Vol. 508 No. 4
138 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 243 of 23 February 1999, his attention has been drawn to the fact that if a person (details supplied) is unable to meet his financial commitments proceedings will be issued against him; if the decision made will be rescinded and partial payment released on his headage payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19095/99]
As the person named does not live within 70 miles of his disadvantaged lands he is not eligible under the terms and conditions of the 1997 and 1998 headage schemes for payment of grants. His case was reviewed by the independent headage and premia appeals unit and the decision of ineligibility was upheld.
In May 1999 the person named sought a further review of his case on the grounds that he is only in part-time employment and spends 50 per cent to 70 per cent of his time within commuting distance of his holding. The only supporting evidence he submitted was a letter from his employer stating that he works on a four-day week basis. He was asked to submit more definite evidence such as payslips showing the number of hours/days/per week that he worked in 1997 and 1998. To date no reply has been received.
The person named applied under the 1999 ewe premium scheme, the 1999 sheep headage scheme, the 1999 suckler cow premium scheme and the 1999 cattle headage scheme. Under the 1999 sheep headage scheme and the 1999 cattle headage scheme, he remains ineligible as he does not live within 70 miles of his disadvantaged lands.
Following an inspection carried out on 7 April 1999 he was ruled out of the 1999 ewe premium scheme because he failed to notify my Department's district livestock office of the change in location of his flock as required under clause 3(v) of the terms and conditions of the scheme. In addition, he failed to keep an up-to-date sheep register as required under clause 3(vi) of the terms and conditions of the scheme. He has been given the opportunity to appeal this decision by writing to my Department setting out any new facts which he wishes to put forward to support his case. Any such appeal will be considered as a matter of urgency.
His 1999 suckler cow premium scheme application is currently being examined.
