Billy Timmins
Ceist:174 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle and ewe headage payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wicklow. [20502/97]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Payments are continuing to issue to farmers under all premium and headage schemes.
While the requirements of the land parcel identification system which is fully operational in 1997 under EU rules have been a complicating factor in processing the various premium and headage applications this year, it is expected that most remaining payments will be made in the very near future.
Nora Owen
Ceist:175 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the resources, if any, he has made available to the soft fruit growers in view of the difficulties they suffered because of adverse weather conditions in June 1997. [20503/97]
I recently announced the establishment of a fund of £1.2 million to provide assistance for weather related crop losses this year, including those in the soft fruit sector.
I will shortly be inviting applications from those who wish to benefit under this scheme.
Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:176 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a 22 month beef premium payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [20506/97]
The person named submitted an application for 33 animals on 29 August 1997. Twenty-four of the animals showed age inconsistencies whereby the dates of birth quoted on the 22 month application differed from those declared by the herdowner on a ten month application.
It has now been accepted that these inconsistencies arose through innocent error and it has been decided to allow payment on all 33 animals.
The necessary amendments have recently been made and payment will issue shortly, subject to the usual stocking density and area aid considerations.
Willie Penrose
Ceist:177 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath against a 10 per cent reduction in his REP scheme payment was refused, in spite of the fact that this was submitted in March 1997; the steps, if any, his Department will take to restore the full payment of REP scheme to the applicant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20507/97]
A 10 per cent penalty was imposed on the second year payment of the person concerned under measure 3 of the REP scheme, because a fence was not located the specified distance from a watercourse. He has appealed this decision and the case will be examined by the REPS appeals committee as soon as possible.
David Stanton
Ceist:178 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork who applied for a ten month premium and was deemed ineligible had his cards returned but marked deemed paid thus preventing another applicant who might have bought the cattle from claiming; his views on the fact that if the application had not been made in the first place the value of the animals would have been greater at point of sale; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20566/97]
Payment of special beef premium is subject to EU regulations concerning the application of stocking density limits.
An individual's stocking density is calculated by dividing his reckonable livestock units by his forage area. Reckonable livestock units consist of animals submitted by an applicant for special beef, suckler cow and ewe premium schemes coupled with notional livestock units derived from any milk quota held. Forage area is declared by way of an area aid application submitted by the individual. Where no area aid application is submitted, and thus his individual stocking density cannot be calculated, entitlement is limited to 15 livestock units.
In this instance the person named did not submit an area aid application, though he held a milk quota of 25,728 representing 26.68 livestock units. Thus his milk quota more than exhausted his 15 livestock units of entitlements. Notwithstanding this, the person named submitted one 22 month and three ten month applications under the 1996 special beef premium scheme. Under the regulations governing the special beef premium scheme, the animals applied for in such circumstances are specifically deemed to have received the premium applied for and not entitled to be re-submitted for that same instalment at any future time. Thus the stamping and punching of the cards correctly reflects the premium position.
Paul McGrath
Ceist:179 Mr. McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount and percentage of 1997 headage and cow suckler grants paid to farmers in County Westmeath at 31 October 1997 and 25 November 1997; and the way in which these payments compare with the equivalent for 1996. [20593/97]
The information requested in respect of payments to County Westmeath farmers at the dates specified or nearest available dates is outlined in the following tables.
It should be noted that the EU regulations governing the suckler cow premium scheme allows for a 60 per cent advance payment of premium to be made commencing on or after 1 November each year. As a result, the payment position as at 31 October would not include payments in respect of this scheme. By special concession an 80 per cent advance payment was allowed by the EU last year in respect of the 1996 suckler cow scheme so the amount paid at 28 November 1996 would reflect this increase.
Almost 10 per cent of 1997 cattle headage-beef cow applications in County Westmeath cannot be processed at local office because they are under query with the farmers concerned.
Payments are continuing to issue to farmers under all premium and headage schemes. While the requirements of the land parcel identification system which is fully operational in 1997 under EU rules have been a complicating factor in processing the various premium and headage applications this year, it is expected that most remaining payments will be made in the very near future.
Payments to County Westmeath farmers at 31 October 1997 under 1997 Schemes and at 31 October 1996 under 1996 Schemes.
|
Scheme |
Amount Paid under 1997 Schemes at 31 October 1997 |
% Paid under 1997 Schemes |
Amount Paid under 1996 Schemes at 31 October 1996 |
% Paid under 1996 Schemes |
|
£ |
% |
£ |
% |
|
|
Cattle Headage/Beef Cow |
671,772 |
37 |
790,924 |
45 |
|
Sheep Headage |
78,603 |
48 |
83,759 |
49 |
Payments to County Westmeath farmers at 25 November 1997 under 1997 Schemes and at comparable dates in 1996 under 1996 Schemes.
|
Scheme |
Amount Paid under 1997 Schemes at 25 November 1997 |
% Paid under 1997 Schemes |
Amount Paid under 1996 Schemes at comparable dates in 1996 |
% Paid under 1996 Schemes |
|
£ |
% |
£ |
% |
|
|
Cattle Headage/Beef Cow |
1,154,658 |
63 |
1,103,176 |
65 |
|
Sheep Headage |
1,08,495 |
64 |
114,250* |
66 |
|
Suckler Cow |
1,203,166 |
56 |
1,879,577 |
58 |
* Figures do not include top-up under 1996 sheep headage.