Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 28 January 2014
618. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has had their single farm payment reduced; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3806/14]
View answerWith regards to the Single Payments Scheme, the reduction in question is due to the application of Financial Discipline. This is a reduction of 2.453658% and is applied in accordance with the relevant EU Regulations. It was necessitated by the need to ensure that the overall EU budget is not exceeded. The reduction applies on all payments under the Single Payment Scheme in excess of €2,000.
With regards to the Suckler Welfare Scheme, the person named registered 20 animals in 2011 and 28 animals in 2012. Payment has already issued in respect of 18 animals for 2011 Scheme and 21 animals for 2012 Scheme year.
Payment for the Suckler Welfare Scheme is issued in respect of eligible suckler cows and is dependant on the required measures being carried out on their calves. The person named had 2 sets of twin calves born in their herd in 2011. As a result the 18 suckler cows paid represents full payment for the 2011 scheme year.
4 of the cows in this herd in 2012 were aged between 22 and 24 months of age at time of calving and under the Terms and Conditions of this Scheme a tolerance is applied in respect of first calved heifers aged between 22 and 24 months. The person named had a total of 7 first time calving heifers in their herd in 2012. As only 1 in 10 of first time calvers aged between 22 months and 24 months are eligible for payment, 3 of the first time calvers in this herd are not eligible for payment. There were also 2 sets of twin calves born in this herd in 2012. This limits the total number of cows eligible for payment under the 2012 Scheme to 23. Payment has already issued in respect of 21 cows. Errors were identified in relation to the remaining 2 animals. One of these errors has since been resolved and payment for this animal will be validated shortly. A letter has issued to the person named in relation to the outstanding error.
