Jim Higgins
Question:170 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in the payment of area aid and extensification to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [6758/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Up to now and in accordance with the regulations the person named was paid £120 on 20 October 1998 and £24 on 30 November 1998 under the 1998 sheep headage scheme. He was paid £323.48 on 3 July 1998, £159.81 on 22 October 1998 and £205.05 on 26 February 1999 under the 1998 ewe premium scheme. Advance payments of £72.13 were made on one animal on 19 October 1998 and £72.13 on an additional animal on 8 March 1999 under the 1998 special beef premium scheme. An advance payment of 80 per cent on three suckler cows amounting to £336.55 was made on 21 October 1998 and a 20 per cent balance of £84.14 was paid on 3 February 1999. The person named was paid his full entitlement to cattle headage amounting to £324 on 20 October 1998 and £120 was paid under the 1998 winter fodder scheme on 18 December 1998.
Balancing payments under the special beef premium scheme cannot commence until all 1998 ten month applications have been examined and processed and the position of Ireland's national beef premium quota is determined.
It is intended to commence payment of the 1998 extensification premium in May-June when details of the 1998 schemes have been finalised. The person named will then be considered for payment and if his stocking density is less than 1.4 Lus-Hectare payment will issue before the end of June.
John Perry
Question:171 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a 1998 REP scheme payment will be released for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6761/99]
This case was chosen at random for a pre-payment compliance inspection. The inspection has taken place and the application is now being processed for payment.