David Stanton
Ceist:228 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of people in the various areas still awaiting installation aid payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12256/98]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
David Stanton
Ceist:229 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the progress, if any, made towards the establishment of a new installation aid scheme; the meetings held in this regard; the estimated commencement date of the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12257/98]
David Stanton
Ceist:230 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether he has decided to allow installation aid payment to be made to those young farmers whose applications were being processed in Teagasc offices on the date when he terminated the previous scheme; the numbers, if any, of these paid to date; the numbers remaining to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12258/98]
Valid applications received in the Department on or before 7 August 1997 are being considered for payment of the installation aid. These are being processed in order of receipt. Of approximately 600 applications outstanding, some 100 have yet to be examined, while further supporting documentation has been requested in the other 500 cases before eligibility can be determined.
The position regarding applications held by Teagasc at the date of the suspension of the scheme of installation aid is being examined in the context of the drawing up of the new scheme.
Meetings with Macra na Feirme, IFA and ICMSA have taken place to enable their views to be taken into account in the preparation of the new scheme. The terms of the scheme are expected to be finalised shortly. The approval of the Department of Finance and EU Commission will then be sought.
Michael Creed
Ceist:231 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to 1996 and 1997 cattle headage payments in view of the fact that he has less than 15 livestock units and need not have submitted an area aid application; and, if so, if the Department will make arrangements for the immediate payment of these grants. [12338/98]
Under the suckler cow premium scheme and the special beef premium scheme the regulations governing the area aid scheme provide that where an area aid application has not been submitted, payment on up to 15 livestock units may be made.
However, under the area aid scheme regulations an area aid application must be submitted to claim disadvantaged areas headage payments.
A 1997 area aid application was received from the person concerned on 10 June 1997 which would normally have incurred a 100 per cent penalty but was accepted under force majeure. However, there is an apparent overclaim on one parcel of land. A map issued in late February 1998 to the person named with a view to clearing up the apparent discrepancy, but no reply has yet been received.
The person named submitted a valid area aid application in 1996. The person named applied on 22 animals under the 1996 cattle headage scheme. On 14 January 1997 an inspection was carried out on his herd and six animals were absent. The person named was unable to furnish sales receipts for the absent animals and they were rejected for cattle headage grants. Under paragraph 30 of the 1996 cattle headage scheme, no grants were payable since the rejected animals exceeded 20 per cent of the animals found.
Michael Creed
Ceist:232 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will correct the Department's records of a 1997 area aid application by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [12340/98]
The area aid application from the person concerned has been examined and the total area claimed has been amended.