions of the schemes, he was deemed ineligible for payment. He was notified of this decision in writing and was advised that he could have his case reviewed by submitting a written appeal to the district inspector and his solicitor submitted this appeal on his behalf. The district inspector wrote to the solicitor on 2 November last upholding the original decision and advising him that if he felt the case was not dealt with in a fair and equitable manner he could appeal the decision to the headage and premia appeals unit. No record of an appeal has been received in the appeals unit to date.
203 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in paying a person (details supplied) in County Cork his suckler cow grant; and when payment can now be expected. [25537/00]
A parcel claimed by the person named is part of a commonage on which a cumulative overclaim has arisen. The area aid unit is currently seeking to clarify the correct entitlements to area aid on this commonage. It is hoped to have this exercise completed shortly. No payments can issue until this problem has been resolved.
