As stated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 360 of 30 January 2002 the person named submitted an incomplete 2001 area aid application in that he had omitted to send in a map for new parcels of land on which he is claiming area aid. He subsequently furnished maps and these have now being entered on the Department's electronic database.
The person named applied on 78 animals under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. At an inspection, carried out on his herd on 13 November 2001, it was not possible to establish if his holding and that of his wife were managed separately. Furthermore, 23 problems were found with identification and registration requirements for animals inspected. My Department wrote to the person named on 22 February 2002 setting out the inspection findings and advising that both herds would be amalgamated for the purposes of payments of premium in 2001; that one application under each of the livestock premia schemes should be submitted in future; that one animal with no tag would be deleted from his claim, two other animals with no tags and an absent animal would be rejected and a reduction in payment of 2.34%, in accordance with the terms and conditions governing the scheme, would apply to the payment in respect of his eligible animals under the amalgamated 2001 suckler cow premium applications. The person named was also advised that he could have this decision reviewed by writing to my Department, within 21 days, setting out any facts which have not already been made known to my staff. To date no reply has been received from the person named.
The person named has made two applications in respect of special beef premium on 20/12/01 and 21/12/01 in respect of 21 animals. The applications were selected for inspection. It was noted that one animal from the latter application was absent without explanation on the day of the inspection. This animal will be deleted and a reduced payment will apply on the remaining eligible animals. However, the recommendation at the suckler cow inspection of 13/11/01 that this herd number and that of his wife be amalgamated for premium purposes has to be implemented prior to processing of payment of special beef premium. The person named was notified of the decision on 22/02/02 and given 21 days to have that decision reviewed and has made no application for review to date.
Advance payment under the slaughter premium scheme 2001, to the amount of €1,102.40 has issued to the person named in respect of 26 animals. One of these animals also qualified for the additional national envelope slaughter premium top-up advance of €18.28.