Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 14 Nov 2002

Vol. 557 No. 3

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

77 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a ten month special beef premium grant was not awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21960/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The person named submitted one application for 2002 special beef premium in respect of nine animals.

The area aid application of the person named indicates that the total forage area for premia payment purposes is 28.54 hectares. This allows for premium payments up to 54.23 livestock units, that is 1.9 livestock units of premium per hectare. The milk quota of 49,353 gallons of the person named utilises 56.34 livestock units and as a result the person does not have adequate livestock units available to qualify for special beef premium.

Each producer's reckonable livestock units are obtained in respect of each calendar year as follows:

Male cattle up to and including 24 months old on which the producer applies for special beef premium and bull premium	0.6 livestock unit each
Male cattle over 24 months old on which the producer applies for special beef premium	1 livestock unit each
Ewes on which the producer applies for ewe premium	0.15 livestock unit each
Suckler cows	1 livestock unit each
Notional dairy cows	1 livestock unit each

"Notional" dairy cows are obtained by dividing a producer's milk quota in respect of a given calendar year by the national average yield per cow for that year, or by the recorded average milk yield per cow where the producer is in an official milk recording scheme.

The EU regulations governing these schemes specifically provide that animals applied on in excess of the herd owners permitted stocking rate of 1.9 units per hectare are deemed to be paid under the age category applied for.

The application for special beef premium is stocking density exceeded. Therefore the nine animals applied for are deemed paid in the age category under which they are applied for. No payment can issue on this application.

Enda Kenny

Question:

78 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received an area based payment due to the fact that the land was under stocked; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21961/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The person named was paid her full entitlement under the 2002 area based compensatory allowance scheme on 4 November.

The person named received her full entitlement under the 2002 ewe premium scheme on 16 October.

John Perry

Question:

79 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) will receive a REPS payment; if it will be released instantly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21962/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The application from the person named was received in my Department on 24 September and is being processed in accordance with the targets set out in the protocol on direct payments to farmers.

Denis Naughten

Question:

80 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon has not received headage payments; when payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22077/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The person named included a land parcel on his 2002 area aid application which overlapped with a land parcel on another herd owner's application. Both parties have been written to in order to clarify the matter and replies are awaited.

Until this matter is resolved the area aid application of the person named cannot be processed and no area related payments can issue. The person has made no EU special beef premium applications in respect of 2002.

The person named has been paid 80% advance payments for €320 and €91.40 respectively under the 2002 slaughter premium scheme and national envelope top-up in respect of five heifers.

Paul McGrath

Question:

81 Mr. P. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason subsidy payments for ten month, 22 month, suckler and special slaughter premiums have not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and if these payments will be expedited. [22117/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The person named included a land parcel on his 2002 area aid application which overlapped with a land parcel on another herd owner's application. Both parties have been written to in order to clarify the matter and replies are awaited.

Until this matter is resolved an area aid application of the person named cannot be processed and no area related payments can issue.

He has 333 animals eligible under the 2002 slaughter premium scheme and 180 of these animals are eligible under the national envelope top-up. Advance payment will issue under these two schemes as soon as the inspection papers are finalised.

The person named also lodged eight applications in respect of the EU special beef premium 2002 for a total of 111 animals. The herd was selected for producer inspection which was carried out in late September. Payment in relation to these applications will be made, as soon as possible, on completion of all appropriate checks.

On 29 April he applied on 45 animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme. A herd inspection was carried out on 25 September and four animals were not compliant with animal identification and registration requirements. This resulted in a reduction penalty which will apply when balancing payments are made in the new year. My Department wrote to him on 12 November and advised him of his non-compliance with the requirements. He was given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed by writing to my Department within 21 days. His 2002 suckler cow premium application is now being processed for advance payment but payment cannot be made until his area aid problems are resolved.