The person named stated that he wished to apply for premium on 25 animals under the 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 suckler cow premium schemes, 25 being the number of quota rights on record for him. While he submitted 25 cattle identity cards with his 2001 application, he only submitted 12, 16, and 20 cattle identity cards respectively with the other applications. He has not been paid on foot of these applications because of delays in replying to queries issued to him concerning the identification and registration of some of the animals to which his application related. A final decision on eligibility for payments on the 2001 and 2002 applications will be taken in the coming week by my Department and will be notified in writing to the person named. He is being given more time to answer the queries with regard to the 2003 and 2004 applications.
The person named lodged no applications under the 2001, 2003 and 2004 EU special beef premium scheme. An application was received under the 2002 special beef premium scheme on 31 December 2002 in respect of two animals. Payment on this application cannot be processed until outstanding suckler cow queries are resolved. Eligibility for the 2001 EU slaughter premium has been determined in respect of one animal. However, payment did not issue in respect of this animal as the person named did not return a duly completed producer acknowledgement form to my Department. Should the person named return this form at this stage, payment will be considered.
With regard to the extensification premium, the person named participated in these schemes in 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004. For 2001 and 2002, he opted for the census system for the purposes of determining the stocking density of his holding. To be considered for payment under both years' schemes, herd owners must have submitted the CEN.1 and CEN.2 forms, declaring the numbers of bovine animals present on their holdings at each census date. The person named did not lodge these forms with his local district livestock office and, for this reason, he cannot be considered for payment of the premium. With regard to the 2003 extensification premium, the position is that the stocking density of the holding cannot be determined until the outstanding issues already highlighted with regard to the identification and registration of animals have been resolved. Payment of the extensification premium where due is based on the numbers of animals on the holding on which the herd owner in question has already qualified for payment of the suckler cow premium and-or the special beef premium. The person named has also submitted an application under the 2004 extensification premium scheme. Payments under this scheme will commence in June 2005. The application will be considered in due course.
Payments under the 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 area based compensatory allowance scheme were made to the person named on 24 September 2001, 16 October 2002, 19 September 2003 and 17 September 2004 respectively. The final year payment under a REPS 1 contract issued to the person named in February 2002. He has not made an application to re-join REPS since then.