Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 October 2004
258 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath is to have a penalty imposed upon them in relation to their application for special beef premium; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23335/04]
View answerThe person named has to date lodged two applications under the 2004 EU special beef premium scheme; one on 25 March 2004 in respect of five animals and one on 20 April 2004 in respect of one animal.
Under the terms and conditions of the scheme all animals are required to be CMMS compliant on the date of application. Following computer validation, two of the animals included on the application of 25 March 2004 were identified as non-CMMS compliant on the date of application, in that their movements were not recorded on the CMMS database until 24 June 2004. The person named was written to on 4 August 2004 and 6 September 2004 advising that the animals in question would accordingly be rejected from the application and was informed of the right of appeal. To date the person named has not availed of this opportunity.
260 Mr. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary has not received payment under the suckler cow scheme over the past number of years. [23343/04]
View answerThe person named did not apply for suckler cow premium in 2000 or 2001. In 2000 she held a quota for nine premium rights but did not use it in that year. Under EU regulations a person holding a suckler quota for seven premium rights or more must, except in duly justified exceptional circumstances, use at least 90% of their quota every year otherwise the part unused is withdrawn and transferred to the national reserve. My Department issued a letter to her on 7 September 2000 advising her that she did not use her suckler quota and that if she was unable to do so due to exceptional circumstances she should reply stating her reasons for non use and her case would be considered. She did not reply to this letter and as result her quota was transferred to the national reserve.
She applied for suckler cow premium in 2002 but her application could not be processed because she failed to return it after it was sent back to her to be fully completed. She applied for premium on nine suckler cows in 2003 but was not paid because she has no suckler quota. My Department contacted her on 28 July and 8 August 2003 advising her to submit reasons for non use of her quota in 2000. However she has failed to do so. Therefore, as she has no suckler quota she cannot be paid premium under the 2003 suckler cow premium scheme.
261 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a payment or compensation can be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo following the discovery of a reactor in their herd in April 2004 in view of the hardship this matter has imposed on them. [23402/04]
View answerThe valuation payment in respect of the reactor animal disclosed in the herd of the person concerned was paid on 28 April 2004. The holding was de-restricted on 17 August 2004 and the person concerned is free to trade since then. The herdowner does not meet the conditions for income supplement or hardship grant schemes.
262 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive the REP scheme payment for 2004. [23423/04]
View answerThe person named submitted his application for payment on 13 August 2004 and it is being processed in accordance with the targets set out in the protocol on direct payments to farmers.
