Vol. 477 No. 2
291 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid his headage and premia for 1996 in view of the fact that all documentation requested was submitted several months ago to the area aid section and the delay is causing financial hardship; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8987/97]
The person concerned was paid his 1996 cattle headage entitlement of £1,013.68 on 12 December 1996. He was paid 80 per cent advances totalling £5,626.59 under the 1996 special beef premium scheme as follows: £288.54 on 16 November 1996, £3,246.12 on 25 November 1996, £1,154.17 on 27 January 1997, and £937.76 on 18 February 1997. A 20 per cent balancing payment of £1,406.67 under the 1996 special beef premium scheme is dependent upon validation of all the data supplied on the 1996 area aid application form against the maps supplied. This is a requirement under the land parcel identification system the purpose of which is to provide the Department with a database whereby land parcels being claimed for area aid purposes can be located, identified and have area values and land use attributed. Furthermore, the system ensures that parcels of land are not over-claimed by farmers or that the same parcel is not claimed by more than one farmer in any given year. Certain problems arose in identifying all of the land parcels being claimed by the person concerned against those parcels outlined on the maps supplied. The person concerned was written to on 12 December 1996 with a view to resolving the problem. No reply has been received to date. As soon as a reply is received his case will be processed for payment of the outstanding amounts.
