Bernard J. Durkan
Question:99 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if all agricultural support grants are paid up to date at present; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14180/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Payments valued at over €1.58 billion have issued to farmers since 1 January 2002 under the suckler cow premium, special beef premium, slaughter premium, ewe premium, arable aid, extensification premium and disadvantaged areas compensatory allowance schemes, of which €1.11 billion relates to payments made under the 2002 schemes.
To date 98% of 2002 ewe premium applicants, 97% of disadvantaged areas compensatory allowance applicants and 99.8% of arable aid applicants have received their full entitlements.
Advance payments under the 2002 suckler cow premium, special beef premium and slaughter premium schemes were made at the rate of 80% of full premium and to date 98% of applicants for each of these schemes have been paid their advances. Balancing payments commenced on 30 April and to date, 86% of suckler cow premium applicants, 80% of special beef premium applicants and 78% of slaughter premium applicants have been paid.
Some cases remain unpaid and this is mainly due to the requirement to apply penalties across all bovine premium schemes with effect from the 2002 scheme year and also because of problems with the overshoot of the special beef premium national quota. While the requirement to apply penalties across all bovine premium schemes under the integrated administration and control system amending Regulation 2419/2001 will mean later balancing payments for 2002 and future years, the penalties that will be applied to these schemes for irregularities and late lodgement of area aid applications will be much lighter than those that applied up to now.
Payments under the 2002 extensification premium are due to commence next month. It is expected that the vast majority of these payments will be issued during the month.
All direct payments to farmers are paid in accordance with deadlines laid down in the protocol on direct payments agreed with farming organisations. Other support grants are also up to date with the exception of some payments under the on-farm investment schemes in the case of those local offices of my Department affected by trade union disputes.