Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 14 Dec 1999

Vol. 512 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Michael Ring

Question:

169 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 24 November 1999, the reason incorrect information issued in respect of persons (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact they have now received additional maps from his Department when it had been stated that the applications were fully processed and Department officials called to the individuals involved in 1998 and physically walked the land to clear up the dual claim difficulty; and when payment will be made. [26993/99]

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

As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 69 of 24 November 1999, the 1999 area aid applications for the persons named have now been fully processed. The maps referred to by the Deputy had been issued prior to 24 November but it was possible to clear the case by reference to the inspection carried out in 1998. Cattle headage and suckler cow payments have already issued in these cases.

John Ellis

Question:

170 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if arrears of cattle headage and a premia will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo. [26994/99]

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

The herd number quoted is not the herd number of the person named.

No applications were received by my Department under the 1999 headage or premia scheme under the herd number of the person named. The last applications submitted by the person named were in respect of the 1993 sheep headage scheme, cattle headage scheme, ewe premium scheme, suckler cow premium scheme and special beef premium scheme. He was paid in full under each of these applications.

An area aid application was not received from the person named in 1999.

Dinny McGinley

Question:

171 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when cattle headage will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [26995/99]

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

As stated in my reply of 23 November 1999 to Parliamentary Question No. 127, one of the parcels claimed by the person named in his 1999 area aid application overlaps with a parcel of land claimed by another applicant. The person named was contacted in this regard and in his reply clarified the position by including a map showing what the correct position is. This information has now been entered on to the Department's electronic database.

The person named was paid his full entitlement of £987.33 under the 1999 cattle headage scheme on 28 September 1999. The grant was calculated in accordance with clause 26 of the terms and conditions governing the scheme which provides that an applicant qualifying for disadvantaged areas beef cow and sheep headage grants may not receive more than £89.62 per hectare of the total forage area and not more than £55.99 per forage hectare in respect of other headage grants subject to an overall stocking rate of 1.4 livestock units per forage hectare. Under the 1999 cattle headage scheme, the person named qualified for payment of three beef cows, ten dairy cows and 30 other animals based on total forage of 26.70 hectares. He also qualified for payment on 70 sheep under the 1999 sheep headage scheme and payment of £700.00 issued to him on 27 September 1999.

Jim Higgins

Question:

172 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of applications for livestock grants in each of the years from 1990 to date; and the number of officials employed in respect of processing the grants for each of the years. [26997/99]

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

The information requested in respect of these grants, i.e. headage and premia grants, is set out in the following schedule.

The staffing numbers shown in the schedule are those estimated to have been involved in the actual processing of applications. This figure does not include officials directly involved in this process in a managerial, policy, appeal capacity, etc.

Year	No. of applications received	Estimate of officials employed
1990	279,054	369
1991	376,368	364
1992	433,371	357
1993	488,582	479
1994	471,195	473
1995	460,823	573
1996	507,166	582
1997	495,232	573
1998	522,689	581
1999 to date	426,756	583

Michael Finucane

Question:

173 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when an outstanding REP scheme payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [27011/99]

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

This person's fourth year application was submitted on 3 November 1999. It was chosen at random for a pre-payment inspection. Arrangements are being made to have the inspection carried out as soon as possible. No payment can issue until the inspection is completed.

John Perry

Question:

174 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if all area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied); if 1999 cattle headage will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27119/99]

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

The person named applied on 14 beef cows under the 1999 cattle headage scheme. Inquiries regarding his application are ongoing at present and my Department will inform him of the outcome of these inquiries as soon as they are completed.

John Perry

Question:

175 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied); if 1999 cattle headage will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27120/99]

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

The person named applied on 49 animals under the 1999 cattle headage scheme. Inquiries regarding his application are ongoing at present and my Department will inform him of the outcome of these inquiries as soon as they are completed.

John Perry

Question:

176 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied); if 1999 cattle headage will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27121/99]

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

The person named included a new plot as part of his 1999 area aid application. This new plot is currently being entered on the Department's electronic database. When this process has been completed any payments due will issue.