Vol. 529 No. 1
358 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason the second phase of area aid payment and premiums have not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30577/00]
Payment of the first advance of the 2000 ewe premium and rural world premium was made to the person named on 23 June 2000.
In order to qualify for payment under the rural world premium applicants must have at least 50% of their holding used for sheep production in the disadvantaged area and must also submit a valid area aid application. The person named stated on his 2000 ewe premium application that at least 50% of his holding was in the disadvantaged area. On that basis payment of £481.97 including £254.18 rural world premium was made by way of the first advance. However, subsequent checks revealed that the person named did not submit a 2000 area aid application. Consequently this gave rise to an overpayment in respect of the rural world premium which was offset against the second advance of £225.78 due under the scheme. The outstanding balance of £28.40 will be recovered from the final instalment when payments commence next month.
Under the 2000 sheep headage scheme the person named applied on 116 mountain ewes and 24 hoggets but as he did not submit a 2000 area aid application he is not eligible for any payment under the scheme.
