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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 6 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 4

Written Answers. - Agricultural Schemes.

Willie Penrose

Question:

234 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he will take to simplify the application form for the various premia and subsidies in order to reduce the risk of errors; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18774/98]

The complexity of EU regulations requires quite detailed application forms under all headage and premia schemes. My Department has always endeavoured in consultation with the farming organisations, to simplify in so far as is possible application forms, help sheets, terms and conditions under each of the headage and premia schemes.

All application forms are pre-printed with applicants name, address and herdnumber. The 1998 area aid application form had pre-printed data which was submitted by the applicant in the previous year. If there were no changes to the data, as printed, the herdowner was requested to tick a few questions and sign the application before returning it to the area aid unit. Under the 1998 cattle headage and beef cow schemes farmers with untagged calves were advised to notify the Department of the position at application stage and to provide the tag numbers before 26 June 1998. A special notification issued to farmers with their 1998 applications advising them of the changes in the qualifying criteria for a beef cow under the 1998 cattle headage-beef cow schemes. Application forms, help sheets and check lists under these schemes and the suckler cow premium scheme were available from the end of April 1998 — over a month before the closing date to enable the farmer complete the form and have it lodged on time. The closing date for receipt of applications was 29 May 1998 which was extended to 5 June due to the problems encountered by a number of farmers who wished to purchase cows to fill their suckler cow quota.

Application forms were examined when lodged and any errors arising from initial system checking were notified to farmers through computer generated query letters under the 1998 cattle headage-beef cow and suckler cow premium schemes.

Under the 1998 special beef premium scheme a ready reckoner under the old and new tagging system was incorporated in the application form to enable the farmer to calculate when his animal would become eligible for premium.

As is normally the case, farmers were again assisted by local office staff when completing their 1998 application forms so as to minimise errors during the processing of applications.
The whole process of trying to make all applications as user friendly as possible is an ongoing one and any valid recommendations which comply with the EU Regulations governing the schemes concerned, will be taken on board for the 1999 schemes.
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