Denis Naughten
Ceist:194 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if REP scheme payments are being delayed due to the introduction of the euro; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2696/99]
Written Answers - Grant Payments.
Denis Naughten
Ceist:195 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in making REP scheme payments to farmers who have been approved for the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2697/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 194 and 195 together.
Significant amendments to the computer system used to process REPS payments were required to make the system compatible with the new euro currency unit and the new rate of exchange. This has led to a delay in payments being made. However, work on the system is almost complete and payments will issue very shortly.
John Perry
Ceist:196 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will have his cattle headage immediately released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2698/99]
The person named applied on 57 animals under the 1998 cattle headage scheme. One of the animals has an invalid tag number. Inquiries regarding the application are ongoing at present and the person named will be informed of the result of the inquiries as soon as they are completed.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:197 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment of a ten month beef premium to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when payment will issue. [2699/99]
Additional information was received from the person concerned which has been processed. Payments will issue as soon as possible.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:198 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment of cattle headage to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when payment will issue. [2700/99]
No application under the 1998 cattle headage scheme has been received from the person named.
Austin Deasy
Ceist:199 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment of a special beef premium and sheep headage for a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and when payment will issue. [2701/99]
There is a commonage over-claim on the application. All shareholders including the person concerned have been asked for evidence of their entitlement to the commonage share claimed. As soon as this information has been received the application will be finalised and any outstanding payments will be made.
Michael Finucane
Ceist:200 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when outstanding payments including a refund of a deduction for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be paid in view of the fact that all documentation which satisfied the area aid unit has been submitted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2702/99]
The milk quota details for the person named have now been amended for 1997 by the area aid unit and all outstanding 1997 payments together with refunds of overpayments deducted in error will be paid next week.
Michael Finucane
Ceist:201 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider a person (details supplied) in County Limerick for a category I deportation grant in view of the special circumstances involved. [2703/99]
During the grant categorisation process, two eligible animals were identified by the district veterinary office as not having been post movement tested within the specified time limit necessary to qualify for the top category i.e. standard rate plus. The appropriate category in this case is therefore standard rate. All reactor and depopulation grants have been paid to the person named at the appropriate grant rate.
Ivan Yates
Ceist:202 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be paid headage entitlements on suckler cows; and if this matter will be expedited. [2718/99]
The person named applied for 20 suckler cows under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme and cattle headage scheme on 5 June 1998.
Under EU regulations governing suckler cow quota usage, producers must use at least 90 per cent of their quota each year; otherwise the part not used is returned to the national reserve. The person concerned did not use any of his suckler cow quota in 1997 and did not reply to a letter issued by the quota section on 2 February 1998 regarding the non-usage of quota. Therefore, his suckler cow quota has been forfeited to the national reserve and is not available to him for 1998. As he holds no suckler cow quota he has no entitlement to suckler cow premium and his application for the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme can not be processed further.
In order to be paid cattle headage amounting to over £500 a herdowner must submit his RSI number. The local district livestock office wrote to the person named on 8 September 1998 requesting his RSI number. No reply has been received to date and his application under the cattle headage scheme is still outstanding pending same.
Ivan Yates
Ceist:203 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when headage payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford in relation to his hoggets; and if this matter will be expedited in view of the fact that he has corresponded with his Department setting out details of his area aid. [2719/99]
The area aid application for the person concerned has been processed. Payments will issue as soon as possible.
Ivan Yates
Ceist:204 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be paid full entitlements in view of the fact that he has returned the documentation clarifying the situation concerning a double claim on lands. [2720/99]
Additional information supplied by the applicant has been insufficient to enable his application to be finalised. The further information necessary has been sought from the applicant.