Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:243 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding a special beef premium application which is under appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [4695/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Under EU regulations governing the 2001 special beef premium scheme, a stocking density limit of two livestock units per hectare applies based on the forage area declared on an applicant's area aid application.
Each producer's reckonable livestock units are obtained in respect of the calendar year as follows: for male cattle up to and including 24 months old on which the producer applies for 2001 special beef premium and bull premium, 0.6 livestock unit each; for male cattle over 24 months old on which the producer applies for 2001 special beef premium, one livestock unit each; ewes on which the producer applies for 2001 ewe premium, 0.15 livestock unit each; suckler cows, one livestock unit each; milk quota of 876 gallons, if not in milk recording, one livestock unit each.
Milk quota livestock unit equivalents are obtained by dividing a producer's milk quota in respect of a given calendar year by the national average yield per cow for that year, or by the recorded average milk yield per cow where the producer is in an official milk recording scheme.
The forage area of 68.14 hectares results in an entitlement of 136.28 reckonable livestock units. The milk quota of 85,198 gallons utilises 97.25 livestock units. This figure is calculated by dividing 85,198 by the national average yield of 876. This leaves a balance of 39.03 available livestock units on which premium could be paid.
Six applications for 2001 special beef premium were submitted either by or on behalf of the person named in respect of 105 animals. Payment will be restricted to 64.38 premium rights – one animal at one livestock unit and 63.38 at 0.6 livestock units. The EU regulations governing these schemes specifically provide that animals applied on in excess of the individual's permitted stocking rate of two livestock units per hectare are deemed to be paid under the instalment applied for.
The decision not to pay premium on the remaining 40.58 animals was appealed to the Agriculture Appeals Office. Following the review of the matter the original decision not to pay premium on the animals submitted for premium in excess of the two livestock unit per forage hectare threshold was upheld.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:244 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will examine two applications for beef premium submitted in 1997, for which payment did not issue, by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if payment will now be issued. [4696/03]
The person named submitted two applications for 1997 special beef premium in respect of 72 animals and full payment has issued.
The person named submitted four applications for 1996 special beef premium in respect of 155 animals as follows: first age premium, 41 animals on 4 January 1996 and 34 animals on 27 November 1996; second age premium, 38 animals on 4 January 1996 and 42 animals on 27 November 1996.
Under EU regulations governing the 1996 special beef premium scheme a stocking density limit of two livestock units per hectare applies based on the forage area declared on an applicant's area aid application. Each producer's reckonable livestock units are obtained in respect of the calendar year as follows:
Each producer's reckonable livestock units are obtained in respect of the calendar year as follows: for male cattle up to and including 24 months old on which the producer applies for 1996 special beef premium and bull premium, 0.6 livestock unit each; for male cattle over 24 months old on which the producer applies for 1996 special beef premium, one livestock unit each; ewes on which the producer applies for 1996 ewe premium, 0.15 livestock unit each; suckler cows, one livestock unit each; milk quota of 897 gallons (if not in milk recording), one livestock unit each.
Milk Quota livestock equivalent units are obtained by dividing a producer's milk quota in respect of a given calendar year by the national average yield per cow for that year, or by the recorded average milk yield per cow where the producer is in an official milk recording scheme.
The named herdowner's forage area of 67 hectares entitled him to 134 reckonable livestock units. His milk quota of 71,691 gallons utilises 79.92 livestock units, which is 71,691 divided by the national average yield of 897, leaving a balance of 54.08 available livestock units on which premium could be paid.
As already stated the person named submitted four applications for 1996 special beef premium in respect of 155 animals. Payment to the person named was restricted to 90.13 animals – 90.13 at 0.6 livestock units. The EU regulations governing these schemes specifically provide that animals applied on in excess of the individual herdowners permitted stocking rate of two livestock units per hectare are deemed to be paid under the instalment applied for.
In view of the fact that payment was not due on all the animals submitted for premium in 1996 the person named made a request to transfer the November 1996 applications to 1997. This request was refused and the person named renewed his appeal to the headage and premia appeals unit. Following its review of the matter the original decision of the Department to process the applications on the date of receipt in the Department was upheld.
Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:245 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an overpayment has been taken from payment due to a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the disadvantaged areas compensatory allowance scheme 2002; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that 2002 is the first year this person has claimed under this scheme and could not have been overpaid in previous years under the same scheme. [4697/03]
Payment due under the area based compensatory allowance scheme was deducted from the person named to offset an overpayment raised as a result of an eligibility audit on the 2001 EU arable aid scheme. This eligibility problem has since been reviewed and resolved. A refund of the area based compensatory allowance due to the person named has now been arranged and will be made as soon as possible.