Seymour Crawford
Question:164 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan can expect to receive an area aid payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30766/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
One of the terms and conditions of the area-based compensatory allowance scheme is that applicants must meet a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare of the holding in the year preceding application. However, farmers who are unable to meet that minimum stocking density but who traditionally qualified for headage grants in respect of cattle and-or sheep may continue to qualify for payment, provided their land is being utilised and is not in danger of undergrazing.
The person named was not a headage recipient in 2000, and according to my Department's records, the stocking density of the holding did not meet the minimum requirement. My Department wrote to the person named with a view to establishing the type of farming activity being pursued. He replied stating that he had no stock. He was written to on 11 December 2003 advising him that he was not eligible for grants under the area-based compensatory allowance scheme and he was given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed by writing to my Department within 21 days setting out any facts which he wished to put forward to support his case. His application will be further dealt with on receipt of his reply.