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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 10 Dec 2002

Vol. 559 No. 1

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

164 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a suckler cow grant has not been awarded to persons (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25810/02]

The applicant in this case applied on 20 animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme on 12 April 2002. Payment of the 80% advance, amounting to €3,586.40, has now issued to the applicant in respect of these animals.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

165 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a REP scheme payment has not issued to persons (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25811/02]

An application for REPS from the persons named was submitted to my Department's farm development service office in Galway on 13 November 2002. The application is being processed in accordance with the targets set out in the Protocol on Direct Payments to Farmers.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

166 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a REP scheme cheque has not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25812/02]

An application for REPS from the per son named was submitted to my Department's farm development service office in Galway on 11 November 2002. The application is being processed in accordance with the targets set out in the Protocol on Direct Payments to Farmers.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

167 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a suckler cow grant for 2002 has not been awarded to persons (details supplied) in County Galway; if these persons' area aid problems have now been resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25813/02]

The 2002 area aid application in this case included a land parcel which overlapped with a land parcel belonging to another herdowner. The area aid unit contacted both parties in order to clarify the matter and a reply was received from the applicant unit in this case confirming that he was not entitled to claim the overlapped area. The area aid application has now been fully processed with an area overclaim of 9.43 hectares or 12.13% having been determined by my Department. The appropriate penalty as a result of the area aid over-declaration will be applied at balancing payment stage.

The applicant applied on 41 animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme on 20 February 2002. The application is now being processed for advance payment which will issue shortly.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

168 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if an area aid application by a person (details supplied) in County Galway has been received; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25814/02]

The person named is a new applicant for area aid. In accordance with normal control procedures, new applicants are subjected to a ground inspection of their holding before being issued with a herd number and before their area aid applications can be processed. This process has now been completed and the 2002 area aid application of the person named has been fully processed with an area determined for payment purposes of 24.37 hectares.

The person named will be paid his full entitlement under the 2002 area-based compensatory allowance scheme shortly.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

169 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an area based payment has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25815/02]

The animal-based headage schemes were replaced in 2001 by the area-based compensatory allowance scheme. This 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 undergrazing. The person named was not a headage recipient in 2000, and according to my Department's records, the stocking density of the holding does not meet the minimum requirement. My Department has now written to the person named with a view to establishing the type of farming activity being pursued. A decision on entitlement to 2002 area-based compensatory allowance will be made on receipt of reply.

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