Ned O'Keeffe
Question:167 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment of the outstanding balance of the beef premium will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [18045/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named submitted a total of eighty animals under the 2002 special beef premium scheme. Five animals applied for by the named person in the 1st age-bull category had already received premium under this category and, therefore, they were deleted as innocent errors. The final balancing payment amounting to €870 in respect of the eligible animals was paid on 23 June, 2003.
Ned O'Keeffe
Question:168 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will re-examine an application for 11 and 21 month beef premium by a person (details supplied) in County Cork with a view to recalculating the stocking density. [18046/03]
The person named submitted a total of twenty two animals under the 2002 special beef premium scheme.
Each applicants stocking density is calculated in respect of each calendar year as follows: male cattle up to and including 24 months old – 0.6 livestock unit; male cattle over 24 months old on – 1 livestock unit; ewes – 0.15 livestock unit; suckler Cows – 1 livestock unit; dairy cows – 1 livestock unit.
The number of dairy cows is a notional figure and is calculated, in accordance with the relevant EU Regulations by dividing an applicants milk quota by the national average yield per cow for the year in question, or by the recorded average milk yield per cow where the producer is in a milk recording scheme.
The area aid application of the person named indicates that the total forage area for premia payment purposes was 16.65 hectares. This allows for premium payments up to 31.63 livestock units, i.e. 1.9 livestock units of premium per hectare. The milk quota of 26,090 gallons of the person named utilizes 21.35 livestock units. This leaves a balance of 10.28 livestock units for special beef premium payment purposes. Therefore, the person named received full payment amounting to €2569.50 in respect of 17.13 animals, that is, 10.28 divided by .6.
The EU regulations governing these schemes specifically provide that animals applied on in excess of the individual herd owners permitted stocking rate of 1.9 units per hectare are deemed to be paid under the age category applied for. Therefore, the remaining 4.87 animals applied for are deemed paid in the age category under which they were applied for by the named person.
Paul Kehoe
Question:169 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford is eligible for EU cereal aid and grass premium after having purchased lands, following the lease of the land for five years previously; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18047/03]
As the Deputy knows the Commission has tabled proposals for the reform of the Common Agricultural Policy which provide for a single farm payments system based on payments made on land and animals declared during a reference period 2000 to 2002. Discussions on the proposals are ongoing at Council of Ministers level and the type of situation in which the person named finds himself is amongst the issues which are under consideration in these discussions. Pending their outcome I cannot comment further on the matter.
Paul Connaughton
Question:170 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the 2002 suckler cow grant will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18048/03]
The person named applied for premium on 25 animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme. When processing the application for payment an error was found in relation to one of these animals. This matter has now been resolved and payment of his entitlement under the scheme will issue to him within the next seven days.