Vol. 513 No. 1
259 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if the area aid problems of a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be resolved; when the digitisation will be processed in view of the fact that all documents have been lodged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1245/00]
The 1999 area aid application of the person named has now been fully processed and any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
260 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development further to Parliamentary Question No. 126 of 23 November 1999, when a decision will be made on the information lodged regarding a sheep headage balance payment for a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1246/00]
The additional documentation submitted by the person named has been reviewed, and the area aid unit has accepted that he made a genuine error in completing his application. The claimed total on his 1998 area aid application was 28.13 hectares, but this has now been reduced to an amended figure of 22.96 hectares. Following processing of his application an area of 21.58 hectares was determined. This represents a difference of 1.38 hectares or 6.39% between the area claimed and that determined.
Under Article 9 of EU Regulation 3887/92, no penalty is applied when the difference is less than 3%, the penalty is based on double the difference when it is between 3% and 20% and when the difference is over 20%, a 100% penalty must be applied. In this case therefore a penalty of 2.76 hectares has to apply, leaving the area at 18.82 hectares and the person named has received his full entitlement under the 1999 sheep headage scheme.
