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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 28 Apr 1998

Vol. 490 No. 2

Written Answers - Grant Payments.

John Ellis

Question:

142 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his Department has investigated the reason a cheque, which issued for a REP scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim, has not been received; and the action, if any, he proposes to take on the matter. [10020/98]

A cheque for the sum of £2,077.12 was issued to this applicant on 13 January 1997 in respect of his first year payment under REPS. The cheque was cashed on 31 January 1997.

Michael Ring

Question:

151 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when an appeal for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be finalised in view of the fact that it was lodged on 31 October 1997. [10031/98]

The herdowner lodged an appeal on 3 November 1997 concerning his 1997 ewe premium sheep headage application. Appeals are dealt with in the order in which they are received and require individual examination. It is expected that this appeal will be dealt with in the near future and the herdowner will be notified of the outcome.

Ulick Burke

Question:

153 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on whether interest should be applied when his Department is late in making payments in view of the fact that his Department charges interest in relation to penalties applied in the REP scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10082/98]

In so far as payments under the various EU headage and premia schemes are concerned the position is that under EU regulations governing the bovine premia schemes, payments cannot commence until 1 November each year and even then only a 60 per cent advance payment can be made. The regulations provide that balancing payments must be made by 30 June of the year following the year of application. There is a tolerance representing 4 per cent of the total amount paid by 30 June which can be used to make payments outside the 30 June deadline in duly justified exceptional circumstances. Generally, payments made after 30 June of the year following the year of application and which do not come within the 4 per cent tolerance are not funded by the EU and any such payments must be funded totally by the Exchequer. The regulations do not provide for the payment of interest in respect of payments made outside the deadline of 30 June of the year following the year of application.

In so far as the disadvantaged areas headage schemes are concerned, these are 65 per cent co-financed by the EU but the regulations do not stipulate a payment deadline. In Ireland we try to ensure that full payment is made in eligible cases in the year of application.

In the charter of rights for farmers my Department has set out certain target dates for making payments under the various schemes. In general the target dates are well ahead of the EU requirements. With the exception of a relatively small number of applicants who have problems with their 1997 area aid applications my Department is on target to meet the payment deadlines set down in the charter of rights for farmers.

Last week I announced revised arrangements for dealing with the remaining 1997 problem area aid cases giving priority to those cases which are holding up some balancing payments under the 1997 special beef premium and suckler cow premium. I am confident that the arrangements which I have put in place will lead to resolving the outstanding issues and that the outstanding payments will be made within the EU deadline.

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