Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 9 Dec 2003

Vol. 576 No. 5

Written Answers. - Extensification Premium.

John McGuinness

Question:

191 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if full payment under the extensification scheme 2002 will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29828/03]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh):

The person named participated in 2002 extensification premium and opted for the census system to determine the stocking density of his holding. Based on the numbers of bovine animals over the age of six months declared by him at the five census dates for 2002, the stocking density was 1.6035 livestock units per hectare. Under the relevant EU regulation, the Department is required to carry out stocking density cross-checks prior to payment to ensure that stocking density limits are observed.

For the purposes of the cross-check, the livestock unit value of the number of bovine animals over the age of six months declared by the person named at the second and fourth census dates was substituted with the numbers found as per the CMMS animal database at the same two dates. When this was done the stocking density of the holding increased to a figure greater than 1.80 livestock units per hectare. Under EU regulations, where the stocking density of a holding is greater than 1.80 livestock units per hectare, extensification premium cannot be paid. In late September, a letter and a herd profile was posted to the person named. The herd profile set out by livestock unit category the ear tag number and date of birth of each animal found per CMMS to have been present on the holding on the second and fourth census dates. The person named brought to the notice of the Department some discrepancies that appeared on the profiles. When these were corrected and the cross-check carried out again, the stocking density of the holding was found to have been 1.8665 livestock units per hectare. In view of the fact that the stocking density of the holding is still greater than 1.80 livestock units per hectare, the person named cannot be considered for payment of 2002 extensification premium.