Vol. 505 No. 6
116 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the application under the REP scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Carlow will be approved at an early date in view of the appeal submitted in relation to his application. [14553/99]
The person concerned received a fourth year REPS payment on 24 May 1999. A 10 per cent penalty was deducted from the payment for non-compliance. The applicant lodged an appeal against the penalty imposed, to my Department's appeal committee, on 28 May 1999. This is currently being processed by the committee.
117 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to an extensification payment for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal in view of the fact the maps issued appear to confuse land owners holdings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14554/99]
The above named did not qualify for extensification payments in 1997 as his stocking density was 1.40 livestock units per hectare. The stocking density must be under 1.40 livestock units per hectare in order to qualify for extensification payments.
The mix up of the maps related to the 1998 area aid application for the above named. The problem was that the wrong townland was digitised on the area aid mapping system. Following contact by the area aid unit, this problem has been resolved. Overclaims have been determined on three land parcels allocated to this herdowner. The applicant has been written to in this regard. Any extensification payments due for 1998 will issue as soon as possible.
118 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a hardship grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has had two clear tests to his herd and has been told he is still restricted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14556/99]
An essential prerequisite for eligibility under the TB and brucellosis eradication hardship arrangements is that the holding of the herdowner in question remains restricted following a full herd retest. The eligibility period for the 1998-99 hardship grant scheme was 1 November 1998 to 30 April 1999.
Following the disclosure of a TB lesion on 11 December 1998, the holding of the person named was restricted on 15 December 1998. The herd was scheduled for a balance of herd test on 21 February 1999 with a full herd re-test at a later date. However the herdowner deferred the balance of herd test scheduled for 21 February 1999 until 18 May 1999, which is outside the eligibility period of the 1998-99 hardship grant scheme. The herdowner concerned is not, therefore, entitled to any hardship grant payment as a key payment criterion was not met.
