Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 3

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Seymour Crawford

Question:

85 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cavan, will receive suckler cow grant and bull premium grant; the reason for the delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24189/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The person named applied on 16 animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme on 7 January 2002. An inspection of his herd was carried out on 19 September 2002. Payment of the 80% advance amounting to €2,869.12 has issued to the person named in respect of these animals. The person named made two applications in respect of EU special beef premium scheme 2002 for a total of three animals. An 80% advance payment issued on 25 November in respect of both applications.

Michael Ring

Question:

86 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason additional land on a 2002 area aid application by a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is not digitised; when this will be completed; and when area-based payments will issue to this person. [24190/02]

Michael Ring

Question:

87 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive extensification for 2001. [24191/02]

Michael Ring

Question:

91 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was instructed to destock ewe numbers to seven, given that it was understood that nobody would be destocked below ten. [24195/02]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 86, 87 and 91 together.

The person named included a land parcel on his 2002 area aid application which overlapped with land parcels belonging to another herdowner. Following contact by the area aid unit with the person named, the correct boundary for the parcel has been established and his 2002 area aid application has been fully processed without error and with an area determined for payment purposes of 37.11 hectares.

Under the relevant EU regulation, herdowners must indicate that they wish to participate in extensification premium in a particular year. In Ireland's case a herdowner's intention to participate is notified to the Department on an EXPR1 form.

Although the person named claims that he submitted an EXPR1 form for the 2001 extensification premium, there is no record of it having been received in my Department. Unfortunately, in the absence of a receipt issued by the Department at the time the form was lodged or a certificate of posting from An Post, an EXPR1 form cannot be accepted from the person named at this stage. I regret that he cannot be considered for payment of the 2001 extensification premium. The person named is a participant in 2002 extensification premium opting for the simplified system.

The person named was written to on 24 October 2002 informing him that his 2003 ewe quota was being reduced from 12 premium rights to seven following the implementation of the commonage framework plans. However, subsequent to this letter issuing, a decision was taken to allow all farmers who were destocked to single figures to retain a flock of ten ewes on which ewe premium can continue to be paid. This decision was announced on 13 November 2002 during an Adjournment debate in the Dáil, and my Department will shortly be writing to the person named together with all other such farmers informing them of their revised 2003 ewe premium quotas.