Vol. 536 No. 3
71 Mr. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if officials at his Department have set new dates for the payment of the 2001 extensification premium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14077/01]
Under the protocol on direct payments to farmers, as agreed with the farming bodies, my Department is committed to paying the 2000 extensification premium in June 2001.
However, in view of the current difficulties being experienced by farmers, it is hoped to commence extensification premium payments within the next two weeks.
In line with EU rules and charter commitments, it is anticipated that payments will be completed in all eligible cases by 30 June 2001.
It should be noted that the changes introduced under Agenda 2000 have implications for the payment of extensification premia. For the first time, farmers had to indicate on a special form that they wished to be considered for the 2000 extensification premium. Producers, who so indicated, had to opt for the simplified system or census system for determining their stocking density.
All the data from the five census dates in respect of the 64,000 farmers who opted for the census system had to be collated and processed together with data from any ewe premium applications from those farmers.
In addition, the forage area used for extensification premium purposes also differs from the forage area used for the payment of the suckler cow and special beef premia.
Having regard to the foregoing, I am sure the Deputy will appreciate the complexity of the work involved in the calculation of the 2000 extensification premium and payments cannot issue until all EU checks and controls have been applied.
