Vol. 483 No. 1
125 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the payment of headage which is to be paid promptly to farmers according to the Charter of Rights is being delayed due to difficulty with the digitisation of area aid maps undertaken by his Department; the steps, if any, his Department will take to rectify this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19725/97]
Given that 1997 is the first year in which the land parcel identification system required by the EU has to be fully operational, all digitising must be completed before 1997 cattle and sheep headage can be paid. Every effort is being made to clear the maximum number of area aid applications by the end of this month so that payment can be made during the next two to three weeks.
126 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid her 1997 cattle headage in view of the fact that the delay is causing hardship. [19727/97]
Given that 1997 is the first year in which the land parcel identification system required by the EU has to be fully operational, all digitising must be completed before 1997 cattle headage can be paid. Every effort is being made to clear the maximum number of area aid applications by the end of this month so that payment can be made in this and other cases during the next two to three weeks.
127 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid his 1997 cattle headage in view of the fact that he has two children in third level education and the delay is causing extreme financial hardship. [19728/97]
Given that 1997 is the first year in which the land parcel identification system required by the EU has to be fully operational, all digitising must be completed before 1997 cattle headage can be paid. Every effort is being made to clear the maximum number of area aid applications by the end of this month so that payment can be made in this and other cases during the next two to three weeks.
128 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment for the headage and premia scheme applications including cattle and sheep headage and suckler cow premium. [19729/97]
Given that 1997 is the first year in which the land parcel identification system required by the EU has to be fully operational, all digitising must be completed before 1997 cattle and sheep headage and suckler cow premium can be paid. Every effort is being made to clear the maximum number of area aid applications by the end of this month so that payment can be made in this and other cases during the next two to three weeks.
129 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment under the REP scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19732/97]
A second year payment under the REP scheme issued to the applicant on 9 April 1997. Payment in respect of year three is not due until after 1 January 1998. Before then the applicant will be requested to submit a valid application which will have to be approved subject to normal control requirements.
130 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the non-payment of headage to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in 1995; and the reason for the delay in the payment of the 1997 headage to this person. [19733/97]
No applications under the 1995 headage schemes were received from the person named. Every effort is being made to clear the maximum number of area aid applications by the end of this month so that payment can be made in this and other cases during the next two to three weeks.
131 Mr. M. Kitt asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when suckler cow grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [19734/97]
The person named applied for 1997 suckler cows premium grants on 39 animals. At an onfarm inspection carried out on 15 October 1997 he presented what he claimed were 37 of the original animals applied on plus suitable replacements for two others. He claimed a retagged animal presented was one of the animals included on his application.
My Department is not satisfied that the two animals which had been replaced at date of inspection were, in fact, cows at the date of application as they were described as one and a half years old and females on a veterinary test on 6 March 1997 and there are no calves registered in the Bandon database showing the animals in question as dams. A veterinary test report indicates that the animal which was retagged and presented as an animal listed on the application was not one of those included on the original application. The person named was informed of the position by letter dated 13 November 1997 and that his application could not be processed further until these matters were resolved.
132 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle headage will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19735/97]
Given that 1997 is the first year in which the land parcel identification system required by the EU has to be fully operational, all digitising must be completed before 1997 cattle headage can be paid. Every effort is being made to clear the maximum number of area aid applications by the end of this month so that payment can be made in this and other cases during the next two to three weeks.
133 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle headage will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19737/97]
The person named submitted an area aid application for 1997 with a declared forage area of 26.46 hectares covering eight parcels. The area claimed has now been fully digitised and validated against aerial photography. Outstanding payments will issue shortly.
134 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle headage will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19738/97]
The person named submitted an area aid application for 1997 with a declared forage area of 57.00 hectares covering four plots. The area claimed has now been fully digitised and validated against aerial photography. Outstanding payments will issue shortly.
135 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle headage will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19739/97]
The person named submitted an area aid application for 1997 with a declared forage area of 16.36 hectares covering seven plots. The area claimed has now been fully digitised and validated against aerial photography. However, the herdowner neglected to sign the area aid application which is holding up his 1997 cattle headage. This form has recently been returned to him for signature.
136 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle headage will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19740/97]
Given that 1997 is the first year in which the land parcel identification system required by the EU has to be fully operational, all digitising must be completed before 1997 cattle headage can be paid. Every effort is being made to clear the maximum number of area aid applications by the end of this month so that payment can be made in this and other cases during the next two to three weeks.
138 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle headage will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19742/97]
Given that 1997 is the first year in which the land parcel identification system required by the EU has to be fully operational, all digitising must be completed before 1997 cattle headage can be paid. Every effort is being made to clear the maximum number of area aid applications by the end of this month so that payment can be made in this and other cases during the next two to three weeks.
140 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have arrangements made for payment under the 1997 suckler cow, beef scheme, ten month and 22 month schemes to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [19768/97]
The application of the person named was within one of the areas of the country selected by my Department for a satellite inspection in 1997. Arising from the results of the satellite inspection it has been found necessary to have a follow-up on-farm inspection to verify the correct area on which payments will be based. This should take place shortly. My Department is also examining a milk quota issue which might be involved and it is hoped to sort this out within the next two weeks.
