Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Oct 2001

Vol. 541 No. 4

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Austin Deasy

Question:

248 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in issuing a 2000 cattle headage payment to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if payment will issue without further delay. [23042/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The person named applied under the 2000 cattle headage scheme on 25 May 2000. Payment of his full entitlement of £1,738.20 under the 2000 cattle headage scheme issued on 4 October 2001.

The person named was paid a total of £1,478.60 under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme on 25 September 2001 in respect of 15.08 hectares of more severely handicapped lowland at £70 per hectare and 9.40 hectares of mountain type land at £45 per hectare. This scheme is currently under review with a view to finding the most equitable arrangements with particular reference to farmers with mountain type land.

Michael Ring

Question:

249 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive an area based payment; and if his attention has been drawn to any problem in the processing of this case. [23043/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The person named submitted an area aid application which included a parcel of land in respect of which a dual claim was determined. My Department has contacted both herdowners to clarify the matter and is awaiting responses. No payments can issue until this matter has been satisfactorily resolved.

Michael Ring

Question:

250 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason an area based payment for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was calculated including a mountain classification. [23044/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

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 £687.15 on 24 September 2001 in respect of 15.27 hectares of mountain type land at £45 per hectare, together with an additional sum of £80.09 under a compensation package agreed with the European Commission for farmers experiencing losses under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme. The additional sum is equal to 90% of the difference between the average sum of the headage payments under the 1998, 1999 and 2000 headage schemes and the amount paid under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme.

The scheme is currently under review with a view to finding the most equitable arrangements with particular reference to farmers with mountain type land.