Vol. 491 No. 3
223 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his balancing payments for the 1997 suckler cow and special beef premium in view of the fact that the delay is causing hardship. [12251/98]
The applicant declared 120.65 hectares on his 1997 area aid application form. The maps which accompanied the application form have been digitised and validated against aerial photography. The digitised area amounted only to 73.96 hectares. In an effort to reconcile this overclaim, maps of the digitised area were sent to the person concerned in early March 1998, for examination and return with a view to completing the processing of this application. There has been no reply to date from the person named. Consequently the Department has no option but to apply a 100 per cent penalty on all area aid based payments. The person is being so informed, but will be afforded a final opportunity to regularise his application.
224 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in having payment under the cow suckler scheme made to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [12252/98]
The person named applied for 20 cows on the 30 October 1997 under the suckler cow premium scheme. On initial examination it was found that one of the cows applied on was also applied on by another producer. Further checks were necessary to establish eligibility of the animal in question together with the other cows on the claim. Checking is now completed and arrangements have been made to ensure payment issues within the next two weeks.
225 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress, if any, to date on the appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in relation to his 1995 beef cow headage application. [12253/98]
The herdowner lodged an appeal on 26 August 1997 concerning his 1995 beef cow headage application. His appeal is currently being examined and it is expected that it will be concluded shortly. The herdowner will be notified of the outcome.
226 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if arrangements will be made to pay the 1997 ewe premium to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in view of the fact that the area aid application was not submitted because it was in his Department with his brother's application and they have all their sheep on the same land; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12254/98]
Payment of ewe premium has issued in respect of the person named, including the rural world element. However, as the person named did not submit an area aid application, he was not entitled to the rural world element of the payment and this will accordingly be deducted from any future payments that may fall due to him.
