Michael Ring
Ceist:365 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a REPS payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [19307/00]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The application from the person named has been considered in my Department. The applicant was advised in August that his application could not be accepted. It included part of a commonage share which the applicant had split with his brother. My Department formed the opinion that two farming units had been created for the purpose of maximising or drawing down payments under REPS. This is specifically excluded under the terms and conditions of the scheme.
The person named has been advised that it is open to him to submit a joint application with his brother for further consideration. For such an application to be processed, it would also be necessary for the person named to rectify certain deficiencies in his lease. My Department has explained to him what these deficiencies are.
Question No. 366 taken with Question No. 364.
Michael Ring
Ceist:367 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive 1999 extensification payment. [19309/00]
In accordance with EU regulations, 1999 extensification premium is paid on all animals paid under the suckler cow and special beef premium schemes if the stocking density on the holding is less than 1.40 livestock units per hectare.
The person named declared 9.88 hectares on his 1999 area aid application. He made three applications under the 1999 special beef premium scheme consisting of one 10 month animal (0.6 lu) and 16 22 month animals (13.60 lus). One of the animals applied for on the second 22 month application was previously paid bull premium in another herd and was not eligible for payment under the 22 month special beef premium scheme. However, this animal must be counted in the stocking density calculation. The total livestock units divided by the hectares (14.2/9.88) give a stocking density of 1.43 lus/ha.
As the stocking density on the holding is not less than 1.40 lus/ha the person named has no entitlement to 1999 extensification premium.