Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 18 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 3

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Michael Creed

Question:

121 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not received 1999 suckler cow, special beef and ewe premium grants; if he will introduce a moratorium on repayments and desist from further payment of land purchase annuity to the Land Commission by way of diversion of various schemes due to farmers; the extent to which these powers have been used in 2000; the number of farmers affected; and the amount of money involved. [11526/00]

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

In 1999 the person named was paid £608.81 under the 1999 suckler cow premium scheme, £1,164.14 under the 1999 ewe premium scheme, £1,321.00 under the 1999 cattle headage scheme and £814.00 under the 1999 sheep headage scheme.

I have no proposals to introduce a moratorium on payments of land annuities. Inspectors from my Department have visited and will continue to visit farmers with arrears with a view to assessing the reasons for non-payment. If it is found that the annuity is excessive relative to the earning capacity of the farm and the family circumstances, it is intended to capitalise the arrears and to reduce the repayments to a more reasonable level which will result in an extension of the repayment period. On the other hand, if it is found that there is no good reason for non-payment of annuities, my Department will have to consider offsetting of headage and premium payments and taking legal action in the matter. Notwithstanding that the half yearly instalment of land purchase annuity payable by the person named is £229.00, he had arrears of £2,906 at the end of 1999. Following a visit by one of my Department's inspectors in 1997 to ascertain the reason for non-payment, he was written to and offered an opportunity to clear the arrears over a two year period. As this offer was not accepted, he was written to again in July 1999 and informed that if a substantial payment was not made the Department would have to recover the arrears by offsetting headage and premium payments that would be due to him. As there was no response to this letter my Department has offset the following payments that were due to him:

Scheme	Amount £
1999 suckler cow premium	372.80
1999 special beef premium	287.06
1999 ewe premium	486.35
	1,146.21

As a result of these offsets the arrears are now £1,759.79. The total amount offset so far in 2000 is £75,611.48 from 81 farmers.

John Perry

Question:

122 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will intervene with the area aid office on behalf of a person (details supplied) and waive the penalties applied in view of the fact the original error was made on the 1999 application form which was issued from his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11577/00]

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

I am arranging for a re-examination of the area aid application of the person named by my Department. On completion, a detailed response will issue to the Deputy.

Michael Ring

Question:

123 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the grants, if any, available to help people to produce organic food. [11578/00]

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

Proposals for a new rural environmental protection scheme – REPS – have been submitted to the European Commission as part of a draft rural development plan for the period 2000-06. The proposed new REPS is closely modelled on the existing scheme, and envisages continued support for organic farming under supplementary measure 6. The objective of this measure is to encourage producers in REPS to respond to the market demand for organically produced food.

In addition, in the national development plan, £6 million has been provided under the regional programmes to cater for the development of the organic sector. Proposals are being drafted for the organic sector which will be included in the programmes for the border, midland and western region and southern and eastern region. The details will be submitted to the European Commission shortly.

The three private limited companies approved by my Department under Council Regulation (EEC) No 2092/91 to carry out inspections of operators are also supported by my Department through annual contributions they receive towards the costs of inspections. Since 1994, over £90,000 has been paid to them on a per-inspection basis.

Michael Ring

Question:

124 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a search of the records of the former Land Commission will be completed to enable 1999 sheep headage and premia to issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact the delay has caused him severe financial hardship. [11579/00]

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

The person named included commonage on his area aid application in respect of which there was an over claim. However, a search of the records of the former Land Commission has failed to clarify the position in relation to this particular claim since another applicant is claiming entitlement to the same commonage share. Both herd owners have been written to with a view to resolving the problem. Payments cannot issue until this matter has been resolved.