Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 3 November 2010
240 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the proposal, if any, his Department is going to introduce to compensate farmers for higher bank interest charges on their bank loans to participate in the farm waste management scheme arising from the Government’s decision to pay the grants due on a phased basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40444/10]
View answerThe arrangements for payment of the remaining grants under the Farm Waste Management Scheme on a phased basis were confirmed in early 2009 with 40 per cent being paid in that year as claims were approved. A further instalment of 40 per cent was paid early in 2010 and the final instalment of 20 per cent is due to be paid in early 2011. I also announced that a special ex-gratia payment not exceeding 3.5 per cent of the value of the deferred amount would be made to farmers whose Farm Waste Management grants were partially deferred in the manner set out above. This payment will also be made in 2011. I have no plans to alter these arrangements.
241 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [40454/10]
View answerEarlier this year, in response to the widespread frost which damaged the crops of potato and vegetable growers, I introduced an emergency, targeted aid scheme, designed to give a level of support to those affected. The conditions attaching to the scheme included the following:
Financial aid will only be paid in instances where genuine damage to crops was caused by the severe frost in January 2010.
All applications will be subject to an on-farm inspection and the damaged crops must be evident.
Aid will not be payable where frost damage to crops is covered by the farmer's insurance policy.
Decisions on applications will be made on a case-by-case basis taking into account the overall crops enterprise operated by the grower.
I am pleased to say that the application of the person named has now been fully processed and payment of the aid will issue shortly.
242 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) will receive their payments under the single farm payment scheme and under the disadvantaged area scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40463/10]
View answerAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 27 April 2010. While the advance payments under both Schemes have issued to the person named, these have been based on those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application required digitisation; immediately this process is complete, provided no errors are identified, the application will be further processed with a view to the payments due issuing shortly thereafter.
243 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment in respect of two separate schemes will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [40466/10]
View answerAn application under the 2009 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 16 April 2009. This application was fully processed and payment in full issued. Subsequently, however, a Cross Compliance penalty of 5% was applied, which has consequences for the Single Payment Scheme, Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and REPS. While the person named was advised of this penalty in writing, I have arranged for an official of my Department to make direct contact with the person named regarding this matter.
244 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payments will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [40467/10]
View answerMy Officials have been in contact with the person named and are awaiting additional information from him in order to process his application for payment.
245 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [40468/10]
View answerThe person named submitted an adjusted plan in order to be admitted to the REPS 4 Scheme. My officials have been in touch with the applicants REPS Planner in the matter and will be writing to the applicant shortly regarding the outcome of his application.
246 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [40469/10]
View answerAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2010. As a number of the land parcels declared by the applicant required digitisation, the advance payment, which issued to the person named, was calculated on the basis of the land clear at that stage. Immediately the re-digitising process is complete, provided no errors are identified, the application will be further processed, with a view to the further payments due issuing shortly thereafter.
247 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [40470/10]
View answerAn application under the 2010 Single Payments Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 6 May 2010. An advance payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme issued to the person named on 21 September and the balancing payment issued on 20 October 2010. The advance payments under the Single Payment Scheme issued to the person named on 18 October. Balancing payments under the Single Payment Scheme are scheduled to commence issuing as and from 1 December 2010.
