Vol. 542 No. 2
218 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a 2001 headage payment for a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will be released; the reason this person has not received payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23652/01]
The 2001 area aid application for the person named included a claim on a commonage which is over claimed. Where a herd owner includes commonage in an area aid application, proof of entitlement to claim this commonage must be provided. In this case the person named has been contacted by the area aid unit and requested to submit the relevant proof. Until this matter is resolved no area aid related payments can issue.
219 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will arrange to have a higher rate of payment under the area-based payment scheme approved in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford. [23653/01]
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 has been paid a total of £1,603.85 under the area-based compensatory allowance scheme in respect of 35.64 hectares of mountain type land at £45 per hectare. As the amount paid was greater than his average headage payment of £1,046 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.
220 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a grant for a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the national farm pollution scheme has not been paid; and when the grant payment will be made. [23655/01]
The national scheme for the control of farm pollution – now replaced by the new farm waste management scheme – was extremely successful and uptake exceeded all expectations. The EU-imposed ceiling for expenditure under this scheme has been reached and my Department has applied to the European Commission to formally raise the ceiling. A number of payments under the scheme, including payment to the person mentioned in the question, has been delayed pending receipt of this formal approval. Following recent discussions between my Department and the European Commission a positive response is expected very shortly. All payments will issue immediately approval is received.
