Rory O'Hanlon
Ceist:397 Dr. O'Hanlon asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a suckling subsidy will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1726/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Application was made by the person named under the suckler cow premium scheme on 29 May 1998 in respect of 42 animals. A query arose with regard to the status of one of the animals listed on the application and the applicant was contacted on the matter. The claim is now fully processed and payment of 40 suckler cow premium – suckler cow quota = 40 – grants will issue shortly.
John Perry
Ceist:398 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a favourable decision will be made on an area aid application for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the fact he was of the understanding that his application was lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1757/99]
A late area aid application can only be accepted in cases which can be considered as force majeure. The person named should contact the area aid unit directly setting out the reasons the application was not submitted and his case will be considered further.
John Perry
Ceist:399 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the full fodder scheme payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the fact that he was a milk supplier until 19 April 1998, has 13 cows and other animals and received headage payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1759/99]
In order to qualify under the 1998 winter fodder scheme a producer had to have a herd number in one of the designated DEDs and (a) have lodged an application under the 1998 scukler cow premium scheme and have a suckler cow quota, or (b) have mountain grazing on the 1997 area aid application and have an application submitted under the 1998 sheep headage scheme, or (c) have a permanent milk quota of 35,000 gallosn or less on 1 April 1998.
The person named was paid his full entitlement of £80 on 18 December 1998 under the winter fodder scheme 1998. In accordance with the winter fodder scheme criteria the payment was calculated on the basis of £40 each in respect of the two suckler cows applied on under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme. The person named did not have a milk quota on 1 April 1998 as he was accepted into the milk quota restructuring scheme which took effect on that date.
Michael Ring
Ceist:400 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1998 suckler cow premium and cattle headage. [1760/99]
The original area aid application of the person named did not correspond with maps submitted. An amended application form and maps have now been submitted and the area aid application is being finalised and any outstanding payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Ceist:401 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment on his remaining 30 hoggets. [1761/99]
Under the 1998 sheep headage scheme the person named applied on 180 mountain ewes and 20 hoggets. Based on the most up to date area aid records and the forage area on which sheep headage grants were calculated in previous years the maximum number of sheep on which payment could be made was 131 – 111 mountain breeding ewes and 20 hoggets – and full payment has been made on this number.
Michael Ring
Ceist:402 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive any money under the winter fodder losses scheme. [1762/99]
In order to qualify under the 1998 winter fodder scheme a producer had to have a herd number in one of the designated DEDs and (a) have lodged an application under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme and have a suckler cow quota, or (b) have mountain grazing on the 1997 area aid application and have an application submitted under the 1998 sheep headage scheme, or (c) have a permanent milk quota of 35,000 gallons or less on 1 April 1998.
Since the person named although having a herd number in a designated DED did not lodge any applications and did not have a milk quota he did not qualify for aid under the winter fodder package for 1998.
Michael Ring
Ceist:403 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo did not receive any money under the winter fodder losses scheme. [1763/99]
In order to qualify under the 1998 winter fodder scheme a producer had to have a herd number in one of the designated DEDs and (a) have lodged an application under the 1998 suck ler cow premium scheme and have a suckler cow quota, or (b) have mountain grazing on the 1997 area aid application and have an application submitted under the 1998 sheep headage scheme, or (c) have a permanent milk quota of 35,000 gallons or less on 1 April 1998.
No applications were submitted under the herd number quoted for 1998 and no milk quota was registered to that herd number. Consequently no entitlement exists to the winter fodder scheme 1998 for the herd number quoted. The person named is not the registered owner of the herd number quoted.
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:404 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the balance of a sheep subsidy will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [1764/99]
The area aid application for the person named has been processed. Payment in respect of sheep headage will issue as soon as possible.
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:405 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle and sheep headage will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [1765/99]
The person named will be paid his entitlement under the 1998 cattle headage scheme within the next two weeks.
The person named applied on 18 suckler cows under the 1998 suckler cow scheme. At an inspection on 26 November, an animal was found to have died within the retention period. Clause 21 of the terms and conditions governing the 1998 suckler cow scheme requires that the applicant "must notify the Department in writing . . . within ten working days" and as the person named failed to notify my Department of the animal's death, he was informed by my Department on 7 January 1999 that he will receive a reduced payment under this scheme. He has been given the opportunity to appeal this decision by writing to my Department setting out any facts which he wishes to put forward to support his case. Any such appeal will be considered as a matter of urgency.
The person named has not submitted any applications under the 1998 sheep headage scheme or the 1998 ewe premium scheme.
Michael Ring
Ceist:406 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1998 headage and premia payments. [1766/99]
The person named will be paid his entitlement under the 1998 cattle headage scheme within the next two weeks.
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:407 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle and equine grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [1767/99]
An area aid application from the person named was not received until 20 November 1998. Under EU regulations the final date for receipt of 1998 area aid applications was 9 June 1998, with penalties applied to applications received between the closing date of 15 May 1998 and 9 June 1998. Consequently an area aid application received on 20 November 1998 cannot be accepted. Without a valid area aid application for the relevant year, headage payments cannot issue to a herdowner.
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:408 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when cattle and equine grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [1768/99]
An area aid application from the person named was not received until 20 November 1998. Under EU regulations the final date, with penalties for receipt of 1998 area aid applications was 9 June 1998. Penalties were applied to applications received between the closing date of 15 May 1998 and 9 June 1998. Consequently an area aid application received on 20 November 1998 cannot be accepted as valid. Without a valid area aid application for the relevant year, headage payments cannot issue to a herdowner.
Dinny McGinley
Ceist:409 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when sheep and cattle headage premia will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [1769/99]
A query arose in relation to a plot of land that was overlapping with another herdowner's holding. Maps issued to the herdowners concerned and the query was resolved. The area aid application for the person named is now finalised. Payments in respect of sheep and cattle headage applications will issue as soon as possible.
Liam Aylward
Ceist:410 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have arrangements made for payment outstanding on one animal under the suckler cow scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [1783/99]
The person named applied for five suckler cows under the suckler cow premium scheme on 25 May 1998. However, one of the tag numbers was listed twice on the application form which in effect means he only declared four cows. The person named has been paid his full entitlement to date of 80 per cent advance payment on the remaining four cows on 21 October 1998.
Liam Aylward
Ceist:411 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have arrangements made for payment of extensification and 22 month beef grants in respect of 41 animals to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [1784/99]
The person concerned submitted a 22-month special beef premium application in respect of 41 animals on 29 January 1998. During the course of an on-farm inspection two animals were presented without cattle identity tags and were rejected with a consequent reduction of 10.24 per cent on the remaining 39 eligible animals.
Payment – 80 per cent – in respect of this application issued on 10 November 1998. The penalty applied at inspection has been appealed by the person concerned to the headage and premia appeals unit and is under consideration at present.
Extensification premium, payable on 1998 special beef premium applications, is not expected to issue until May 1999 at the earliest.
Liam Aylward
Ceist:412 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have arrangements made for payment under the 1998 suckler cow scheme for eight animals and the ten month beef scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [1785/99]
The person named applied for eight suckler cows under the small scale suckler cow premium scheme. In addition he declared that he had a total of 18 cows. On checking, it was found that he had no milk quota. The discrepancy between the number of cows declared and the fact that there was no milk quota required further examination. Therefore, payment is being held pending resolution of this query, which will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
Advance payments of 80 per cent amounting to £432.81 were made on six aminals applied for under the ten month special beef premium scheme on 18 January 1999.
Liam Aylward
Ceist:414 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the problems which arose in the area aid application by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny have been resolved; and, if so, if he will have arrangements made for immediate payment of all subsidies due to the person concerned. [1787/99]
A query arose on the area aid application of the person named regarding reclaimed land on his application. This query has been resolved and any outstanding headage and premia payments will issue as soon as possible.