Michael Creed
Question:192 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) will be paid 1998 cattle headage grants. [27403/98]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The area aid application for the person named has been processed. Any outstanding payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Creed
Question:193 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have an investigation carried out into the application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork for beef cow grants for 38 animals; if he will have arrangements made for payment of the outstanding moneys due under this application in view of the fact payment has already only been received for 18 animals; and if there is sufficient forage area in his area aid application within the disadvantaged area to justify payment on the maximum number of animals. [27404/98]
The person named applied on 37 cows under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme and on 30 cows under the 1998 beef cow headage scheme. The 1998 area aid shows the person named to have a total of 50.80 hectares; 30.57 hectares in a less severely handicapped area and 20.23 hectares in a non-disadvantaged area. The calculation of the beef cow grant was based on the 30.57 hectares in the less severely handicapped area which entitled the person named to payment on 18.05 beef cows.
My Department is prepared to include the other seven animals in the calculation for payment of beef cow headage entitling the person named to an overall payment on 22.26 beef cows. An examination of the payment made to the person named under the 1997 beef cow scheme shows that it was based on 50.8 hectares of less severely handicapped land rather than on the 28.71 hectares of less severely handicapped land which is now shown on his 1997 area aid which was amended on 25 June 1998. Following a recalculation of his entitlement under the scheme, the person named was overpaid by £724.50 under the 1997 scheme. Consequently, the balance due of £315.52 under the 1998 beef cow scheme will be offset against this overpayment.
Payment of the 1996 beef cow grant amounting to £2,250 was based on 43.98 hectares in a less severely handicapped area and my Department is currently checking the position regarding the classification of these lands at that time and will contact the person named directly on the outcome of these enquiries.
His 1998 area aid application confirms that there is insufficient forage area within the disadvantaged area to justify payment on 30 beef cows, which is the maximum payable under the beef cow headage scheme.
Michael Creed
Question:194 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a ten month beef premium on nine animals. [27405/98]
Payment to the person named under the application in question will issue shortly.
Michael Ring
Question:196 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will rectify a departmental typographical computer error for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo which is hindering issue of urgently awaited area aid payments; and if these payments will be issued immediately upon rectification. [27426/98]
Difficulties have arisen in processing the area aid application of the person named. When these have been resolved, the application will be further processed and any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Question:197 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be issued with a flock number. [27427/98]
The application for a flock number was received on 16 October 1998. It is currently being assessed and a decision is expected to be made in the matter shortly.
The ewe premium and sheep headage scheme application periods commenced on 8 December 1998 and will close on 8 January 1999. The person named may lodge an application under these schemes if he so wishes and he should state on the application forms that he has applied for a flock number.
Michael Ring
Question:198 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will investigate discrepancies in replies from the area aid unit to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the reason incorrect information is being given out in relation to his application for area aid payment in view of the fact his application was in on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27428/98]
Difficulties have arisen in processing the area aid application of the person named. When these have been resolved, the application will be further processed.
Michael Ring
Question:200 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1998 sheep headage in view of the fact this area aid application is fully processed and his cattle headage payment has already issued. [27429/98]
Grants under the sheep headage scheme are based, inter alia, on the forage area and classification of grazings available in the disadvantaged area as indicated on an applicants 1998 area aid form. In the case in question the person named applied on 15 mountain ewes and according to area aid records the forage area available is classified as lowland grazings only. Therefore, the person named is not eligible for any payment under the scheme.
Michael Ring
Question:201 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received area aid payments in respect of 1998 cattle and sheep headage in view of the fact he replied to all area aid queries some time ago. [27430/98]
Difficulties have arisen in processing the area aid application of the person named who has been informed and the file has been sent for inspection. When the results of the inspection are received, the application will be further processed.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:202 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason there is no record by his Department of having received an area aid application from a person (details supplied) in County Kerry in spite of a certificate of postage to his Department in Tralee in May 1998. [27441/98]
There is no record of having received an area aid application from the person concerned but, as result of the certificate of postage, a copy application form has been issued to the above named for completion. As soon as the form is returned to the area aid unit it will be processed.
John Perry
Question:203 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if 1998 cattle headage and suckler cow payments will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27457/98]
Difficulties have arisen in processing the area aid application for the person named and he has been notified. When these have been resolved, any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
John Perry
Question:204 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied); if a 1998 cattle headage payment will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27458/98]
The area aid application for the person named is processed. Any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
John Perry
Question:207 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if cattle headage payments will be released in view of the fact that the opposing claimant does not have a stock or flock herd number; if a favourable decision will be made in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27462/98]
The area aid application for the person named has been processed and any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
John Perry
Question:210 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if a 1998 cattle headage payment will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27466/98]
The area aid application can only be accepted in cases which can be considered as force majeure. The person named should contact the area aid unit directly setting out the reasons the application was not submitted and his case will be considered further.
John Perry
Question:211 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if a 1998 cattle headage payment will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27467/98]
The area aid application for the person named is currently being finalised. When this has been completed any outstanding payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:212 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to a headage grant application for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [27476/98]
The area aid application for the person named is currently being finalised. When this has been completed any outstanding payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Jim Higgins
Question:213 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in a headage payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Galway in view of the fact that new map and documentation have been submitted to his Department. [27477/98]
The area aid application for the person concerned has been processed. An overclaim exists on one of the parcels declared and I have arranged for a map to issue to the person concerned to clarify the situation. Pending resolution of this overclaim, payments have issued based on a reduced area of 30.97 hectares.
Michael Creed
Question:214 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to the fodder scheme. [27478/98]
All sheep farmers with mountain grazings and suckler cow producers and small dairy farmers in the worst affected district electoral divisions are covered by the fodder scheme. The person (details supplied) is not eligible under the criteria of the scheme.
Dick Spring
Question:216 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a suckler cow grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and when an outstanding amount from 1997 in respect of area aid will be paid. [27491/98]
The person named applied for 21 suckler cows under the 1997 small scale suckler cow premium scheme. He had a total of 27 cows and held a milk quota on 1 April 1997 for 10,544 gallons. Based on the fact that the applicant applied as a small scale milk supplier it required 11.75 livestock units (10,544 gallons divided by the average national yield of 897 gallons per cow) cows to fill the milk quota. He was paid suckler cow premium on the remaining 15.25 suckler cows.
Subsequently it was brought to the attention of my Department that the person named applied for the small scale milk suppliers scheme in error and should have applied for the main suckler cow premium scheme. On checking it was confirmed that the person named is not a milk supplier and is therefore eligible for payment on a total of 21 cows as he has 21 quota rights.
Arrangements are now being made to have payment issued on 5.75 suckler cows as soon as possible (5.75 being the balance on 21 animals less the 15.25 already paid).
The forage area credited to this herdowner for 1997 is 18.25 hectares. The total livestock units (LUs) for 1997 was 32.75 (21 LUs for cows paid + 11.75 LUs required for milk quota held by the herdowner on 1 April 1997 as all milk quota held at this date must be taken into account in calculating stocking density). To arrive at stocking density figures the total livestock units credited to herdowner is divided by the area of land held .— in this case this translates as 32.75 ÷ 18.25 = 1.79. Extensification premium is only paid to qualifying producers who have a stocking density of less than 1.4 LU per hectare therefore in this case as the stocking density of the person named is not less than 1.4 LUs per hectare he has no entitlement to extensification premium for 1997.
This herdowner received an 80 per cent advance payment under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme on 21 suckler cows amounting to £2,355.86 on 3 November 1998.