Michael Ring
Question:179 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1998 headage. [4011/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Without a valid area aid application for the relevant year, headage payments cannot issue to a herdowner. The person named did not submit an area aid application in 1998 and consequently payments cannot issue in respect of a 1998 cattle headage application.
Michael Ring
Question:180 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a fodder compensation payment. [4012/99]
The person named is one of a small number of sheep headage applicants who were not paid a fodder supplement by 31 December 1998 due to problems in identifying certain eligible mountain grazing. These cases are currently under examination with a view to making any outstanding fodder payments due as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Question:181 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a 1998 cattle headage. [4014/99]
The person named cannot be paid any grants under the 1998 cattle headage scheme at present as he is not the registered herdowner as required under the terms and conditions governing the scheme. The person named should apply to his local district veterinary office to be registered as a herdowner and when registration is completed his application under the 1998 scheme will be further considered.
Michael Ring
Question:182 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1998 cattle and sheep headage; and the reason for the delay in issuing these payments. [4015/99]
There was a problem with a parcel of land on the area aid application of the person concerned. This has been resolved and any headage payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Question:183 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive the remainder of 1998 winter fodder compensation in view of the fact he was only paid on two animals when he has a quota of ten suckler cows. [4016/99]
In order to qualify under the 1998 winter fodder scheme a producer had to have (a) mountain grazing and have an application submitted under the 1998 sheep headage scheme or (b) a herd number in one of the designated DEDs and have lodged an application under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme and hold a suckler cow quota or have a permanent milk quota of 35,000 gallons or less on 1 April 1998 and be active in milk production in the 1998-99 season.
The person named holds a quota for only two suckler cows and was paid his full entitlement of £80 on 18 December 1998 under the winter fodder scheme 1998. This payment was calculated – in accordance with the winter fodder scheme criteria – on the basis of £40 each in respect of the two suckler cows paid under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme. The person named did not have a milk quota on 1 April 1998 nor did he submit an application for sheep headage in 1998.
Michael Ring
Question:184 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a cattle headage payment. [4019/99]
There was a problem with a parcel of land on the area aid application of the person concerned. This has been resolved and any headage payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Question:185 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received a REP scheme payment; and when will he be paid under this scheme. [4020/99]
This application was subject to an on farm inspection including a detailed examination of the agri-environment plan. An issue has arisen in relation to the title to the holding and the applicant has been asked to provide further documentation to clarify the matter.
No payment can issue until this matter has been satisfactorily resolved.
Michael Ring
Question:186 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be included for urgent assistance under the fodder scheme. [4021/99]
In order to qualify under the 1998 winter fodder scheme a producer had to have (a) mountain grazing and have an application submitted under the 1998 sheep headage scheme or (b) a herd number in one of the designated DEDs and have lodged an application under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme and hold a suckler cow quota or (c) have a permanent milk quota of 35,000 gallons or less on 1 April 1998 and be active in milk production in the 1998-99 season.
The person named was not an applicant under the 1998 suckler cow premium or sheep headage schemes and he did not hold a milk quota at 1 April 1998 and will, therefore, not qualify for assistance under the fodder scheme.
As the Deputy is aware the Government has decided to provide further aid to alleviate the fodder crisis. The details of this measure are being finalised and will be announced shortly.
Gerry Reynolds
Question:187 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will receive a 1997 extensification grant. [4022/99]
Extensification premium payments based on the 1997 suckler cow premium application of the person named have been authorised and will issue shortly.
Willie Penrose
Question:188 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be paid a 1998 REP scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4033/99]
The person concerned received his third year REPS payment on 18 September 1998. He lodged a fourth year application on 10 February 1999 and this is currently being examined by officials of my Department.