Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 10 Feb 1998

Vol. 486 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Michael Finucane

Ceist:

170 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment of an extensification premium for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3366/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

Article 4(h) of Council Regulation (EEC) No. 2066/92 states that a producer must have a stocking density of less than 1.4 livestock units per hectare in order to qualify for extensification premium.

Male animals up to and including 24 months old are classified as 0.6 livestock unit each and male animals over 24 months of age are classified as one livestock unit each. Suckler cows are classified as one livestock unit each.

The stocking density of the holding of the person named was calculated as follows for 1996:—

All animals applied on under: The special beef premium scheme	59×0.6 Lus each	35.40 Lus
All animals applied on under: The suckler cow premium scheme	33×1.0 Lus each	33.00 Lus
	Total	68.40 Lus

The forage declared on his 1996 area aid application form was 43.55 hectares. Therefore the stocking density for the holding in question is 68.40 Lus divided by 43.55 hectares which equals 1.57 Lus-hectare. As this is not less than 1.40 Lus-hectare, as set out in the regulation, he does not qualify for 1996 extensification premium.