Vol. 542 No. 2
262 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon is receiving headage payments only for mountain land rather than for a severely disadvantaged area; if he will review this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24179/01]
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 iden tified 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 £591.77 on 25 September 2001 in respect of 13.15 hectares of mountain type land at £45 per hectare. As the amount paid was greater than his average headage payment of £400 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.
263 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a headage payment for a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will be immediately released; the reason payment has not been released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24180/01]
The reason that no area-based compensatory payment has been made is that there is a problem with the area aid application from the person named. A parcel claimed by the person named is part of a commonage on which a cumulative overclaim has arisen. The area aid unit is currently seeking to clarify of a number of applicants the correct entitlements to this commonage. It is hoped to have this exercise completed shortly. No payments can issue until this problem has been resolved.
264 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a headage payment for a person (details supplied) will be immediately released; the reason payment has not been released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24181/01]
The person named included 44.33 hectares in his 2001 area aid application. An area of 43.79 hectares was determined which is some 0.54 hectares or 1.23% less than the area claimed. Under Article 9 of EU Regu-
Payment due under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme will issue to the person named before the end of October.
266 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a cattle headage payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [24368/01]
The cattle headage scheme has been replaced from 2001 by the area based compensatory allowance scheme, which is applied for on the 2001 area aid application form. The person named added a number of new plots of land to his 2001 area aid application. These plots are now being entered on the Department's electronic database, and he will be paid his full entitlement under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme as soon as possible.
