Vol. 568 No. 2
137 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the hardship which will be endured by farmers who contracted out their land from 2000 to 2002 in that they will not be entitled to draw their entitlements if the Fischler proposals are accepted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16222/03]
Under the Commission's current proposals for full decoupling of direct payments, the decoupled payment will go to the person who was actively farming during the 2000-02 reference period. There is provision for trading of payment entitlements and provision for the setting up of a national reserve from which certain priority categories will be allocated entitlements. The Commission's proposals are currently being negotiated at Council of Ministers level and the outcome cannot be predicted at this stage.
138 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a grant will be awarded in respect of a silage base to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the job has been completed and the relevant documents have been passed to the FDS in Tuam with a request for an inspection to enable their silage crop to be harvested but that due to the CPSU strike, a farm visit has not yet been carried out; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16224/03]
The person named is an applicant under the farm waste management scheme. An official of my Department will visit the farm concerned. Payment will be made when it has been confirmed that all the requirements of the scheme have been met.
139 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the special beef premium and the ewe premium will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16225/03]
Payment of the 2002 ewe supplementary premium and the ewe premium national envelope was made to the person named on 16 October 2002 and 3 March 2003, respectively.
Payments under the 2003 scheme will commence on 16 October 2003, the earliest possible date under EU regulations.
The person named made an application for 2001 special beef premium in respect of four animals and has been paid in full. No application was received in relation to 2002 special beef premium. That person has also been paid in full in respect of two animals under the 2002 slaughter premium scheme.
One application was received on 28 February 2003 for 14 animals in relation to 2003 special beef premium scheme. This application is clear and will be processed when 2003 payments can issue in October 2003.
140 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the 20% of the 2002 suckler cow grant will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16226/03]
The person named applied for premium for 17 animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme. Payment of his 80% advance entitlement, amounting to €3,048.44, issued to him on 9 December 2002. The person named submitted an application for 2002 special beef premium in respect of eight animals. Payment of the 80% advance which amounted to €960.00 issued on 5 December 2002.
Under new arrangements introduced by the EU with effect from 1 January 2002, for the imposition of penalties, it is necessary to process all bovine premia scheme applications at producer level rather than individual scheme application level. This process is delayed in this case by an ongoing industrial dispute involving certain staff of my Department in County Galway.
