Vol. 509 No. 6
274 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 138 of 6 October 1999, his Department will examine the case of a person (details supplied); if headage payment will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21802/99]
The position with regard to the eligibility of the person named under the 1997 and 1998 headage schemes remains unchanged from that given in my reply of 6 October 1999.
The person named applied under the 1999 sheep headage and ewe premium schemes. At an inspection carried out on 7 April 1999, part of the flock was found at undeclared grazings, the person named failed when requested by the inspector to provide documentary evidence of sales and purchases, and the sheep register was not kept up-to-date. He was written to on 1 October 1999 and advised that under clauses 9(v) and 15(c) of the 1999 sheep headage scheme and clause 3(v) and 3(vi) of the 1999 ewe premium scheme he would not receive any payments under those schemes. He has been given the opportunity to appeal this decision by writing to my Department setting out any facts which he wishes to put forward to support his case. Any such appeal will be considered as a matter of urgency.
The applications of the person named under the 1999 cattle headage and suckler cow premium schemes are being examined at present.
275 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all difficulties regarding the tag digits on the animals that have been imported for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be resolved; the reason a new card has not been issued for these animals; if a suckler cow payment will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21803/99]
A new card has not issued in this case as the result of a Leucosis test which the herdowner was requested to carry out in respect of the imported animals has not yet been received. The herdowner is again being contacted concerning the test. It is expected that the payment of the suckler cow premium will be made within the next ten days.
276 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all outstanding area aid problems for a person (details supplied) will be resolved; if a cattle headage pay ment will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21804/99]
In 1998 a dual claim was determined on one of the parcels claimed by this herdowner. Following contact with the herdowner it was determined that he was not in possession of this particular parcel for the requisite minimum period, to have declared it as eligible for forage payments. Under Article 9 of EU regulation 3887/92, no penalty is applied when the difference is less than 3 per cent, the penalty is based on double the difference when it is between 3 per cent and 20 per cent and when the difference is over 20 per cent, a 100 per cent penalty must be applied. This is a 100 per cent penalty case. The applicant has been so informed.
The 1999 area aid application submitted by the herdowner named was incomplete in that it did not include all necessary maps. The applicant has been contacted in this regard, and his application cannot be processed until the necessary material is furnished.
277 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all outstanding area aid problems for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be resolved; if a cattle headage payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21805/99]
There was a problem with the above named applicant's 1999 area aid application, in that a number of applicants were claiming on the same parcel of commonage land. This matter has been examined and resolved in favour of the above named. Any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
278 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all outstanding area aid problems for a person (details supplied) will be resolved; if a cattle headage payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21806/99]
The 1999 area aid application submitted by the herdowner named was incomplete in that it did not include all necessary maps. The applicant has been contacted in this regard. No payments can issue until all outstanding issues have been resolved.
279 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all outstanding area aid problems for a person (details supplied) will be resolved; if a sheep headage payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21807/99]
The applicant in question submitted 21.33 hectares on his 1999 area aid application. Following processing of his application only 20.94 hectares were found. This represents a difference of 0.39 hectares or 1.86 per cent between the area determined and that found after processing. Under article 9 of EU regulation 3887/92, no penalty is applied when the difference is less than 3 per cent, the penalty is based on double the difference when it is between 3 per cent and 20 per cent and when the difference is over 20 per cent, a 100 per cent penalty must be applied. Therefore any payments due will be based on an area of 20.94 hectares and will issue as soon as possible.
In respect of his area aid for 1998, there are however still outstanding problems, which my Department is examining. The applicant has already been contacted in this regard.
280 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all outstanding area aid problems for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be resolved; if a cattle headage payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21808/99]
The applicant in question submitted 14.59 hectares on his 1998 area aid application. Following processing of his application only 14.00 hectares were found. This represents a difference of 0.59 hectares or 4.21 per cent between the area claimed and determined after processing. Under Article 9 of EU Regulation 3887/92, no penalty is applied when the difference is less than 3 per cent, the penalty is based on double the difference when it is between 3 per cent and 20 per cent and when the difference is over 20 per cent, a 100 per cent penalty must be applied. Therefore, payments were based on an area determined of 12.82 hectares.
In 1999 the applicant in question submitted 8.75 hectares on his area aid application. Following processing of his application only 8.16 hectares were found. This represents a difference of 0.59 hectares or 7.23 per cent between the area claimed and that determined. Therefore, under article 9 as already outlined above any payments due will be calculated on an area determined of 6.98 hectares.
281 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all outstanding area aid problems for a person (details supplied) will be resolved; if a suckler cow payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21809/99]
The person named submitted a 1999 area aid application for 43.51 hectares and applied on 41 suckler cows under the 1999 suckler cow scheme. In relation to the area aid application a discrepancy was discovered which has now been cleared. The accepted area is 43.38 hectares. All outstanding issues relating to the 1999 suckler cow application have been resolved and payment of his entitlement will issue within two weeks.
282 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all outstanding area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if a cattle headage payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21810/99]
The person named included one single parcel of land totalling 14.97 hectares in his 1999 area aid application. Subsequent amendments to the Department's electronic mapping database showed the correct area of the parcel to be 14.11 hectares.
This represents a difference of 0.86 hectares or 6.09 per cent between the area claimed and that determined. Under article 9 of EU regulation 3887/92, no penalty is applied when the difference is less than 3 per cent, the penalty is based on double the difference when it is between 3 per cent and 20 per cent and when the difference is over 20 per cent, a 100 per cent penalty must be applied.
Therefore in this case a penalty of 1.72 hectares has been applied leaving the area determined at 12.39 hectares. Any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
