Vol. 571 No. 1
294 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a 2002 extensification payment will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the medical certificate lodged on 15 July 2003; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19870/03]
The medical certificate submitted by the person named has been accepted. Arrangements have already been made to pay him an additional amount of €440 by way of two payable orders, which should issue shortly.
295 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he received correspondence on behalf of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo regarding grant entitlements; the grant this person can apply for; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19871/03]
I have the correspondence referred to by the Deputy which refers to possible grants for the housing of machinery. However, no such grants are currently available from my Department. An application has also been received in my Department's local office from the person named to participate in the REPS scheme. This application is currently being processed in accordance with the targets set out in the protocol on direct payments to farmers.
296 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a 2002 extensification payment will be issued to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19873/03]
The person named participated in 2002 extensification premium opting for the census system for the purposes of determining eligibility. On 5 and 6 June, and 19 August 2003, separate payable orders for €800, €240 and €240, respectively, issued to the person named. These payments represent the entire amount of extensification premium due to the person named for 2002.
297 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will receive the full extensification premium 2002 in view of the fact that they have additional grassland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19874/03]
The person named participated in 2002 extensification premium, opting for the simplified system for the purposes of determining the stocking density of his holding. He chose to observe a stocking density of 1.80 livestock units or less per hectare on each and every day of 2002. For 2002 this choice entitled a herd owner to extensification premium at the rate of €40 for each qualifying animal provided the stocking density was observed. If the herd owner felt that he could have observed a lower stocking density limit of less than 1.40 livestock units per hectare, thus establishing entitlement to a payment rate of €80 per animal, he could have altered his choice at any time before the end of 2002. The person named did not alter his choice of stocking density before the end of 2002 and was correctly paid €240 extensification premium on six animals at the rate of €40 per animal.
