Vol. 503 No. 3
245 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position in relation to a headage grant application for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9999/99]
The applicant furnished an incomplete application form in that all the necessary maps were not received. The area aid unit contacted the applicant concerned in this connection and issued maps to him. This application cannot be further processed until a reply has been received.
246 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a 1998 extensification premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10038/99]
The person named applied for, and was paid on, seven cows under the 1998 suckler cow premium scheme. He also applied on six animals under the ten month special beef premium scheme and has been paid an 80 per cent advance payment. The balancing payment should issue next month. In accordance with the regulations extensification premium is payable on all animals eligible for payment under the suckler cow premium and special beef premium schemes if the stocking density of a holding is less than 1.4 LUs/ hectare.
It is intended to make payments under the 1998 extensification premium in May/June. The person named will then be considered for payment and if the stocking density is less than 1.4 LUs/ hectare payment will issue before the end of June.
247 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 23 February 1999, he will ensure that payment is released on an animal to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the fact that all amendments have been made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10039/99]
As stated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 222 of 23 February 1999 payment on the animal in question can only be made when the date of birth on the cattle identity card is consist ent with the date of birth on the Bandon database.
To date no response has been received from the person named on this issue.
248 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 163 of 2 March 1999, an area aid application will be processed for a person (details supplied) and payment released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10041/99]
No area aid application form was received from the person named in 1998. However, on the basis of the medical certificate submitted by the Deputy, the area aid unit agreed that a late an application would be accepted. A 1998 application form for the person named was issued, and was received back by the area aid unit recently.
A problem has arisen in that the area aid unit does not have a map showing the boundaries of plots that the applicant included on his application. Maps have issued to the herdowner and when these are completed and returned his application will be processed.
249 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) is entitled to the £2,000 redundancy payment; if this case will be reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10048/99]
Under the terms and conditions of the scheme of early retirement from farming, a farm workers pension may be applied for by a family helper or paid farm worker.
On the date that the legal transfer documents are signed transferring the agricultural holding from the transferor to the transferee or on the date of assignment of the land to non-agricultural uses a worker must:
–be between his or her 55th and 65th birthday;
–have devoted at least half his/her working time to farm work in the preceding five years
–and have worked on the transferors farm for at least the equivalent of two years full-time during the four year period preceding the early retirement of the transferor;
–undertake to stop farm work completely; and
–have paid PRSI contributions since 30 July 1992.
No more than two workers per agricultural holding may qualify under the scheme.
In this case as the spouse of the retired farmer has not applied for the workers pension my Department is not in a position to assess her eligibility for it. There is no redundancy payment under the scheme.
250 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the outstanding area aid difficulties will be resolved for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the fact that he has not received his cattle headage and 10 and 22 month beef premiums; if the subsidies will be released; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10051/99]
The area aid application for the person concerned has been processed. However, a query arose in relation to land being claimed by the applicant as it was also being claimed by another applicant. Maps issued to the above named who has not replied. However, the other applicant concerned has now submitted correspondence indicating that he should not be claiming the land in question. The land has now been credited to the above named and payments will issue as soon as possible.
251 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if, further to Parliamentary Question No. 178 of 2 March 1998, headage and fodder payment will be immediately released for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the tremendous pressure he is under; the reason for the delays; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10055/99]
As indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 178 on 2 March 1999 a query arose in relation to land being claimed by the applicant which was also claimed by another applicant. Maps issued to the above named. Correspondence has only been received very recently indicating that he has the right to claim the land in question. The land has now been credited to the above named and payments will issue as soon as possible.
The person named did not lodge an application for the 1998 suckler cow premium, ewe premium or sheep headage schemes and did not hold a milk quota at 1 April 1998. Therefore he does not qualify for assistance under the winter fodder scheme.
The person named did lodge an application for the special fodder hardship scheme but as his off-farm income exceeds the limit of £5,200, he is not eligible for payment under this scheme either.
252 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a fodder relief payment will be increased for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo in view of the fact that he has a dairy herd; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10057/99]
The person named is entitled to a full grant of £300 under the 1999 winter fodder scheme. Payment of £88 in respect of 22 ewes was made on 31 March 1999 and the outstanding pay ment of £212, in respect of his milk quota, will be made shortly.
253 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a detailed study on a REP scheme application will be carried out for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo which has been ongoing since 1997; when a decision will be made on the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10058/99]
This application is being examined in the context of the separation of holdings between the person named and other family members. An inspection was carried out recently and a decision will be given in the near future.
