Michael Ring
Question:133 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid the remainder of a 1997 special beef premium and BSE compensation underpayment. [15581/98]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The applicant declared 90.12 hectares on his 1997 area aid application form. Part of this land has not yet been digitised to date. In an effort to identify the location and the area of this land, maps have been sent to the person concerned, who should clarify the position as a matter of urgency. No further payments in respect of 1997 special beef premium can issue to the person named until the digitising of the land claimed is completed.
The regulations governing payment of the 1996 BSE compensation package, which was paid out in October 1996, provided for payment of top-ups in respect of animals which qualified for payment under the 1995 EU suckler cow premium scheme and 1995 EU special beef premium scheme. The regulations also provided for adjustments, upwards and downwards, later on to take account of the number of animals qualifying for payment under the 1996 EU suckler cow premium scheme and the 1996 EU special beef premium scheme. In effect the regulations require that when all balancing payments under the 1996 EU suckler cow premium scheme and 1996 EU special beef premium scheme are made a comparison is to be carried out between the number of animals qualifying for payment under the 1995 schemes and the number qualifying under the 1996 schemes. Money is to be recouped from those farmers who, had fewer animals qualifying under the 1996 schemes. The money so recouped is then to be used to make payments to those farmers who had more eligible animals under the 1996 schemes.
My Department has been in the process of recovering overpayments from those farmers in the former category and this money is to be used to make outstanding payments to farmers in the latter category. The person named had 12 more eligible animals under the 1996 special beef premium scheme and one additional suckler cow under the 1996 suckler cow premium scheme. He will, therefore, be entitled to further top-up payments on these animals. The vast majority of moneys overpaid are now recovered consequently, it is expected that payment of amounts due will commence before the end of July.
As the 1997 BSE top-up of his 1996 special beef premium was paid in advance of the final payment of 1996 special beef premium an underpayment occurred in respect of 15 animals' also arising from this was a recoupment of £57.24 from the 1997 BSE top-up of 1996 suckler cow premium. A top-up payment on these 15 animals' amounting to £150.00, £10.00 x 15, has been prepared for issue along with a refund of the £57.24 recouped in error.