Ulick Burke
Ceist:152 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason persons (details supplied) in County Galway are eligible for REP scheme grants following the splitting of their holding. [6225/00]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
On the basis of the information supplied, my Department cannot identify applications under REPS from the person named.
Payment under REPS is precluded where holdings have been created or split to avail of or maxi mise payments under the scheme. Where such splitting is established, my Department takes appropriate action.
Ulick Burke
Ceist:153 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a grant under the installation aid scheme will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway. [6246/00]
The application from the person named is currently being processed and completion will take some weeks. If the person meets the eligibility conditions, the appropriate payment under the scheme for installation aid will issue within four weeks thereafter.
Ulick Burke
Ceist:154 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason an application, dating back to 1995, to his Department under the control of farmyard pollution scheme has not been processed for a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6247/00]
The person named was informed in writing by my Department on 8 October 1999 that he was ineligible for grant aid under the control of farm pollution scheme 1994-99 as the animal housing and pollution control facilities in existence at application were considered adequate for the livestock numbers on the farm.
An appeal by the applicant is currently under consideration.
Ulick Burke
Ceist:155 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the number of applications under the (i) REP scheme, (ii) farm retirement scheme and (iii) control of farmyard pollution scheme delayed, refused or under consideration for each of the years 1995 to 1999; if the numbers at the Galway office are higher than for other counties; and the reasons for these difficulties. [6248/00]
Information on the number of applications refused under REPS, the scheme of early retirement from farming and control of farmyard pollution scheme is not maintained centrally in my Department. Efforts are being made through local offices of the Department to collate the information sought and it will be forwarded to the Deputy in due course, together with details of applications under consideration. I can say, however, that a total of 18,427 applications were received nationwide under the control of farmyard pollution scheme 1994-99. Of these, 2,243 were made in Galway and this was the largest number for any county. Of the Galway applications, some 175 were later cancelled. Some 2,012 payments have issued in respect of approved works which have been completed in County Galway.
All valid CFP applications have been approved and paid, except in cases where the investment works have not yet been completed. The date for completion of investment works under CFP has been extended from 31 October 1999 to 30 April 2000. All REPS application, are subject to a desk check and more than 50% are subject to on farm inspections. These controls, which are necessary to ensure compliance with EU regulation, are carried out as expeditiously as possible. Where they give rise to follow up action, this must be completed before payment can be processed.
With regard to the scheme of early retirement from farming, delays have arisen because of the large volume of applications which are dealt with by local office staff in conjunction with other high priority work. These delays have been exacerbated by the large number of applications received in the closing months of 1999. Notwithstanding the volume of cases on hand, every effort is being made to minimise delays in processing.
Ulick Burke
Ceist:156 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if fully legally separated farm units are entitled to separate consideration for farm grant purposes under all schemes within his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6249/00]
Article 2.2 of Commission Regulation No. 3887/92 states:
Member States shall take the measures necessary to avoid the conversion of existing holdings or the creation of holdings after 30 June 1992 leads to patently improper avoidance of the provisions relating to the individual limits on eligibility for premiums or land set-aside requirements imposed under the schemes indicated in Article 1 of Regulations (EEC) No. 3058/92.
Having regard to the above provision, applications lodged under the various headage-premia and REP schemes administered by my Department are examined on their merit and if found compliant with the provisions of EU regulations, payment in full issues.
Ulick Burke
Ceist:157 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if a grant due to a person (details supplied) in County Galway under the REP scheme will be paid in view of the fact this is a young new entrant into the scheme; and the reasons for the delay in this case. [6250/00]
Ulick Burke
Ceist:158 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a REP scheme grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; the reason the investigation and processing of this application has taken so long; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6251/00]
Ulick Burke
Ceist:159 Mr. U. Burke asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reasons for the delay in paying a REP scheme grant to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; when the grant will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6252/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 157 to 159, inclusive, together.
My Department wrote separately to the three individuals named in September 1999 advising that it was considered that their farming operations were not sufficiently separate to justify the payment of three REPS premia.
Each of the individuals sought access to their files under the Freedom of Information Act and their requests were complied with. They subsequently submitted further information in support of their applications and this is being considered by my Department, which will contact the applicants directly as soon as possible.