Vol. 511 No. 6
182 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the suckler cow premium payments issued to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in each of the years from 1997 to date; the reason the over-payment situation arose; and the repayment process involved. [24860/99]
The person named was paid £2,399.88 in 1997 and £1,262.07 in 1998. His 1997 payments included £997.58 paid in error in respect of arable aid. Subsequently a reminder issued to the person named but the monies owed were not returned. Arrangements were then put in place to recoup the monies owed by making deductions from livestock based payments.
This over-payment was recovered as follows: £18.41 was deducted from 1998 special beef premium; £465.98 was deducted from 1998 extensification premium, and £513.19 was deducted from 1999 suckler cow premium.
Under the 1999 suckler cow premium scheme some £285.65 was paid on 11 November 1999, representing the difference between the outstanding overpayment and the full suckler cow premium for 1999.
183 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1998 and 1999 sheep headage and premia; and when he will receive a 1998 extensification payment. [24861/99]
184 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1999 suckler cow and special beef premium. [24862/99]
The 1999 area aid application for the person named has now been fully processed and any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
185 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1999 cattle headage and a special beef premium. [24863/99]
The person named submitted an incomplete 1999 area aid application form. He did not indicate his total claim nor give full details of individual parcels. The area aid unit contacted him in this regard. A reply has been received, but unfortunately, this has not fully clarified the position. Consequently, the person named has been contacted again. No payments can issue until all outstanding problems have been resolved.
186 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in having outstanding moneys paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny for 1998 beef cow and fodder schemes in view of the fact that moneys were deducted under both schemes in respect of the REP scheme; and the amounts due and the amounts deducted for each year. [24868/99]
The person named applied on 26 beef cows under the 1999 beef cow scheme. His entitlement of £1,299.54 under this scheme was recouped by my Department due to an over-payment which had occurred under the rural environment protection scheme. As he did not lodge a 1998 area aid application he was not entitled to payment under the 1998 beef cow scheme, in accordance with clause 22 of the terms and conditions governing that scheme.
187 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the position in relation to a 1998 area aid application by a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24877/99]
The area aid unit did not receive proof of postage nor a copy of the original application from the person named. If the person named wishes to submit copies of these to the area aid unit, the matter will be re-examined.
188 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason medical evidence submitted to his Department indicating the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny was unable to lodge his application under the 1999 ewe premium scheme until 1 September 1998 is not being accepted in view of the fact that the person was rushed to hospital and had a by-pass operation; and if he will now accept the application. [24879/99]
The application period for the 1999 ewe premium scheme extended from 8 December 1998 to 8 January 1999 but applications received in the period 9 January 1999 to 2 February 1999 were also accepted subject to a 1 per cent penalty per working day that the application was late. Applications submitted after 2 February 1999 could not be accepted unless there was an acceptable reason for the late submission as a result of force majeure.The person named submitted an application under the 1999 ewe premium scheme on 1 September 1999, together with a doctors certificate which stated that he was under medical care for acute bronchitis and influenza for four weeks from 1 December 1998. The reasons stated in the certificate were deemed to be insufficient to warrant acceptance of the ewe premium application and the person named was advised of the position on 1 November 1999.
