Michael Ring
Question:34 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received an area based payment for 2002; and when payment will be made in this regard. [2174/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Under the terms and conditions of the 2002 area based compensatory allowance scheme, applicants must be farming in the year of application and must have a minimum stocking level of 0.15 livestock unit equivalent per forage hectare in the calendar year preceding application. This minimum stocking level will not apply where agri-environmental or other recognised environmental measures require a lower stocking density. One of the persons named is an applicant under the rural environment protection scheme and the plan under that scheme allows a maximum stocking density of 0.11 livestock unit per hectare. As the stocking density of the holding does not meet the minimum requirement of 0.15 livestock unit per hectare under the 2002 area based compensatory allowance scheme my Department will write to that person with a view to establishing compliance with the conditions of the REPS plan. A decision on entitlement to area based compensatory allowance will be made on receipt of the reply.