Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 28 Nov 2001

Vol. 545 No. 2

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Ulick Burke

Question:

86 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when an area aid grant payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason this problem has recurred; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30133/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Following processing of the area aid application for 2001 of the person named, an over-claim on one of his land parcels was determined. This over-claim has arisen over the past few years and each year including the current 2001 area aid year a map of the land parcel in question was sent to the person named. The person named, who has returned the map, has claimed that the land contained in this land parcel is 7.82 hectares. The map has been digitised and the area has been determined at 4.99 hectares. In order to resolve this recurring issue, this application has been sent for ground inspection. No payment under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme will issue to the person named until the results of the area aid inspection have been finalised.

The reason the person named was not paid extensification premium for the year 2000 at the time when most farmers were paid in May and June was that he failed to return a herd reconciliation form showing the animals in his herd at the end of the year 2000. The form was required for the establishment of an accurate cattle movement monitoring system database which all member states are obliged to have in place under EU regulations. The necessary form has now been returned and payment of 2000 extensification premium will be made shortly.

John Ellis

Question:

87 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if an area-based payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [30201/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Payment due under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme will issue to the person named within the next week.

John Ellis

Question:

88 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason an application by a person (details supplied) in County Sligo for a sheep quota has not been approved; if he will expedite this matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30204/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The person named applied for an allocation of ewe premium quota from the 2002 national reserve. He declared on his application that he had acquired a commonage from his father.

Commonage framework plans are currently being prepared and when finalised, subject to individual agri-environmental plans, the maximum number of sheep that can be maintained by individual farmers on their farms as a whole and on their commonage land will be established. It is expected that all framework plans will be completed early in 2002 but in the meantime, sheep numbers may not be increased on farms that include commonage land. This restriction applies to all farms with commonage land including those where the farmer is participating in the rural environment protection scheme and regardless of whether his existing REPS plan allows more sheep to be maintained than his present number. As the farm of the person named includes commonage land, he cannot receive an allocation of ewe premium quota from the 2002 national reserve nor may he purchase or lease additional quota for 2002.

Question No. 89 answered with Question No. 61.

Question No. 90 answered with Question No. 52.