Michael Ring
Question:158 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive remaining 1998 headage and premia payments. [19610/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
An area aid application form was not received from the person named by the closing date for receipt of appli cations of 15 May 1998. However, on the basis of the postal certificate submitted in May 1999, it was agreed that a late application would be accepted. The area aid application for the person named was subsequently processed, and some payments were made.
While the person named applied on 30 suckler cows under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme, payment is based on his suckler cow quota of 26 cows. At the time payments under this scheme commenced last year, my Department did not have any record of an area aid application in respect of the person named. As EU regulations provide that a person may qualify for payment of premia up to a maximum of 15 livestock units where there is not a valid area aid application, the person named was initially paid his grants under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme based on 15 suckler cows. He was paid an 80 per cent advance of £1,564.97 on 15 January 1999 and the balance of £391.24 on 3 February 1999, with both amounts subject to a 7 per cent late application penalty because the composite application form for suckler cow premium and cattle headage was received seven working days after the official closing date. A supplementary payment of £1,434.55 will now issue in respect of the remaining 11 suckler cows.
The person named was paid his full entitlement of £2,287.19 under the 1998 cattle headage scheme on 13 May 1999. The grant was subject to a 7 per cent late application penalty and to forage area limits as set out in clause 27 of the terms and conditions governing the scheme. He was paid his full entitlement of £722.02 under the 1998 extensification premium scheme on 15 June 1999.
Michael Ring
Question:159 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a problem has arisen on a 1999 area aid application for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo particularly in view of the fact it took several months for his 1998 area aid application to be processed. [19611/99]
In 1998 the delay in processing this person's area aid application arose because he and another area aid applicant both claimed a particular parcel of land. Both dual claim applicants were contacted in order to resolve this issue. The dual claim was subsequently resolved in this herdowner's favour.
In 1999 this farmer changed his area declared under the area aid scheme from that which had been claimed in 1998. The changes outlined by the farmer on his map are now being processed, following which payments will be made.
Michael Ring
Question:160 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1999 cattle and sheep headage. [19612/99]
Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development
(Mr. Walsh): In 1999 this farmer changed his area declared under the area aid scheme from that which had been claimed in 1998. The changes outlined by the farmer on his map are now being processed, following which payments will be made.