Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 January 2011
457 Deputy Beverley Flynn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received their area aid based payments and REP scheme 4 payments for 2010. [3681/11]
View answerAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 28 April 2010. As the land parcels declared by the person named required re-digitisation payment could not issue until this process was complete. This process was recently completed, thereby allowing full payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme to issue on the 24 January directly to the nominated bank account of the person named. The REPS application of the person named has been processed. Payment will issue shortly.
458 Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding area based payments in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Longford which are due since September 2010 and are urgently needed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3683/11]
View answerAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 11 May 2010. The 50% advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme, which issued on 18 October, the further 30% payment under the same Scheme, which issued on 1 December, as well as the 75% advance payment under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme which issued on 22 September, 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. This process is now complete and the application is being processed, with a view to the further payments due issuing shortly.
459 Deputy Billy Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding the availability of grants in respect of a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3709/11]
View answerThere is no scheme within my Department to provide grants to individuals for cutting down dangerous trees. It should be noted that under the Forestry Act, 1946, with certain exemptions, it is illegal to uproot any tree over ten years old, or to cut down any tree of any age, unless notice of the intention to do so has been given in accordance with the Act.
460 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding a REP scheme 3 application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if he has received correspondence from the person outlining the grounds of their appeal against his Department’s finding on their application; the timeframe in which the Department will deal with same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3712/11]
View answerMy officials are currently examining the appeal submitted by the person named. The applicant will be notified of their decision within three weeks.
461 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be paid their REP scheme 4 grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3714/11]
View answerThe file is currently under examination following a field inspection and my officials will be in contact with the person named when this examination is complete.
462 Deputy Martin Ferris asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason moneys due under the sheep grassland scheme have not been paid and when payments will issue. [3718/11]
View answerLast year, I launched the three-year, €54 million Grassland Sheep Scheme, availing of the unused Single Payment funds. During the CAP Health Check negotiations, I had as one of my high priorities getting access to these CAP funds and, immediately it became clear this had been achieved, I identified the sheep sector as one that was vulnerable and in need of specific supports. I am confident that this Scheme, which focuses on those flocks with breeding ewes, will maintain the breeding flock and will act as a real incentive to farmers anxious to maintain their production levels, which are essential for the future of a viable sheep industry in this country .
The supply of lambs is a key and fundamental element underpinning the sheep and lamb processing industry. This is a hugely valuable export-orientated part of the Irish agri-food sector, supplying a high-value product to consumer markets throughout Europe. The industry is worth around €250 million to the Irish economy and over two thirds of the product is exported. Irish sheep farmers are facing significant production and demand pressures at present, though Ireland is not alone in this regard. To maintain a viable industry, we must arrest the decline in reducing flock numbers, income pressures and producers leaving the sector. I believe that this Grassland Sheep Scheme will achieve these aims and will provide a much needed and very valuable income support to an important and vulnerable sector . This is a new stream of income which, I am satisfied, will be of immense benefit to this very important and valuable sector.
While it had been my intention that payments under the Scheme would commence in December, as the EU Commission raised some technical questions regarding payments to sheep farmers under EU Pillar I and Pillar II Schemes, including the Grassland Sheep Scheme, it has not yet been possible to do so. My officials responded in detail to the Commission and there were subsequent discussions between both parties. I am pleased to say that these matters have now been satisfactorily resolved, as a result of which payments under the Scheme will begin issuing as and from 1 February to those cases confirmed eligible for payment at that stage. Payments will continue to issue thereafter, as individual cases are confirmed eligible for payment.
463 Deputy Jimmy Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payment of suckler welfare scheme will issue in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry, following their successful appeal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3743/11]
View answerThe person named registered 19 animals under the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. This application was originally rejected as the applicant weaned all the animals on the same date contrary to requirements of the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. This decision was appealed to the Agriculture Appeals Unit. During an oral hearing the applicant presented new evidence, which enabled my Department to reverse the original decision. The file was processed for payment but as 5 animals were sold before the prescribed measures were completed, these animals were deleted as ineligible. The person named was notified of this position in a letter of 8 November 2010. The validation process has been completed in respect of the remaining 14 animals and payment will issue shortly.
464 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment under REP scheme 4; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3775/11]
View answerThe REPS application of the person named has been processed. Payment will issue to the person named shortly.
465 Deputy Seymour Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will be paid their area aid payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3787/11]
View answerAn application under the 2010 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2010. A number of parcels listed on the application of the person named required re-digitisation. This application is now processed and payment will issue shortly.
466 Deputy John O’Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will receive the result of their application for single payment and headage [3798/11]
View answerIn order to receive payment under the Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area schemes it is a requirement for applicants to submit an application prior to the closing date, which for the 2010 scheme year was 17 May 2010. Records held by my Department indicate that a preprinted 2010 SPS application form was sent to the person named on 24 March. My Department has no record of receiving a 2010 Single Payment/Disadvantaged Area application from the person named. All Single Payment applications sent out by my Department contained a pre-addressed return envelope with a Swiftpost label attached for which the herd owner receives a receipt from the Post Office upon posting. If the person named can provide this proof of postage or provide an explanation as to why the application form does not appear to have been returned, my Department will review the case based on any information and documentation submitted to it.
467 Deputy Michael Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive their 2010 single farm payment and disadvantaged area payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3910/11]
View answerAn application was received on 16 September 2010 requesting the transfer of 32.66 Single Payment entitlements by way of inheritance from the first person named to the second person named. As the closing date for receipt of applications to transfer entitlements under the 2010 Single payment scheme was 17th May 2010, payment under the 2010 scheme year will issue to the Representatives of the first person named. An official from my Department has been in contact with the legal representatives of the first person named requesting the necessary testamentary documentation required to release the 2010 Single payment.
The requested transfer of entitlements to the second person named will be processed under the 2011 scheme year.
