Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 1 December 2010
164 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received their payment under the new REP scheme system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45451/10]
View answerMy Department has given priority to examining applications under the Agri-Environment Options Scheme (AEOS) to processing applications with a view to issuing approvals for entry into the scheme. This process is expected to be completed shortly and arrangements will then be put in place to commence payments. Under the EU Regulations governing AEOS and other area-based payment schemes, a comprehensive administrative check, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, must be completed on all participants before any payment can issue.
165 Deputy Willie Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will expedite the payment of moneys due to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath on foot of their single farm payment and area aid applications; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45464/10]
View answerAn application under 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 6 May 2010. The 75% advance payment on the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme which issued on 21 September 2010 and the 50% advance on the Single Payment Scheme, which issued on 18 October 2010, were both on the basis of the land cleared at that stage, as a number of other land parcels declared required digitising.
While balancing payments commenced issuing as and from 1 December, such payments would, in normal circumstances, be confined to those whose applications are fully processed, specifically, where all digitising is finalised. However, following recent consultation with the EU Commission, agreement was reached whereby, in addition to issuing balancing payments to those farmers whose applications are fully processed and whose maps are fully digitised, payments will also issue to those farmers where some or all of their maps are still to be digitised, with the payment being calculated on the basis of the digitised land confirmed otherwise eligible. I am pleased to say that, because of this change, many farmers, including the person named, whose balancing payments would otherwise have been delayed until their digitising is complete, will now receive an interim balancing payment.
166 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive their REP scheme payments for 2009 and 2010. [45470/10]
View answerThe EU Regulations governing REPS 4 and other area-based schemes provide that payments issue in two instalments. The first instalment of 75% may be paid once all administrative checks on all applications, as well as cross-checks against areas declared on Single Payment Scheme applications, have been completed. The SPS application of the person named has not yet been finalized. When this is completed, the REPS cross-check will be carried out and the REPS application will be fully processed.
167 Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an appeal for suckler cow grant in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Carlow. [45486/10]
View answerThe person named registered 14 animals under the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. Under the Terms and Conditions of the Welfare Scheme, it is necessary in the case of herds with more than 10 animals that calves be weaned in at least two separate groups with each group being removed at a minimum interval of 5 days.
As the person named submitted a weaning date of 23 September 2009 for 13 of the animals, (one animal died at birth) the correct procedures as outlined have not been followed. However, the applicant then submitted further information regarding the weaning of his calves. Following a review by Department it was established that the original decision should stand. To this end, a letter issued to the person named on 18 May 2010 advising him of the non-payment of his animals. An appeal was received in June 2010 but offered no new information to warrant a reversal of the original decision. A letter issued on 7th July 2010 to the applicant advising him of the review decision and informing him of his right to appeal this decision to the Agriculture Appeals Office. To date, no appeal has been received from the Agriculture Appeals Office.
168 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if financial approval will be granted to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45491/10]
View answerI understand that an application on behalf of the person in question for financial approval has been received by my Department. However, I understand that the funding for the 1,500 hectares which the Government approved in October has now been allocated and further financial approvals this year will only issue if some of the allocation referred to is not taken up. In the circumstances I cannot give any assurance at this time as to when financial approval may issue to the person in question.
169 Deputy Ulick Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Galway who has been penalised, could have a percentage of their due payment granted while maps are being digitized. [45502/10]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 10 May 2010. This application was selected for a Ground Eligibility and Full Cross Compliance inspection. The inspection process is complete and the results have now been processed.
During the course of the Ground Eligibility inspection discrepancies were found with the following parcels G20215016, G20205094, G20605007 and G20215017 due to inadequate deductions for scrub, rock, trees, a house site and sheds. The claimed area for the Single Payment Scheme of 21.17ha was reduced to 20.15ha. When tolerance was taken into account this area was increased to 20.30ha. As the total entitlements held are 20.45 and the area not found is under 3% and under 2ha the area put forward for payment is 20.30ha. During the course of the Cross Compliance inspection breaches were discovered in relation to Statutory Management Requirement 4, i.e., clean water from a shed roof was not being diverted to a clean water out-fall and pit silage was stored on a concrete slab with no proper effluent collecting facilities. Furthermore slurry and effluent were stored in a facility that was leading to indirect discharge of effluent to ground water.
Non-compliance with the requirements for Good Agriculture and Environmental Condition was also found as there was a proliferation of thistles that were not topped, sprayed or controlled in parcel numbers G20215017 and G20215016. The above non-compliances resulted in a Cross Compliance penalty of 12% being applied to the 2010 direct payments for the person named.
Formal decisions issued to the person named on 18 October 2010 and 30 November 2010 that advised him of his right to seek a review of the decisions with 21 days to the District Inspector and of his right to appeal the outcome of any such review to the Independent Agriculture Appeals Office. The inspection process is complete and the application has now been fully processed. Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Single Payment Scheme will issue within a week.
170 Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when outstanding payment under the single farm payment scheme and REP scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [45519/10]
View answerAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 30 April 2010. The 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme, which issued on 18 October and the further 30% payment under the same Scheme, which is scheduled to issue today, 1 December, were on the basis of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage, as a number of other land parcels listed on the application of the person named required re-digitisation. Immediately this 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.
While balancing payments commenced issuing as and from today, 1 December, such payments would, in normal circumstances, be confined to those whose applications are fully processed, specifically, where all digitising is finalised. However, following recent consultation with the EU Commission, agreement was reached whereby, in addition to issuing balancing payments to those farmers whose applications are fully processed and whose maps are fully digitised, payments will also issue to those farmers where some or all of their maps are still to be digitised, with the payment being calculated on the basis of the digitised land confirmed otherwise eligible.
The EU Regulations governing REPS 4 and other area-based schemes provide that payments issue in two instalments. The first instalment of 75% may be paid once all administrative checks on all applications, as well as cross-checks against areas declared on Single Payment Scheme applications, have been completed. The SPS application concerned has not yet been finalised and when this is done the REPS Cross Check will be carried out and the REPS application can then be fully processed.
171 Deputy Bobby Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [45522/10]
View answerAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. During the validation of the application, a dual-claim was identified in respect of one land parcel. This matter has now been resolved following correspondence between the person named and my Department. Furthermore, a number of parcels listed on the application of the person named also required re-digitising. This process is now completed and the application processed for payment of 50% advance; however, the advance payment which issued, was net of recoupment of over-payments incurred by the person named under the Single Payment Schemes of 2005, 2006 and 2007, as it was established that ineligible features were declared by the applicant during my Department's review of the accuracy of data in Land Parcel Identification System. My Department wrote to the person named on this matter as soon as the overpayments were revealed. As the person named had not refunded these overpayments, they, consequently, fell due for recoupment. The balancing payment due will issue shortly.
172 Deputy John Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reasons for the delay in making a single farm payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Waterford and if he will ensure that payment issues immediately. [45577/10]
View answerAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. A number of parcels listed by the person named required re-digitisation; immediately this process is complete and providing no errors are identified, the application will be further processed, with a view to the payment due issuing shortly thereafter.
173 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason for non-payment of area aid payment in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45578/10]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 26 April 2010. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility and Full Cross Compliance Inspection. The inspection process is complete and the results are now being processed.
Under EU regulations governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Single Payment Scheme all Ground Eligibility Inspections must be completed before any payment can issue to any applicant under either scheme, including those not selected for a Ground Eligibility Inspection. In the vast majority of cases that were inspected amendments have had to be made to the maps in order that the Land Parcel Identification System that is used for making payments to farmers is kept up-to-date. Processing of these changes is continuing with priority being given to applications that were the subject of a Ground Eligibility Inspection.
174 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive the remainder of their area aid and single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45581/10]
View answerAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. The 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme, which issued on 18 October, the 75% advance under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, which issued on 21 September and the 30% balancing payment under the Single Payment Scheme, which is scheduled to issue today, 1 December, were on the basis of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application of the person named required re-digitisation. This process is now complete and the application is being further processed, with a view to the further payments due issuing shortly.
175 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive their reactor grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [45582/10]
View answerThe holding of the person concerned has been restricted under the TB and Brucellosis Eradication Scheme since 23 September 2010. As outlined in the Information Booklet for Farmers, which is issued to all herdowners at the time of restriction, the amount to be paid by the Department under the On Farm Market Valuation Scheme, which is the difference between the on-farm market value of the animals concerned and the price paid to the farmer by the slaughter plant, can only be calculated and paid by the District Veterinary Office following the receipt of a number of documents from the herdowner. In this case, the last of these documents was received in the District Veterinary Office on the 19 November 2010. The District Veterinary Office has certified a payment of €3,049.69 on 22 November 2010 and payment in respect of that amount was issued by my Department on 26 November 2010.
