Michael Ring
Ceist:145 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his 1998 sheep headage. [12063/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Ewe premium payments issued to the person named in June and October 1998. Sheep headage payments issued in October and November 1998. Subsequently, during the processing of a neighbouring area aid application a dual claim was established for a parcel claimed by the person named. This has now been resolved in favour of the person named. Any balancing payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Ceist:146 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1998 cattle and sheep headage and premia; and when problems with his area aid application will be resolved. [12064/99]
The area aid application has been processed. However, on checking the application it was found that the person concerned had significantly over-claimed on several parcels of land, resulting in an overclaim for his farm. My Department informed the applicant and he was requested to supply maps showing the full extent of his land. These maps were received and have now been fully processed, resulting in there still being an overclaim of 35 per cent. EU regulations preclude the making of any area aid linked payments where the area claimed is in excess of 20 per cent greater than that established. As a result there is a 100 per cent penalty applied to the application and no area-aid linked payments can issue to the person concerned for 1998. However in order to give the applicant one final opportunity to check the accuracy of his claim, the area aid unit will be in contact with the Deputy.
Michael Ring
Ceist:147 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a first payment of the winter fodder aid package in view of the fact that he has confirmed in writing to his Department that he never received the cheque which issued on 18 December 1998; and when this money will reissue. [12065/99]
The grant payment in question issued on 18 December 1998. The person named contacted my Department by letter on 31 March 1999 indicating that he had not received this payment. The Paymaster General has confirmed that the payable order which issued in this case was cashed on 24 December 1998. The payee was notified of this and has stated that he did not receive the payment.
The matter is currently under investigation the results of which will determine the eventual outcome.