Jim Higgins
Question:169 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not been paid livestock grants. [10478/00]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named commenced in the REP scheme on 1 November 1995. His second year application was due for submission not later than 31 January 1997 but was never made. Consequently his participation in the scheme was terminated. My Department wrote to him on 10 March 1998, seeking reimbursement of his first year REPS payment. A reminder issued on 30 September 1998, informing him that if he did not refund the amount owed within two weeks arrangements would be made to offset the amount against other moneys payable to him from my Department. The person named did not at any stage propose to make repayment and consequently payments due under the following schemes, that is, special beef, extensification and cattle headage, must be withheld until the debt is cleared.
John Ellis
Question:170 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if the balance of a REP scheme grant will be paid to person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [10612/00]
The person named has requested a review of a decision to impose a 25% penalty for late submission of REPS 1C payment application form. The matter is currently under consideration within my Department and the person named will be contacted directly when the review has been completed.
Andrew Boylan
Question:171 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the long delay in payment of headage and suckler grants to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan. [10713/00]
The herdowner submitted his 1999 suckler cow premium and cattle headage applications on 3 June 1999. An inspec tion was carried out on 15 September 1999. The herdowner was informed on 28 October 1999 that a penalty would apply to his application. This decision was reviewed and the herdowner was informed on 23 November 1999 that the penalty would stand. This decision was appealed to the headage and premia appeals unit on 23 December 1999. The appeal is currently being examined and it is expected that the herdowner will be notified of the outcome shortly.
Andrew Boylan
Question:172 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will re-consider an application for grant aid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cavan who erected a shed and milking parlour due to pressure from the local creamery. [10714/00]
No application for aid under the dairy hygiene scheme was received by my Department from the person named. It is a condition of the current national scheme of investment aid for the improvement of dairy hygiene standards that aid will not be given in respect of works commenced before written approval has been conveyed to the applicant by my Department.
Theresa Ahearn
Question:173 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in the payment of beef premium to a person (details supplied) in south Tipperary; when payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10727/00]
The person named applied for special beef premium on 19 January 1999, listing a total of 15 animals.
However, as the person named did not submit a 1999 area aid application his entitlement under the premia schemes is restricted to 15 reckonable livestock units. The ewe premium application of the person named, listing a total of 94 ewes, utilises 14.1 livestock units. Therefore he only has an entitlement to 0.9 livestock units under the special beef premium scheme which is the equivalent of 1.5 animals. Advance payment of 60% issued on 17 December 1999 and a further 30% on 8 February 2000.