Vol. 542 No. 5
203 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal for a slatted house grant; and if he will make a statement on whether there is undue delay in processing such applications. [24990/01]
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.
204 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a 2001 area aid payment. [24991/01]
A herd owner must submit a valid area aid application for the relevant year in order to be considered for payment under the disadvantaged areas compensatory allowance scheme. No area aid application was received from the person named for the year 2001, and consequently no disadvantaged areas compensatory allowance scheme payment can be made for the year in question.
205 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the way in which lands owned by a person (details supplied) in County Cork were classified for the purposes of the 2001 area aid scheme; the amount of compensatory element in the payment for 2001; the way in which this will change over the next three years; and if this person is being considered for further compensation arising from his land classification. [24992/01]
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 was paid £1,022.88 on 3 October 2001, in respect of 22.73 hectares of mountain type land at £45 per hectare. This compares with his average headage payment of £980 over the years 1998, 1999 and 2000.
Following a thorough review of the area based compensatory allowance scheme, proposals have now been submitted to the European Commission for increased payment rates for farmers with mountain type land. The proposal involves making a payment of £80 per hectare on the first ten hectares of mountain type land with a payment of £70 per hectare on each remaining hectare subject to an overall payment ceiling of 45 hectares. Subject to securing the necessary EU approval it is intended that the revised payment rates will take effect in the current year.
206 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon has been refused a REP scheme payment on an area of commonage; if he will reconsider this decision; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24993/01]
Arrangements have now been made for a review of this case. My officials will contact the Deputy and the applicant in due course with the outcome of their review, but if the applicant has any additional information that he thinks may have a bearing on the matter he should let my Department have it as soon as possible.
