Michael Ring
Question:89 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received beef premium payment. [18847/04]
View answerWednesday, 23 June 2004
Questions (89, 90)
Written answers
The person named submitted two applications under the 2003 special beef premium scheme: one on 12 August 2003, in respect of 13 animals and one on 31 December 2003, in respect of eight animals. The 80% advance in respect of the first application has issued. However, as the herd of the person named was the subject of a field inspection, further payments were withheld pending the outcome of this inspection. The details of this inspection have now been updated on the Department's computer system and all outstanding payments will issue shortly.
Billy Timmins
Question:90 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position with regard to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow who is waiting to be paid extensification payment for 2003; if this will be paid as a matter of urgency; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18872/04]
View answerThe person named declared a forage area of 38.36 hectares on his 2003 area aid application. An administrative check of the application has, however, found a forage area of 37.25 hectares. This area was used to calculate his livestock premia grants.
Under revised EU regulations in place since 1 January 2002, penalties are not applied to extensification premium in cases where the forage area is found to have been over-declared, unless the area over-declared gives the herdowner a more favourable payment position than would be the case had the over-declaration not been discovered.
When the stocking density of the holding of the person named was calculated using the declared area, it was found to be 1.3933 livestock units per hectare. When it was recalculated using the found area, it increased to 1.441 livestock units per hectare. In normal circumstances, where the stocking density of a holding is less than 1.4 livestock units per hectare, extensification premium is payable at the rate of €80 per qualifying animal. Again, in normal circumstances, where it is between 1.4 and 1.8 livestock units per hectare, the premium is payable at the rate of €40 per qualifying animal.
In this case the person named would have obtained a higher extensification premium had the over-declaration not been discovered. Accordingly, he is subject to an administrative fine of €20 per animal and will qualify for payment at the rate of €20 per animal.
The person named is being notified of the position in writing within the coming days and he can expect a payable order for € 1,180 shortly representing his full 2003 extensification premium entitlement on his 59 qualifying animals.