Michael Ring
Question:191 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a REP scheme payment. [8154/02]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The application for payment was received from the person named on 22 January 2002 and is being processed in accordance with the targets set out in the protocol on direct payments to farmers.
Michael Ring
Question:192 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be accepted and receive payment for a REP scheme. [8193/02]
The person named has included a 2/18 share of a commonage in his REPS plan. However, there are at least 22 people claiming shares in this commonage, and one of those is making a competing claim in his REPS plan on one of the two shares that the person named has included in his. The person named has supplied my Department with some legal documentation in support of his claim. His file and that of the other participant with the competing claim have been referred for legal opinion. When this opinion is received, a final decision on the eligibility of the commonage portion of the application will be made.
Jim Higgins
Question:193 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason an application for a sheep shed has been turned down for a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [8194/02]
My Department has not turned down any application for grant aid from the person concerned to build a sheep shed. This application was received from the person named on 27 February 2002 under the scheme of investment aid for farm waste management. The application will be examined and, if everything is found to be in order, a pre-approval farm visit will be arranged in the near future. Under the protocol on direct payments to farmers my Department has set a deadline for issuing within three months of receipt of a valid application a written approval to commence investment works under this scheme.
Michael Ring
Question:194 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a suckler cow premium for 2001. [8204/02]
The person named applied for premium for eight cows and two heifers under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. Following an examination of the application it was found that animal tag number VPYK0078S listed as a cow was actually an in-calf heifer. The applicant was informed on 13 November 2001 that under clause 34(a) of the terms and conditions of the suckler cow premium scheme no payment would issue under this scheme for 2001. The herdowner appealed this decision. Following a further review of the case the animal in question has been deleted from the application leaving nine eligible animals. The maximum number of heifers that can be accepted in an application covering nine animals is 1.8. Payment of his 100% entitlement for seven cows and 1.8 heifers will issue within the next ten days.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:195 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the position regarding an area aid application for 2000 for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8205/02]
The 2000 area aid application for the person named was processed and payments issued on foot of it. However, in relation to the 2001 application, a parcel claimed by the person named is part of a commonage on which a cumulative overclaim has arisen. The area aid unit is currently seeking to evaluate the correct entitlements to area aid on this commonage. It is hoped to have this exercise completed as soon as possible. No payments can issue for 2001 until this problem has been resolved.
Question No. 196 answered with Question No. 186.