Gerard Murphy
Question:126 Mr. Murphy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason his Department is denying payment to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [8726/04]
View answerTuesday, 23 March 2004
Questions (132)
Written answers
The person named participated in 2002 extensification premium, while opting for the simplified system for the purposes of determining eligibility. On participation, he chose to observe a stocking density of less than 1.40 livestock units per hectare for each and every day of 2002. Under the terms of the scheme and the relevant regulation, my Department is required to carry out stocking density cross-checks against the CMMS animal database prior to payment to ensure that the stocking density, as chosen, was not breached. Cross-checks were carried out on 19 May and 15 September 2002 and stocking densities of 1.2932 and 1.4291 livestock units per hectare, respectively, were established. These stocking densities were calculated on a total forage area of 45.62 hectares. In view of the fact that the chosen stocking density was found to have been breached at 15 September 2002, the person named cannot be considered for payment of 2002 extensification premium under EU regulations. The person named is also a participant in 2003 extensification premium, payment of which is scheduled to commence in June of this year.
The person named was paid his full entitlement of €4,147.77 on 19 September 2003 under the 2003 area based compensatory allowance scheme. He was paid €3,999.60 in respect of the maximum eligible area of 45 hectares of more severely handicapped lowland and an additional sum of €148.17 under a compensation package agreed with the European Union for farmers experiencing losses under the area based compensatory allowance scheme.
The person named had seven animals slaughtered under the 2002 slaughter premium scheme. Payment in respect of these animals has issued in full. The person named also had 13 animals slaughtered under the 2003 slaughter premium scheme and has been paid 80% advance payment on all 13 animals. Balancing payments are due to commence in the coming weeks. The person named applied for premium on 60 animals under the 2003 suckler cow premium scheme. An 80% advance instalment for €10,759.20 issued on 16 October 2003. The balancing payment will issue shortly.