Vol. 571 No. 1
316 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if 2003 headage payments will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in November 2003; if he will waiver the six months retention period which will delay payment until December 2003 in view of circumstances (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20350/03]
The 2003 area aid application of the person named has been fully processed with an area determined for payment purposes of 11.65 hectares. My Department will commence paying 80% advance instalments on 16 October 2003 to all applicants eligible for payment under the 2003 suckler cow premium scheme even though, in some cases, the six months retention period for maintaining the animals applied on will not have been completed. It will still be necessary for farmers to comply with the retention provisions of the scheme as this will be checked before any balancing payments are made.
317 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that due to lack of resources within his Department, the REP scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo was not approved until 17 January 2003, despite the fact that it was received in his Department on 9 September 2002; if the records will be amended to reflect the start date from 9 September 2002; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20503/03]
There is no lack of financial resources within my Department for the REP scheme. The protocol on direct payments to farmers sets targets for the processing of REPS applications. Regrettably, the processing of this application went some 15 days beyond the protocol target.
An application under the REP scheme can be accepted only when my Department is satisfied that it is fully in order and fulfils all the terms and conditions of the scheme. Following the acceptance of an application, the applicant embarks on a five-year contract during which he or she must carry out specified undertakings which are monitored by my Department during the course of the contract. It is therefore not possible to backdate the approval of the application from the person named.
318 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the application for extensification in the name of a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if extensification can be awarded in this case in view of the very serious operation this person underwent in 2002. [20504/03]
On 20 February 2002 the person named lodged an EXPR.1 form with the Department on which he opted not to participate in 2002 extensification premium. The fact that he had a very serious operation at some stage in 2002 is not necessarily sufficient grounds for allowing him to participate in 2002 extensification premium at this stage. If, however, the nature of the person's illness was such that it would have affected his judgment at the time he indicated that he did not wish to participate in 2002 extensification premium, he may submit medical evidence in support of his case. The matter will then be considered further.
