Tom Hayes
Question:67 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment of an extensification grant will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and the other premiums due to the person. [18139/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named qualified for payment on 46 animals under the 2002 slaughter premium scheme. Payment amounting to €2,944 representing the 80% advance instalment issued on 16 October 2002. Payment amounting to €736 in respect of the 20% balancing payment issued on 13 June 2003. The person named submitted a total of 95 animals under the 2002 special beef premium scheme.
Each applicant's 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 |
1 livestock unit |
|
ewes |
0.15 livestock unit |
|
suckler cows |
1 livestock unit |
|
dairy cows |
1 livestock unit |
The area aid application of the person named indicates that the total forage area for premia payment purposes was 30.10 hectares. This allows for premium payments up to 57.19 livestock units for special beef premium payment purposes – that is, 1.9 livestock units of premium per hectare.
A total of 88.65 animals were eligible for premium following the imposition of the stocking density limit in this case – ten animals at one livestock unit and 78.65 animals at 0.6 livestock unit. As Ireland exceeded its national ceiling the number of animals on which the person named could be paid was reduced by a further 12.5%. Thus, the person named received full payment amounting to €11,640 in respect of 77.6 animals.
The EU regulations specifically provide that animals applied on in excess of the individual herdowner's permitted stocking rate of 1.9 units per hectare are deemed to be paid under the age category applied for. The remaining animals – amounting to the equivalent of 6.35 animals – applied for are deemed paid in the age category under which they were applied for by the named person. The person named will be paid extensification premium in respect of 77.6 male animals shortly. He was not an applicant for 2002 suckler cow premium, ewe premium or disadvantaged areas compensatory allowance payment.
Paul Connaughton
Question:68 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the 2002 extensification payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18140/03]
The person named has been paid his 2002 extensification premium of €400. He opted for the simplified system for determining eligibility and chose to observe a stocking density of 1.8 livestock units or less per hectare on each and every day of the year. This choice entitled him to a payment rate of €40 per qualifying animal and he was paid at this rate on one suckler cow on 5 June and on nine male animals on 6 June 2003.
Paul Connaughton
Question:69 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an extensification grant for 2002 was not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18141/03]
The person named participated in the 2002 extensification premium scheme opting for the census system. Based on the animal number declarations made by the person named on his CEN.1 and 2 forms at all five census dates, the stocking density of the holding for 2002 premium was 1.8343 livestock units per hectare. Since the person named exceeded the maximum stocking density of 1.8 livestock units per hectare allowed for payment of extensification premium he is not eligible under the scheme.