Jimmy Deenihan
Question:111 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a REP scheme payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22810/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
A third year REPS payment issued to the person named on 19 October 1999.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:112 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the deciding factor in the acceptance of split holdings for grant payments or for participation in the REP scheme. [22819/99]
In so far as the EU headage and premium schemes are concerned the position is that, since the CAP reform arrangements were introduced in 1992, restrictions are in place in a number of EU funded schemes which limit the size of the claim or restricts eligibility to certain categories of farmer. These limits and restrictions arise from policy decisions within the framework of the Common Agricultural Policy.
Effectively this requires that the Department must satisfy itself that where new holdings are created after 30 June 1992, they are in fact legitimate entities managed separately from existing holdings and that holdings which existed prior to 30 June 1992 are not split into two or more holdings with the sole purpose of avoiding individual limits on eligibility for premiums. Each case is decided on its merits and the deciding factors are similar to those for REPS. Where a farmer is dissatisfied with a decision there is provision for review and appeal.
For the purpose of the REP scheme operators of farms sharing some or all of the following characteristics – farm ownership and management, farm dwellings, herd numbers, IACS returns, farm accounts or tax returns – are deemed to be farming as one unit unless evidence is provided to the contrary.
Each case is examined on its own merits. The matter may be further investigated in an onfarm inspection which examines, inter alia, factors including mixing of animals, facilities for handling and wintering stock, farm boundaries and area aid applications.
Following this investigation the inspector forms an opinion whether the land is farmed as one unit or otherwise. Matters arising from the investigation relevant to the case will be considered formally at headquarters. A decision is made based on the inspector's report and an examination of relevant documentation.
Pádraic McCormack
Question:113 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the basis for the decision not to grant 1999 sheep headage to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22820/99]
Pádraic McCormack
Question:114 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in the issuing of a flock number to a person (details supplied) in County Gal way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22821/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 113 and 114 together.
The person named applied for a flock number in September 1998 and submitted an application for ewe premium and sheep headage in January 1999. Normal procedure up to now has been to process applications for flock numbers when new applicants are being inspected for ewe premium and sheep headage. The applicant's flock in this case was inspected on 15 April 1999 following which his eligibility for sheep headage was brought into question. To be eligible for headage an applicant must, inter alia, be resident within 70 miles of his disadvantaged areas land. The applicant was informed that as he was resident in Dublin he would not qualify for headage. It also transpired that the person named had applied to join REPS. As his eligibility under REPS has not been established the processing of his application for a flock number was delayed. However a decision in relation to his eligibility for a flock number will be made very soon.