Vol. 500 No. 3
69 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1998 headage and premia in view of the fact she has submitted all documents to verify ownership of land and to clear up any misunderstanding regarding overclaims. [3916/99]
There was a problem on the area aid application of the person named because two parcels being claimed by this person were also being claimed by another herdowner. Maps issued to the herdowners concerned and the area aid application for the person named was finalised with a penalty being applied to the forage area. The person named confirmed that she was not entitled to claim either of the parcels concerned with the result that she has no eligible area.
70 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason sheep and cattle headage payments have not issued to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in view of the fact that the delay has caused severe financial hardship and maps were re-submitted to the area aid unit several weeks ago. [3918/99]
As stated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 2 February 1999, the maps submitted by the person named have been processed in the area aid unit. Payment in respect of her 1998 sheep headage application issued on 10 February 1999 and any other outstanding payments due will issue as soon as possible.
71 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to a headage grant payment for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3933/99]
In order to be considered for payment of headage grants herdowners must submit a valid area aid application for the relevant year. The person named did not submit an area aid application in 1998 and consequently payments cannot issue in respect of his 1998 sheep headage application.
72 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to a headage grant payment for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [3934/99]
There was a problem with a parcel of land on the area aid application of the person concerned. This has been resolved and any headage payments due will issue as soon as possible.
73 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a need for fodder aid for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be examined in view of the fact she is not in a position to feed her stock. [3935/99]
A new fodder scheme has been agreed by the Government details of which are now being finalised and will be announced shortly. However the person named may not qualify for the new measure, as she was not an applicant under the 1998 suckler cow or ewe premium schemes and she did not hold a milk quota at 1 April 1998.
74 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo is eligible for 1999 fodder aid in view of the fact he has no food for his cattle. [3936/99]
A new fodder scheme has been agreed by the Government details of which are now being finalised and will be announced shortly. However the person named may not qualify for the new measure, as he was not an applicant under the 1998 suckler cow or ewe premium schemes and he did not hold a milk quota at 1 April 1998.
75 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo claiming compensation for scrapie in sheep has not been approved in spite of the fact that the application form on which she has applied appears to have been issued by his Department on 15 December 1998. [3937/99]
In December 1998 the person in question made contact with my Department with a view to seeking compensation in respect of scrapie in sheep in her flock. She has since been advised that documentation to enable her to pursue her case will be sent to her when the required forms have been finalised.
76 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Cork is entitled to benefit under the fodder schemes. [3938/99]
I announced the general outline of the 1999 fodder scheme last week. The details of the scheme are currently being finalised and will be announced shortly.
77 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive a decision on a second application to the appeals tribunal for an additional milk quota in view of a tuberculosis problem in his herd in early 1998. [3939/99]
A second application for a temporary allocation of additional quota under the restricted herds reserve has been submitted to the milk quota appeals tribunal by the person named and will be considered as soon as possible.
The person named will be notified of the outcome of his application.
78 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not received a 1998 ewe premium payment; the amount due in this regard; and when payment will issue. [3940/99]
Under the 1998 ewe premium scheme the person named applied for payment in respect of 50 ewes. The Department inspector called to the farm to carry out an inspection of the flock on 21 April 1998 but due to the non co-operation of the person named he was unable to do so. Two Department officers called again eight days later to carry out the inspection but on this occasion the person named said that he had sold the sheep. The sale of the sheep was not recorded in the sheep register which is a requirement under the scheme. On 23 July 1998 the person named was asked to submit acceptable documentation regarding the sale (copy of cheque, bank statement) to the local office in Cork to verify that the sheep on which he claimed were maintained on the farm throughout the retention period (i.e. 10 January 1998 to 19 April 1998) to enable his application to be fully processed. To date this documentation has not been submitted by the person named.
79 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food further to Parliamentary Question No. 207 of 10 November 1998 in relation to a REP scheme payment, the reason a letter (details supplied) was sent to the person in view of the fact he stated in his reply that, under these new arrangements, this application can now proceed with a view to making an early payment. [3941/99]
When the applicant first applied to join REPS in November 1997 grazing rights of the nature held by him were not eligible for inclusion.
On 10 November 1998 my Department and the Department of Arts, Heritage, Gaeltacht and the Islands announced interim arrangements for the implementation of commonage framework plans in order to facilitate the early acceptance of applicants into REPS in NHAs and commonages, including grazing rights. Unfortunately it has not been possible to meet the time-scale envisaged in my reply of 10 November.
80 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if persons (details supplied) in County Galway who receive equine headage have been included under the new fodder subsidy and grant scheme; and, if not, if their inclusion will be considered under the revised proposals. [3942/99]
The aim of the 1999 fodder scheme which I announced last week is to give some relief to farmers mainly in the disadvantaged areas who have severe fodder shortages due to the prolonged bad weather. It is not intended to extend the scheme to include equine owners.
