Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 May 2003

Vol. 567 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Billy Timmins

Question:

196 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who is waiting to receive payment of 20% balance on a 2002 suckler cow premium; if this can be awarded as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14607/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The person named applied for premium for 17 animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme. The application has been fully processed. Payment of his 80% advance instalment for €3048.44 issued to him on 16 October 2002. The 20% balance instalment for €762.11 was recovered against an overpayment that had occurred under the 2002 area based compensatory allowance scheme.

The person named was paid €5121.10 on 23 September 2002 under the 2002 area-based compensatory allowance scheme. He was paid €4126.60 in respect of 45 hectares of mountain type land –€101.58 per hectare on the first 10 hectares and €88.88 per hectare on the remaining 35 hectares – and an additional sum of €994.50 under a compensation package agreed with the European Commission for farmers experiencing losses under the area-based compensatory allowance scheme.

As the amount of €4126.60 was greater than his average headage of €1789.90 over the years 1998 to 2000, no compensation for loss under the scheme was due, but the compensation had been incorrectly calculated, resulting in an overpayment of €994.50. To date, €762.11 of the overpayment has been recovered from the 20% balance of the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme and €48.00 from the 20% balance of the 2002 slaughter premium scheme, leaving €184.39 to be recovered from future grants due to the person named.