Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 1

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Question:

84 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the steps, if any, he will take to get re-calculation of EU ewe premium and rural world premium rates to a regional basis to take account of Ireland's lamb prices in comparison to French prices and to make the scheme more equitable. [23915/99]

Michael Ring

Question:

85 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans, if any, he has to seek the removal of sheep from the extensification calculations. [23916/99]

Michael Creed

Question:

90 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the progress made regarding the calculation of the EU ewe premium and the rural world premium on a regional basis to take account of the differential between continental sheep prices and those applying here and in Britain. [23792/99]

Michael Creed

Question:

91 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the progress, if any, made on the removal of sheep from extensification calculations in view of the crisis in the sheepmeat sector. [23793/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 84, 85, 90 and 91 together.

I accept that there are a number of deficiencies in the ewe premium system. One of the deficiencies which has been identified is its failure to take account of the fact that prices are much higher in some member states than others. To introduce more equity into the system, I have suggested that a supplementary ewe premium should be introduced in member states where market prices remain consistently below the EU average by a certain percentage. Such an arrangement would provide some assurance to producers that they will be protected from the consequences of difficult market situations. This proposal has not been accepted by the Commission or other member states in the past both because of the cost involved and because of the concern that such a system could be used by Irish processors as an effective export subsidy on the EU market.

Another deficiency in the ewe premium system is the non-payment of an extensification premium on ewes in spite of the fact that they are included in the calculation of stocking density for the premium. The Commission view on this issue is that the rural world premium takes the place of the extensification premium in the sheep sector and, accordingly, that there is no justification for its introduction.

I have made strong representations to Commissioner Fischler over the years and most recently earlier this week on the need for the sheepmeat regime to be reformed to address these issues. Apart from the UK, there was no support from other member states. The Commissioner indicated that they intend to review the current regime next year. I intend to press the Commission on these issues.

Finally, I also wish to point out that payments to sheep farmers including premiums and headage in 1999 and which make an important contribution to sheep farmers incomes are expected to amount to almost £130 million.

Jim Higgins

Question:

86 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received headage and suckler cow payments. [23779/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The person named submitted an incomplete 1999 area aid application form. He did not indicate the areas of parcels of land included in his application and did not provide proof of his entitlement to claim on commonage parcels.

He was contacted in this regard and has since provided details of the relevant parcels and proof of commonage to the area aid unit. The parcel details are currently being entered onto the Department's electronic database, and any payments due will issue shortly.

Michael Ring

Question:

87 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1999 headage payments in view of the fact that his forage area is identical to the area on his 1998 area aid application. [23789/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The person named amended his original 1999 area aid application to include two new plots. These are currently being entered on the Department's electronic database. When this process has been completed any payments due will issue.

Michael Ring

Question:

88 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason the land of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was re-classified as lowland when it had always qualified for mountain ewe sheep headage; and if the person was notified of this re-classification. [23790/99]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The land in question was re-classified from mountain to lowland in 1996 following a survey of the area. The applicant was therefore not paid sheep headage grants on mountain ewes in 1998 and 1999 because it is a condition of the sheep headage scheme that mountain breeding ewes must be substantially maintained on mountain grazings. However, I am having this particular case re-investigated in view of the fact that the person concerned was not a first time applicant for sheep headage in 1998 and was not notified of the change in the classification of the land in question. I will revert to the Deputy as soon as the investigation is completed.