Michael Ring
Question:135 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive an area based payments for 2001; and when payment will be issued. [5362/02]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The animal-based headage schemes were replaced in 2001 by the area-based compensatory allowance scheme. The new scheme, which was approved by the European Commission, provides that applicants must meet a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare of the holding 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 under grazing. 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 requirement. My Department wrote to the person named on 7 November 2001 with a view to establishing the type of farming activity being pursued. A reply was received in the district livestock office with details of the stock on the holding. As the stocking density was 0.11 livestock units per hectare in 2001 he would not appear to qualify for payment under the 2001 area-based compensatory allow ance scheme. A final decision on all outstanding cases will be made soon.