Michael Ring
Question:230 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when an application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for a slatted shed grant will be approved; and when payment will be made. [23841/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
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, have 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.
Michael Ring
Question:231 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an area-based payment. [23842/01]
A condition of the area-based compensatory allowance scheme is that applicants must meet a minimum stocking level of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare in the year preceding application. The stocking density of the person named was 0.06 livestock units per forage hectare in 2000. However, farmers who are unable to meet the minimum stocking density but who traditionally qualified for headage grants in respect of cattle and-or sheep may continue to qualify for payment provided their land is being utilised and is not in danger of under-grazing. The application of the person named has been cleared and payment will issue before the end of October.
Michael Ring
Question:232 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an area-based payment. [23843/01]
The 2001 area aid application for the person named has been fully processed and payment due under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme will issue before the end of October 2001.
Michael Ring
Question:233 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when an application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for a slatted shed grant will be approved; and when payment will be made. [23844/01]
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, have 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.
Michael Ring
Question:234 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary will receive a suckler cow premium. [23845/01]
Advance payments of 60% of the premium under the suckler cow premium scheme normally commence on 16 October of the calendar year in which the application is made. This is the earliest possible date permitted under the relevant EU regulations. I had been seeking an increased advance payment this year and I am happy to say that last Friday, the European Commission agreed to allow for an increase in the advance payment this year from 60% to 80%. The regulation permitting this increase must be published in the Official Journal before payments can commence. I expect that this regulation will be published early next week and advance payments under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme will commence as soon as this happens. Increasing the advance payment to 80% will mean some £80 million in additional payments to beef farmers under the various cattle premium schemes between now and the end of December.