Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Apr 2003

Vol. 565 No. 4

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

62 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to a suckler cow premium 2002 payment for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11311/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The person named applied for premium on 29 animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme on 2 January 2002. Payment of the 80% advance, amounting to €5,200.28, issued to him on 16 October 2002. Balancing payments are due to commence later this month.

Seán Ryan

Question:

63 Mr. S. Ryan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food with regard to the capital investment scheme for the marketing and processing of certain agriculture products such as potatoes in 2001, the number of projects approved for grants; the number of claims received and payments issued to date; if he is satisfied that they have all met the criteria of the scheme; and if he will provide names and details of each project. [11313/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Details of projects approved under the capital investment scheme in the potato sector are as follows:

Beneficiary	Sector	County	Grant Aid Awarded
			€
Donegal Potatoes Ltd	Potato	Donegal	390,976
Meade Potato Co. Ltd	Potato	Meath	287,825
Peter & Eddie Doyle	Potato	Kilkenny	133,134
Patrick Howard	Potato	Meath	650,745
Meadowfresh Foods (Tallow) Ltd	Potato	Waterford	160,975
Edward English	Potato	Cork	172,470

Payments totalling €130,103 have been made to two of the above beneficiaries. A payment claim is currently being processed in the case of a third beneficiary. I am satisfied that the projects on which payments have issued have met the criteria of the scheme. Detailed checks, including physical inspections of investments, are carried out on all claims prior to payment to ensure that the scheme conditions have been observed.

Paul Connaughton

Question:

64 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment of headage grants will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11316/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The person named was paid his full entitlement under the 2002 area-based compensatory allowance scheme on 31 October 2002. The position with regard to his application under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme is as set out in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 216 of 5 March 2003. To date, no request to carry out a review of the decision to apply a penalty to his premia entitlements has been received by my Department. In addition, the incorrect details on the cattle movement monitoring system in relation to an animal tag number remains to be rectified by the person named. As soon as these matters have been addressed his application will be processed for payment. The person named participated in 2001 extensification premium, opting for the census system. He was paid his full entitlement on 8 June 2002. He is also a participant in 2002 extensification premium, payment of which is scheduled to commence in June 2003.