Michael Ring
Question:193 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason an area based payment and ewe premium for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not been received by this person. [24890/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named had a shortfall penalty imposed under 2000 suckler cow scheme and was deemed to have been overpaid by £284.86 under that scheme. This amount was recently recouped from the first instalment of £484.19 due under the 2001 ewe premium scheme. The balance of £199.33 plus a separate payment of £157.91 in respect of the second instalment have now been issued. Recoupment of the overpayment has allowed full processing of payment due under the 2001 area based compensatory payments scheme to be completed. Payment under this scheme will issue to the person named shortly.
Michael Creed
Question:194 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will clarify the situation regarding the level of pay ment per hectare available under REP scheme 2 for persons who have had their lands categorised as mountain lands under the 2001 area aid scheme. [24891/01]
Such categorisation has no effect on the levels of payment per hectare available under REPS. A basic premium of 151 per hectare is available under REPS to a maximum area for payment of 40 hectares. A higher level of payment is available for compliance with measure A of the scheme on lands designated as farmland based special areas of conservation, natural heritage areas or commonage, subject to a maximum eligible area for payment of 120 hectares. Such lands attract a premium of 242 per hectare for the first 40 hectares, 24 per hectare for the next 40 hectares and 18 for the next 40 hectares.