Jimmy Deenihan
Question:296 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when an area aid payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26793/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The animal-based headage schemes have been replaced in 2001 by the area-based compensatory allowance scheme. A condition of the new scheme is that applicants must meet a minimum stocking level of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare in the year preceding application. However, farmers who are unable to meet that 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 undergrazing. The person named was not a headage recipient in 2000, and according to my Department's records, the stocking density of the holding does not meet the minimum stocking density. My Department will be writing to the person named shortly with a view to establishing the type of farming activity being pursued. A decision on entitlement to area-based compensatory allowance will then be made.