Dinny McGinley
Question:137 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when payment of a grant will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [25443/01]
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 EU 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.
Liam Aylward
Question:138 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will re-investigate an application by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for grant aid under the scheme for investment aid for the improvement of dairy hygiene standards and other improvements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25444/01]
Approval in respect of a collection yard and a slatted tank issued to the person named under the scheme of investment aid for the improvement of dairy hygiene standards and the farm waste management scheme, respectively. The grants approved are calculated on the basis of standard costings for all elements of the investments and represent the maximum payable in those circumstances.
At the time of initial inspection the person named indicated that a bulk milk tank was purchased prior to the date of receipt of application in my Department. Accordingly, this element of the investment cannot be considered for grant aid.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:139 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the position regarding an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork for the ten month beef premium 2000. [25572/01]
The person named submitted a 2000 area aid application on which he declared a total of 15.21 hectares forage area.
Under the EU regulations governing the special beef premium scheme a stocking density limit of two livestock units per hectare applies based on the forage area declared on the area aid application. The reckonable livestock units are obtained in respect of each calendar year as follows:
|
Livestockunits each |
|
|
Male cattle up to and including 24 months on which special beef premium and bull premium is claimed |
0.6 |
|
Male cattle over 24 months old on which special beef premium is claimed |
1 |
|
Ewes on which ewe premium is claimed |
0.15 |
|
Suckler cows |
1 |
|
‘Notional' dairy cows based on milk quota of 876 gallons |
1 |
The livestock unit value of dairy cows is obtained by dividing the producer's milk quota in respect of a given calendar year by the national average yield per cow for that year, or by the recorded average milk yield per cow for the year where the producer is in an official milk recording scheme. After taking into account the milk quota of 23,473 gallons in respect of the person named, the livestock unit entitlement available for special beef premium in 2000 is 3.63 livestock units. In 2000, the person named applied for special beef premium on 14 animals with a livestock unit value of 0.6 each. He was paid in respect of the full entitlement of 3.63 livestock units. Animals applied on that are in excess of the applicant's stocking density limit are deemed paid and passports are stamped and punched accordingly, in line with the EU regulations under which special beef premium is paid.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:140 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if full payment will issue in respect of an application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork under the suckler cow premium scheme 2001. [25573/01]
The person named applied on 28 cows and five heifers under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme on 6 February 2001. The herd of the person named was inspected on 2 August 2001 and it was found that two of the cows he had applied on were in fact heifers at the date of application. This meant that his application was in respect of 26 cows and seven heifers. Under clause 20(i) of the terms and conditions of the scheme the number of heifers applied on must not exceed 20% of the total number of animals for which premium is requested. An applicant with 26 eligible cows may apply on up to six heifers under the scheme. Consequently, one of the heifers must be rejected as it exceeds the 20% heifer allowance and a reduction penalty of 3.13% must be applied to the grants due on his remaining eligible animals in accordance with clause 33 of the terms and conditions of the scheme.
My Department wrote to the person named on 17 October 2001 advising him of this decision and he has been given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed by writing to my Department within 21 days setting out any new evidence which may support his case. To date, no reply has been received.