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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 21 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 3

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

John Perry

Question:

191 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will intervene on behalf of a person (details supplied) with regard to his appeal and have a favourable decision made in view of the error he made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26332/00]

The herd owner lodged an appeal on 25 August 2000 concerning his 2000 special beef premium application. Appeals require individual examination and are dealt with in the order in which they are received. This appeal will be examined shortly and the herd owner will be notified of the outcome.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

192 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a suckler cow quota has not been allocated to a person (details supplied) in County Galway in view of the fact that he is doing the green certificate in agriculture and is starting out as a young farmer. [26368/00]

The person named applied for an allocation of suckler cow quota from the year 2001 national reserve under category C.

This category was reserved for farmers who are regular applicants for the suckler cow premium scheme and whose livestock units are at least ten but not greater than 30.

Livestock units are calculated with reference to the number of animals applied on for the year 2000 suckler cow and ewe premium schemes and the 1999 special beef premium scheme.

The livestock unit equivalent of any milk quota held is also included.

The person named satisfied the criteria under category C but regrettably there was insufficient quota in the reserve to allow allocations to be made to all eligible applicants in that category. Reserve quota was allocated to those eligible applicants with ten livestock units first, then to those with 11 and so on, until all the available quota was distributed. This occurred at 20 livestock units – farmers with livestock units greater than 20 did not receive an allocation of quota.

There are 208 applicants, seeking 1,394 premium rights, whose livestock units are between 20.1 and 22, but there is no quota available to allow allocation to be made to them.

As the person named had 22 livestock units, there was insufficient quota available to allow an allocation to be made to him.

Jim Higgins

Question:

193 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in the finalisation of an application for the scheme of installation aid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo where all details have been supplied. [26373/00]

Due to the volume of work on hands there has been an unavoidable delay in processing the application in this case. A final examination of the documentation submitted is being carried out and if the application is found to be in order, payment will be made within the next three weeks.

Jim Higgins

Question:

194 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the non-payment of a suckler cow grant to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [26374/00]

The person named made an application for grants under the 1995, 1996, 1997 and 1999 cattle headage and suckler cow premium schemes and also the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme. Under the terms and conditions of the cattle headage schemes in the disadvantaged areas, applicants whose grants exceed £500 are required to submit their RSI number before payment can be made.

The person named did not submit his RSI number for any of the years involved but was inadvertently paid headage grants totalling £1,551.60 under the 1996 and 1999 cattle headage schemes. This overpayment has now been offset against his 1995 suckler cow premium grant of £1,230.30 leaving a balance of £321.30 overpaid.

If he supplies his RSI number the offsetting of the 1995 suckler cow premium grant against the headage grants overpaid and the payment of outstanding 1995 and 1997 headage grants will be reviewed.

Liam Aylward

Question:

195 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if, in view of the very strong medical evidence submitted by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in support of his recent appeal in respect of his special beef premia 22 month scheme, he will give sympathetic consideration to this most genuine and sincere case; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26375/00]

The person named submitted a special beef premium application listing a total of 33 animals for premium on 17 October 2000. This application included nine animals on which the first age premium had already been paid and were therefore ineligible for this instalment of premium. In view of the circumstances outlined by the herd owner, these animals will not be counted for stocking density for the October application.

Denis Naughten

Question:

196 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon will receive cow quota in view of the fact that it has been calculated by the Department that he has only 20.6 livestock units; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26383/00]

The person named applied for an allocation of suckler cow quota from the 2001 national reserve under category C. This category was reserved for farmers who are regular applicants for the suckler cow premium scheme and whose livestock units are at least ten but not greater than 30. Livestock units are calculated with reference to the number of animals applied on for the 2000 suckler cow and ewe premium schemes and the 1999 special beef premium scheme. The livestock unit equivalent of any milk quota held is also included.

The person named satisfied the criteria under category C, but regrettably there was insufficient quota in the reserve to allow allocations to be made to all eligible applicants in that category. Reserve quota was allocated to those eligible applicants with ten livestock units first, then to those with 11 and so on, until all the available quota was distributed. This occurred at 20 livestock units – farmers with livestock units greater than 20 did not receive an allocation of quota.

There are 36 applicants, seeking 283 premium rights, whose livestock units are between 20.1 and 20.6 but there is no quota available to allow allocation to be made to them. As the person named had 20.6 livestock units, there was insufficient quota available to allow an allocation to be made to him.

Michael Ring

Question:

197 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive suckler cow premium and slaughter premium for 2000; and the other payments that are outstanding for this person. [26384/00]

The person named submitted an area aid application which included a number of parcels in respect of which dual claims were determined. My Department has contacted both herd owners to clarify the matter. No payments can issue until this matter has been satisfactorily resolved.

The above named person has been paid slaughter premium 2000 on 11 animals. There are a further eight animals under query. The producer has been written to regarding these animals and as soon as the queries are satisfactorily resolved payment will issue.

Michael Ring

Question:

198 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive headage and premia for 2000. [26385/00]

No applications under the 2000 headage and premia schemes have been received from the person named. The person named included commonage in his 2000 area aid application, but did not provide proof of his entitlement to claim all of this commonage. The herdowner has been contacted in this regard and when the necessary proof is provided his area aid application will be processed.

Michael Ring

Question:

199 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive cattle headage and suckler cow premium for 2000. [26386/00]

The person named furnished an incomplete 2000 area aid application in that he did not include a map for a new parcel of land on which he is claiming area aid. Maps have now issued to him so that he can outline the parcel of land concerned. When these are returned his application will be processed with a view to ensuring any payments due can be made as soon as possible.

Michael Ring

Question:

200 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received cattle and sheep headage payments in view of the fact that she amended an alleged over claim on one plot in September 2000 and she also spoke with a person in the area aid unit who confirmed that all amendments were completed, yet no payment has issued. [26387/00]

The 2000 area aid application of the person named has now been fully processed with no outstanding errors and the area for payment purposes has been determined at 130.81 hectares. Any payments due will issue as soon as possible.

Michael Ring

Question:

201 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive sheep headage for 2000, in view of the fact that he returned documents to the area aid unit on the boundary markings and copy of title. [26388/00]

The 2000 area aid application of the person named has been fully processed with no outstanding errors and the area for payment purposes has been determined at 8.12 hectares. Payment in the amount of £350 in respect of the person's 2000 sheep headage application has now issued.

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