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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 13 Nov 2001

Vol. 543 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

234 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a suckler cow grant has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27832/01]

The person named applied on ten cows under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. Following an examination of his application, it was found that two animals, tag numbers LTLK0146P and VJNS0061U, did not have the required date of last calving. This matter has now been resolved with regard to tag LTLK0146P. My Department informed the person named that documentation submitted on 10 October 2001 as proof of calving for animal tag number VJNS0061U was not accepted. Further processing of the application will be carried out when a reply with verification of a last calving date for this animal is received.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

235 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason the maximum area-based payment was not made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27833/01]

The person named was paid a total of £2,491.67 on 25 September 2001 under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme. At time of payment the area on the area aid system was 31.71 hectares, com prised of 30.06 hectares of more severely handicapped lowland paid at £70 per hectare and 1.65 hectares of less severely handicapped lowland paid at £60 per hectare. Included in the payment was an additional amount of £288.52 under a compensation package agreed with the European Commission for farmers experiencing losses under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme. The additional sum is equal to 90% of the difference between the average sum of the headage payments under the 1998, 1999 and 2000 headage schemes and the amount arising under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme.

The overall area has now increased to 44.10 hectares on the area aid system, made up of 30.06 hectares of more severely handicapped lowland and 14.10 hectares of less severely handicapped lowland. With the increased area of 12.45 hectares of less severely handicapped land, the person named is now due an extra basic payment of £747, bringing his total basic payment to £2,950.20. Since this is more than his average payment of £2,523.73 over the years 1998, 1999 and 2000, no compensation is payable. As he has already been paid compensation of £288.52, he will be paid a balance of £458.48 – £747 less £288.52 – within the next three weeks.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

236 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a penalty was applied on a grant application for a suckler cow grant by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27834/01]

The person named applied for 40 cows and 13 heifers under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. Paragraph 20(i) of the scheme's terms and conditions states that the number of heifers being submitted for premium must not exceed 20% of the total number of animals for which premium is being requested. A document, entitled "Points of Information", which issued with the application forms contains a ready reckoner showing that a maximum number of ten heifers can only be allowed in an application where 40 to 43 cows are submitted. My Department wrote to the person named on 9 October 2001 concerning matters which arose in the processing of the application for payment and he was informed that only ten heifers can be accepted for payment in his case.

Question No. 237 answered with Question No. 211.

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