Vol. 558 No. 4
174 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the quota persons appealing their de-stocking requirements should put down on their area aid applications for 2003; if it is the new recommended quota; and if these persons leave down the old quota that they have. [24429/02]
175 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if farmers get paid on the quota they held in 2002, following de-stocking requirements. [24430/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 174 and 175 together.
Farmers appealing their destocking requirements and who are applying under the 2003 ewe premium scheme should declare on their applications the number of eligible ewes which they intend to retain on their holdings for the retention period. It is not a requirement to declare their ewe quota on any aid application.
Farmers who applied for premium under the 2002 ewe premium scheme were paid on the number of eligible ewes or on their 2002 quota, whichever was the lesser. Farmers applying for premium under the 2003 ewe premium scheme will also be paid on the number of eligible ewes or on their 2003 ewe quota, whichever is the lesser.
Any farmer who wishes to have his ewe quota clarified may contact the Quota Unit of my Department at Michael Davitt House, Castlebar on Lo-Call 1-890 200 507.
176 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if there is a mistake on the de- stocking calculation for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [24431/02]
My Department noticed an error in the destocking calculation on a small number of letters which issued recently and this error has since been corrected. The person named, who was one of the farmers concerned, was notified last week of his correct quota position for 2003.
