Vol. 447 No. 1
244 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when tree planting approval under the forest premium scheme will be given to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford in view of the fact that his application was submitted by 15 February 1994 in accordance with the regulations supplied to him; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3271/94]
I presume the Deputy's question relates to the issuing of approval to the person concerned for the higher rate of premium payable to farmers under the CAP forest premium scheme.
Under this scheme the premium for farmers is payable to those who meet a number of conditions, including a 25 per cent on-farm income requirement. This requirement was introduced by the European Commission last February. A derogation from this requirement was secured in order to ensure that those who had already received planting approval would not be disadvantaged by the imposition of the threshold. The derogation applied to all those who had received planting approval from my Department between 1 August 1992 and 15 February 1994, the date of the Commission decision. This decision was conveyed to the public through a press release which issued from my Department at that time.
My Department's records show that the application for planting approval from the person concerned was received on 7 February, 1994. Following consideration of the application, including an on-site assessment, approval was conveyed to the applicant on 24 March 1994. I regret, therefore, that, in accordance with the Commission decision, this application cannot benefit from the derogation. The applicant is of course eligible for the non-farmer premium as well as the full planting grant subject to the conditions of the scheme.
245 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his Department will pay a farm building grant to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo which application has been with his Department for some time. [3334/94]
I expect that payment will be made within the next two to three weeks.
