Michael Ring
Question:160 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid his 1997 slaughter premium and top-up payment. [14286/97]
Written Answers - Grant Payments.
The person named applied for nine animals on 18 April 1997 under the 1997 deseasonalisation slaughter premium scheme.
One animal is under investigation at present and the herdowner has been written to in relation to this query. If this animal is found to be eligible, payment will issue without delay.
The amount due on the remaining eight animals was £480.72. However, £228.96 was offset against an overpayment which was made on 7 October 1996 under the 1996 BSE top-up on special beef premium. The EU regulations governing the payment of 1996 top-up provided for payment on the basis of animals paid the 1995 special beef premium with an adjustment upwards or downwards later on to take account of the number of animals paid 1996 special beef premium. When a comparison was made between the 1995 and 1996 schemes, the person named was not due any top-up payment since he was not an applicant under the 1996 special beef premium scheme. It was, therefore, necessary to recoup the £228.96 already paid.
The person named was paid the balance of his 1997 deseasonalisation slaughter premium of £251.76 in respect of eight animals on 10 June 1997.
The agri-monetary top-up payment in respect of the eight animals on which 1997 slaughter premium has already been paid and in respect of the one animal under investigation — if it qualifies — will issue as soon as this latter matter is resolved.