Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1999

Vol. 504 No. 2

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Question:

156 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 272 of 20 April 1999, the reason the incorrect information was provided regarding headage and premia payments for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact he never received a letter from the area aid unit enclosing maps and requesting him to indicate precise commonage shares and submit evidence; and the steps, if any, his Department will take to ensure that payment issues. [11636/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

As stated in my reply to a previous question on Tuesday 20 April 1999 a difficulty arose on the area aid application of the person named concerning his claim in relation to commonage entitlement. In order to resolve this matter, my Department wrote to all the parties concerned, on 5 February 1999, including the person named, enclosing maps and requesting them to indicate their precise commonage shares, and to submit evidence of their entitlement to the commonage shares claimed by them. My Department was unaware that the person concerned had not received the request for evidence of entitlement to the commonage claim and I have made arrangements for a further letter and maps to be issued to him.

Theresa Ahearn

Question:

158 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of area aid application forms outstanding from south Tipperary on the closing date of 25 April 1999; the allowances, if any, which will be made for farmers who cannot meet the deadline date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11648/99]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

The closing date for applications for the 1999 area aid scheme was 23 April 1999. Some 132,700 application forms were issued by my Department to those herdowners who had submitted an area aid application form in 1998. Until all of the applications received by 23 April 1999 have been registered, it is not possible to say how many pre-printed applications were not returned. Under EU regulations any applications received after the closing date will incur a penalty deduction of 1 per cent of any aid payable for each working day that the application is late up to 25 days. Where an application is more than 25 calendar days late, no aid will be payable.