Vol. 541 No. 4
236 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the way in which a person (details supplied) in County Cork has had his lands classified for the purposes of the 2001 disadvantaged areas scheme; if he will institute an appeals mechanism for aggrieved land owners; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22838/01]
In 1997, a review of mountain type grazing lands for sheep headage purposes in the more severely handicapped areas and the less severely handicapped areas was carried out by my Department. All land classified as mountain type grazing was subsequently identified as such on the land parcel identification system. This designation as mountain type grazing suited most farmers, especially those engaged in sheep production, allowing them to be paid headage grants on mountain type ewes. However, in designating the areas concerned on the land parcel identification system regard had to be had to certain natural boundaries such as rivers and roads and it was not possible to exclude certain farms where sheep production did not take place.
The new area based compensatory allowance scheme agreed in July 2000 and approved by the European Commission in the context of the CAP rural development plan provides for area related payments as follows: more severely handicapped, lowland – £70 per hectare up to 45 hectares; less severely handicapped, lowland – £60 per hectare up to 45 hectares; mountain type land – £45 per hectare up to 60 hectares.
The person named was paid £2,200.57 on 24 September 2001 in respect of 48.90 hectares of mountain type land at £45 per hectare. As the amount paid was greater than his average headage payment of £1,640.00 over the years 1998, 1999 and 2000, no compensation for loss under the area based scheme is due. The scheme is currently under review with a view to finding the most equitable arrangements with particular reference to farmers with mountain type land.
