Vol. 550 No. 4
269 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being caused to farmers by the penalty being employed in respect of application for premium payouts over the various schemes operated by his Department; the action he intends to take to reduce the bureaucracy of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9309/02]
The level of penalty imposed in relation to the various premia schemes is relatively low. An examination of penalties imposed for the 2000 schemes showed that less than 3% of applications resulted in penalties and over 50% of these penalties related to the late lodgement of applications.
Recently the European Court of Auditors published a report in relation to scheme implementation which confirmed that the level of error found as a result of controls in Ireland is amongst the lowest of all member states. I have been concerned about the need for scheme simplification and a more proportionate penalty regime. It was for this reason I raised the issue at the Council of Ministers in October 2000. Over the last year a significant amount of work was completed and as a consequence the control regulations were amended. I am satisfied that the new arrangements, while not giving us everything we would want, will be of considerable benefit to Irish farmers and help draw a distinction between a minor error and a more serious breach of the conditions.
270 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason slaughter premium, which was promised for payment in early March 2002 in the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 140 of 27 February 2002, has not been paid; and when payment will issue. [9334/02]
Slaughter premium for 2001 has now been paid to the person named in respect of 62 animals.
271 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department will make area based payment to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo. [9432/02]
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 being undergrazed. The person named was not a headage recipient in 2000.
272 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a problem with a computer system in his Department has held up payment of a suckler cow grant to a person (details supplied) in County Clare; whether the problem has been in existence for a number of months, consequently delaying payments to a large number of farmers; and the reason, in the event of such a computer problem, his Department could not arrange for manual transactions to be made to facilitate timely payment to farmers. [9433/02]
The person named applied on 28 animals under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme on 29 June 2001. Payment of his 80% advance, amounting to €4,123.00, issued to him on 24 October 2001. Subsequently, one of these animals died on 7 January 2002 but the person named incorrectly registered the date of death on the cattle movement monitoring system database as 7 January 2001. When balance payments commenced in January 2002, all 2001 suckler cow premium applications were cross-checked against the CMMS database and it showed that this animal was in fact dead at date of application. My Department contacted the person named on 31 January 2002 and advised him to notify the correct date of death of the animal to SWS Bandon. The CMMS record has been updated with the correct details and payment of the 20% balance of his entitlement, amounting to €1,030.75, has now issued to him.
Some 80,000 payments totalling over €67 million have been made over the last month alone, the process of introducing a new mapping and area aid processing system has raised some issues in clearing a small number of payment claims. Every effort has been made to keep any delay to a minimum including the use of manual transactions.
273 Mr. Spring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when payment of a grant for a slatted unit will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [9434/02]
A grant payment for €20,205.42 issued to the person named in respect of a slatted house under the scheme of investment aid for farm waste management on 14 March 2002.
274 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has still not received a special beef premium payment and a 2001 suckler cow premium. [9435/02]
The person named submitted five applications in respect of a total of 12 animals for 2001 special beef premium and payments due will issue as soon as possible.
The person named also applied for premium for 20 animals under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. According to the terms and conditions of the scheme, premium is payable on each eligible suckler cow-heifer within the individual suckler cow quota limit applicable to the producer. An 80% advance payment issued on 26 October 2001 to the person named for 16 animals, which is the number of suckler cow quota rights on record for him. The 20% balance due to him will issue shortly.
275 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an area based payment for 2001. [9493/02]
The 2001 area aid application of the person named has been fully processed with an area determined for payment purposes of 24.57 hectares. Payment due under the area-based compensatory scheme will issue shortly.
