John Perry
Question:148 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the REP scheme payment of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be issued instantly; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28883/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
My Department has written to the person named, asking him to provide a soil sample analysis. His application for payment cannot be processed until that is received.
John Perry
Question:149 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will rescind the decision made on the suckler cow premium of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28887/03]
The person named applied for an allocation of suckler cow quota from the 2004 national reserve under category A, which caters for first-time applicants for suckler cow premium in 2004 who are under 35 years of age. Farmers who applied for the suckler cow premium for the first time in 2003 were also eligible to apply under this category.
One of the main conditions which category A applicants must satisfy is that the total number of livestock units on the holding must not exceed 50. Livestock units are calculated by reference to the number of animals applied on under the suckler cow premium scheme 2003, ewe premium scheme 2003 and special beef premium scheme 2002. The milk quota, off-farm income – every €270 is one livestock unit – and any acreage used to produce cereal crops are also converted to livestock units.
The person named first applied for suckler cow premium in 2002 so he could not be regarded as a first-time applicant in either 2003 or 2004. He was allocated seven suckler cow quota rights from the 2003 national reserve. In addition, he declared an off-farm income of €8,240, which converted to 30.52 livestock units. These units together with his animal and milk quota units were combined to give an overall total of 57.08 units, which exceeds the 50 unit limit. In the circumstances, it was not possible to make an allocation of quota to him from the 2004 national reserve and the decision already taken by my Department must stand. The person named may appeal this decision, if he so wishes, to the Agriculture Appeals Office, Kilminchy Court, Portlaoise, County Laois.
Beverley Flynn
Question:150 Ms Cooper-Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a REP scheme payment. [28892/03]
The person named submitted an application to join REPS 2. On initial examination of the application, my Department was unable to reconcile the area declared for REPS with the area declared for area aid. The applicant's planner has now submitted clarification, which is being examined. My officials will be in contact with the person named within the next two weeks.
Michael Ring
Question:151 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a suckler cow premium for 2003. [29070/03]
The person named applied for premium for nine animals under the 2003 suckler cow premium scheme. The application is being processed and payment of his 80% advance instalment will issue shortly for eight animals, which is the total number of quota rights held by the applicant.