Vol. 556 No. 3
216 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the hardship being imposed on a person (details supplied) in County Cork owing to the change in payments in area aid in relation to maize; and the changes which have occurred. [19834/02]
A total of 2,400 farmers applied for aid on 17,000 hectares of maize under the 2002 EU arable aid scheme. The increase in maize claims in 2002 gave rise to an overshoot of the national base area for maize. As a result and in accordance with EU regulations, payment for maize must be reduced in proportion to the amount of the excess claimed. The rate of payment for maize in 2002 has therefore been reduced by 57% to €157.56 per hectare. Having already received an advance payment of arable aid on 16 October 2002, the person named will receive a final balancing payment on 16 November 2002.
217 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reasons for the non-payment of 2002 area aid in the amount of approximately ?3,000 to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19897/02]
The person named included a land parcel on his 2002 area aid application in respect of which an apparent overclaim was determined. Following contact by the area aid unit with the herd owner, the correct boundary for the land parcel has been established. His 2002 area aid application has now been fully processed with a forage area determined for payment purposes of 34.25 hectares. The person named will be paid his full entitlement under the 2002 area-based compensatory allowance scheme shortly.
