Paul Connaughton
Question:115 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a ewe premium scheme payment for 2000 has not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [4183/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named is not the registered owner of the herdnumber quoted.
Payment of the first and second advance of the 2000 ewe premium scheme was made to the person named on 26 June 2000 and 23 October 2000, respectively. The regulation governing payment of the final instalment was published yesterday, 13 February, and I expect that payment of the final instalment will commence early next week. Under the 2000 sheep headage scheme the person named applied on 50 hoggets. To enable the application to be processed he was asked on 28 April 2000 to complete a form EP250 giving details of any losses incurred during the two months retention period. The person named returned the form EP250 with a note stating that he only had 46 hoggets on the date of application. Consequently, he was found to be in breach of the terms and conditions of the scheme and his application was rejected in full.
The person named has been notified of this decision in writing and has been advised that he can have this decision reviewed if he so wishes.
Paul Connaughton
Question:116 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a 1999 extensification grant payment has not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4184/01]
In accordance with EU regulations, 1999 extensification premium is payable on all animals paid under the 1999 suckler cow premium scheme and under the 1999 special beef premium scheme if the stocking density on the holding is less than 1.40 livestock units per hectare.
The stocking density of the holding of the person named was found to be 1.40 livestock units per hectare based on 57.10 livestock units and the declared forage area under his 1999 area aid application of 40.59 hectares. As this is not less than 1.4 livestock units per hectare he is not entitled to payment of 1999 extensification premium.
His stocking density is calculated as follows:
|
Milk Quota |
Nil |
|
Ewe Premium |
21.3 livestock units |
|
Suckler Cow |
28 livestock units |
|
Special Beef Premium |
|
|
–Ist application (12 animals @ 0.6 lu) |
7.2 livestock units |
|
–2nd application (1 animal @ 0.6 lu) |
0.6 livestock units. |
|
Total livestock units |
57.10 livestock units |
57.10 livestock units divided by 40.59 hectares = 1.406 livestock units per hectare.
One of the animals applied for on the first application was previously paid ten month special beef premium scheme and was not eligible for payment under the 22 month special beef premium scheme. However, in accordance with the EU regulations this animal must be counted in the stocking density calculation.
Paul Connaughton
Question:117 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason suckler cow and headage grants payments have not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [4185/01]
The person named was paid his full entitlement of £4,421.70 under the 2000 suckler cow premium scheme based on his suckler cow quota of 30 suckler cows. The first advance of £2,653.02, representing 60% of his entitlement, was paid to him on 14 December 2000; the second advance of £884.34, representing a further 20% of his entitlement, was paid to him on 19 December 2000, with the balance of £884.34 paid to him on 31 January, 2001.
At an inspection carried out on his herd on 26 September 2000 two animals applied on under the 2000 cattle headage scheme were rejected. The person named was advised of this on the day of inspection and subsequently notified of the position by letter of 21 November 2000. He was advised that no payment would issue for these two animals and that payment on the remaining eligible animals would be subject to a penalty. He was given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed but he confirmed that he accepted the position on 27 November 2000. Consequently, the amount payable of £3,108 was subject to a 4.44% reduction penalty and payment of £2,970.00 has issued to him today under the 2000 cattle headage scheme.
The person named was paid his full entitlement of £140.00 under the 2000 sheep headage scheme on 8 September 2000 and £28.00 under the 2000 sheep headage top-up on 20 December 2000.
Paul Connaughton
Question:118 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Donegal is not allowed to have his sheep quota accepted for the ewe premium for 2001 as he resides in the destocked mountain area; if this decision is a virtual ban on all new entrants to sheep production in those areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4186/01]
The person named applied to my Department for a herd number in December last. He also sought to lease in 20 ewe premium quota rights but, as he does not hold a herd number, that lease could not be processed. He has submitted an application under the 2001 ewe premium scheme and that application, together with his application for a herd number, are now being examined. If his holding is found to include any commonage land the proposed lease will not be processed.
Commonage framework plans are being completed in respect of all commonage land in the six western counties. Pending the completion of those plans, my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands have put an interim commonage framework plan in place. The interim plan, which has been agreed with the EU Commission, provides for destocking of up to 30% of commonage land in the six western counties – Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Leitrim, Galway, Kerry – and no increase in stocking intensity is permitted where destocking is required.
The main aim of these plans will be to set sustainable stocking levels, which will allow for the regeneration of damaged vegetation. The preparation of detailed commonage framework plans for every commonage is at an advanced stage, and when these plans are implemented stocking rates will be set which will reflect the environmental needs of each commonage.
In the meantime, the person named may not, if his holding includes commonage land, acquire ewe quota rights.