Vol. 518 No. 3
117 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties experienced by a person (details supplied) with regard to his area aid application; if he will ensure the difficulties are resolved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11406/00]
The amended map which the person named presented to the area aid unit has now been entered on to the Department's electronic database.
The person named claimed a total of 23.36 hectares on his 1999 area aid application. Following processing of his application an area of 22.71 hectares was determined. This represents a difference of 0.65 hectares or 2.86 % 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.
Therefore, in this case no penalty is applied, leaving the area for payment purposes at 22.71 hectares. Any payments due have issued based on this area.
The person named received his full entitlements under the 1999 suckler cow premium scheme and the 1999 special beef premium scheme. Under the 1999 cattle headage scheme his full entitlement was £1,081.20. However, he received a reduced payment of £1,030.94 on 3 November 1999 based on 17.69 hectares and I have now arranged a balancing payment of £50.26 to be made to him within the next two weeks.
118 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the plans, if any, he has to introduce farm drainage grants; if so, when the scheme will commence; the percentage of costs at which it is proposed to make the grants available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11407/00]
There is currently no scheme in operation to grant aid the drainage of agricultural lands and there are no plans to introduce such a scheme.
