Vol. 489 No. 6
297 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have the area aid problems resolved for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the fact that they have been ongoing for the last number of years and all the correct necessary documentation has been lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8966/98]
298 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have a beef premium top-up paid to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the fact that he has to wait for his payments despite having all the correct documentation lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8968/98]
299 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have suckler cow payment made to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the fact that he has to wait for his payments despite having all the correct documentation lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8967/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 297, 298 and 299 together.
Maps have been received from the person concerned and the necessary digitising should be completed within the next two weeks. The processing of the area aid application will then be finalised and any outstanding payments will be issued.
301 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for a delay in payment of a premium to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8974/98]
Maps have been received from the person concerned and the necessary digitising should be completed within the next two weeks. The processing of the area aid application will then be finalised and any outstanding payments will be issued.
303 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a beef premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in view of the fact that there is special hardship and that the family need the money as a matter of urgency. [8977/98]
Before the special beef premia payments can issue the 4.05 hectares of forage area declared by the person concerned on his 1996 area aid application form has to be validated by the land parcel identification system (LPIS).
The forage area declared in 1996 and outlined on the maps which accompanied the area aid application form has been digitised and validated against aerial photography. The digitised area amounted to 1.56 hectares. In order to reconcile this apparent overclaim, I have arranged for maps of the digitised area to be sent to the person concerned for examination. When the maps have been returned, duly amended, the case will be finalised and any outstanding payments will issue.
304 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have arrangements made for payment of the balance of a ten month special beef premium for 1997 to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny where the card omitted with the application has since been submitted. [8978/98]
The application in question was submitted by the person named on 28 August 1997, and payments have issued as follows — 1st advance on 10 March 1998 amounting to £54.10 and the 2nd advance on 20 April 1998 amounting to £108.20. Balancing payments are due to commence during May 1998.
305 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have arrangements made for top-up payment of £41 under the 1997 slaughter premium to a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [8979/98]
It is expected that a payable order for £656.64 will issue in the coming days.
306 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have examinations made into the situation at his Department in Limerick. [8980/98]
Because of the anticipated closure of this scheme, a large number of applications were received in the last weeks of its operation. These are being dealt with in order of receipt.
My Department will keep the staffing situation under review and I can assure the Deputy that available staff resources will continue to be used to best effect to meet the needs of farmers.
307 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason payments of suckler cow and beef premium are still held up for a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [8981/98]
The area aid application for the person concerned has been fully processed and cleared for payment. Any outstanding payments should issue in the near future.
