Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Jun 1998

Vol. 492 No. 7

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

John Perry

Question:

149 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have the area aid problems of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo resolved and have his ewe premium paid in view of the fact that he received his first payment of £227.17 in July 1997 and his second payment of £88.28 in November 1997 and has not yet received his third and final payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14782/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The position is that the rural world premium element of ewe premium payable to producers in disadvantaged areas is only payable where a valid area aid application has been lodged with the Department's area aid section at Hume House, Ballsbridge, Dublin 4. This is a strict EU requirement which the Department is obliged to comply with and which was highlighted on the 1997 sheep schemes application form, terms and conditions and accompanying helpsheet.

As there is no record in my Department of a 1997 area aid application having been received from the person named he did not qualify for the rural world element of the 1997 ewe premium but as he already received the rural world instalment with the first instalment of the ewe premium this payment was recouped from the final instalment of the 1997 ewe premium. This position was set out in a letter which issued to the person named on 25 March 1998.