Vol. 487 No. 3
148 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will uphold the appeal lodged by Deputy Aylward for persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in respect of his ten month special beef premium in view of the medical evidence submitted in support of this appeal. [4032/98]
The persons concerned applied for ten month special beef premium in respect of 23 animals on 15 October 1997. At an on-farm inspection on 10 December 1997 one of the animals applied upon was found to be a female and thus ineligible for this scheme. This action was considered to be seriously negligent and consequently the applicants were informed on 19 December 1997 of their exclusion from the special beef premium scheme for 1997. The applicants sought to have this decision reviewed and a review was carried out by a person other than the person who made the original decision. The original decision was upheld and the applicants were informed accordingly on 5 February 1998. It is open to the applicants to have this decision appealed to the headage and premia appeals unit. Appeals should normally be lodged with the appeals unit within 21 days. No such appeal has yet been lodged.
149 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has only received £814.50 in respect of his 1997 slaughter premium for 18 animals when he should have received £1,081.62; and when the person will receive the balance of £267.12. [4033/98]
The regulations governing payment of the 1996 BSE compensation package (which was paid out in October 1996) provided for the payment of top-ups in respect of animals which qualified for payment under the 1995 EU special beef premium scheme or 1995 suckler cow premium scheme. The regulations also provided for adjustments, upwards or downwards, later on to take account of the number of animals qualifying for payment under the 1996 EU special beef premium scheme and 1996 suckler cow premium scheme. In effect, the regulations required that when all balancing payments under the 1996 EU special beef premium scheme and 1996 suckler cow premium scheme are made, a comparison was carried out between the number of animals qualifying for payment under the 1995 schemes and the number qualifying under the 1996 schemes. Money was recouped from those farmers who had fewer animals qualifying under the 1996 schemes. The person named was paid BSE special beef premium top-up on 50 male animals amounting to £954.00 (50 × £19.08), based on the 1995 special beef premium scheme. He had 14 less eligible male animals in 1996 and for this reason the sum of £267.12 (14 × £19.08) was recovered from his 1997 deseasonalisation slaughter premium payment. The balance of £814.50 was paid to the person named on 10 June 1997 and 3 November 1997.
