Michael Ring
Question:115 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was not paid cattle headage on 24 animals as per his application. [10766/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named applied on 24 animals under the 1998 cattle headage scheme. At an inspection carried out on 17 August 1998, two animals were found to have lost their eartags. Under clause 19 (c) of the terms and conditions governing the scheme, no payment can be made on any animal found to have lost its eartag. He was advised of this in writing on the date of the inspection and was given the opportunity to appeal this decision within seven days. As the person named did not appeal, payment of his entitlement of £653.60 under the 1998 cattle headage scheme, based on 22 animals, issued on 10 December 1998.
The person named submitted his application under the 1998 cattle headage scheme on 16 June 1998 so payment was subject to a 7 per cent late application penalty in accordance with clause 18 of the terms and conditions of the scheme.
Dinny McGinley
Question:116 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a further payment of 1998 sheep headage will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [10788/99]
Payment of the balance of the 1998 sheep headage will be made to the person named shortly.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:117 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a fodder grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [10806/99]
The person named held a milk quota and was in active milk production in 1998. His winter fodder scheme grants based on his milk quota have already issued to his co-operative for payment with his April 1999 milk cheque.
He did not apply for grants under the 1998 suckler cow and ewe premium schemes and does not, therefore, qualify for winter fodder scheme grants under these aspects of the scheme.
Willie Penrose
Question:118 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the balance of 20 per cent on 1998 beef premia and extensification premia due to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10807/99]
Balancing payments on 1998 special beef premium will commence within the next few weeks. Extensification premium payments will follow as soon as possible thereafter.
Gerry Reynolds
Question:119 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cavan will receive 1998 cattle headage. [10896/99]
Following inspections of the herd and land of the person named on 4 August 1998, and 14 November 1998 it was discovered that his cattle were intermixing with those of another herd. Where two or more applicants under the livestock schemes are associated, my Department must be satisfied, in accordance with EU regulations, that their farming enterprises are operated as separate individual economic units before individual grants can be paid.
My Department wrote to the person named on 12 February 1999 advising him that his herd would be amalgamated for grant purposes under the 1998 cattle headage scheme with that of the registered herdowner of the other herd. The person named has appealed against this decision and his case is currently under review. He will be notified of the outcome as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Question:120 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a top up payment of his suckler cow premium. [10908/99]
The above named herdowner submitted an incomplete area aid application form, in that the total area claimed did not correspond with the sum of the parcels. The area aid unit wrote to the applicant in this connection and appropriate changes were made to his application. However, the processing of the amended application gave rise to a dual claim on one of the parcels. Both dual claim applicants have been written to in order to resolve this issue. No further payments can issue until these outstanding matters have been resolved.
Dan Neville
Question:121 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a REP scheme payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [10922/99]
Payment issued to the person concerned on 16 April 1999.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Question:122 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of payments provided for in the CAP allocations to Ireland for the years 2000 to 2006 relating to cattle headage, sheep headage, sheep premia and suckler cow grants in disadvantaged areas; and if these EU payments will be supplemented by payments from the Exchequer. [10923/99]
The agreement on CAP reform, which was finalised at the European Council in Berlin on 24-26 March 1999, contained no specific allocations to member states under Agenda 2000 relating to sheep premia, suckler cow grants or compensatory allowances, which include cattle headage and sheep headage.
As far as the suckler cow and the ewe premiums are concerned, payments under these schemes will depend both on the level of applications and the rate of premium in the year in question. In the case of the suckler cow scheme, the rate of premium will increase in three equal stages from 169.15 euro in 1999 to 214.15 euro in 2002. It is important to note that the suckler cow quota for this country was protected in the negotiations. The rate of the ewe premium will vary in accordance with market prices.
The agreement on CAP reform also covered the continuation of EU aid to farmers for certain structural measures, including compensatory allowances.
There are, however, two important changes as regards the implementation of this measure in the coming period. Compensatory allowances will be payable on a hectare basis rather than on each animal and they will be met from the guarantee rather than the guidance side of the EAGGF (European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund).
My Department is at present examining what might be the best approach in transferring to the new system. As regards funding, the council agreed to the broad rural development budget for the union as a whole, an average of 4.7 billion Euro annually over the seven year period 2000-2006. It is expected that the EU Commission will shortly decide on indicative allocations for individual member states for a package of rural development measures which for Ireland would include aid for the environment, REPS, early retirement, compensatory allowances and forestry. It would then be up to member states to submit a proposal for formal approval to the Commission on a balanced allocation of these funds to the various measures.
It is a general requirement under the structural funds and guarantee fund regulations that EU structural funding is also supported by national Exchequer resources. The level of such resources can only be considered in the light of the indicative allocation Ireland receives from the European Union.