Liam Aylward
Ceist:154 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when headage payments will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [29661/00]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The area aid application submitted by the person named includes parcels which are part of a commonage on which a cumulative overclaim has arisen. The area aid unit has been in contact with representatives of the herdowners with a view to resolving the correct entitlements to area aid on this commonage. Once a response is submitted by these representatives it is hoped that the area aid claims will be resolved and payment can be made to the herdowner.
Breeda Moynihan-Cronin
Ceist:155 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when he will pay a suckler cow grant and a headage grant to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry. [29742/00]
The 2000 area aid application for the person named has been fully processed with no outstanding errors and the area for payment purposes has been determined at 25.77 hectares. Payment of £884.34, representing the 60% advance under the 2000 suckler cow premium scheme, has now issued to the person named, and she will be paid her entitlement under the 2000 cattle headage scheme within the next seven days.
John Ellis
Ceist:156 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department will pay headage and premium due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [29744/00]
There were a number of problems with parcels of land on the 2000 area aid application of the person named. All the relevant maps for the land parcels have been sent to him in order to have the matter resolved. The application cannot be processed further until the corrected maps have been returned and no payment can issue under the 2000 cattle headage scheme to the person named. Payment of £353.73, representing the 60% advance under the 2000 suckler cow premium scheme, issued to the person named on 23 November 2000.
John Ellis
Ceist:157 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department will pay beef premium due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [29745/00]
The application for the person named was issued for inspection and the file has now been returned to the special beef premium unit. Payment will issue within the next two weeks.
John Ellis
Ceist:158 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the non-payment of sheep headage since 1997 to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo. [29764/00]
A herdowner must submit a valid area aid application for the relevant year in order to be considered for payment of headage grants. No area aid application was received from the person named for the years 1997, 1999 and 2000, and consequently no sheep headage payments can be made for those years. The 1998 area aid application for the person named has been processed with no outstanding errors, and the area for payment purposes has been determined at 11.14 hectares. Any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
John Ellis
Ceist:159 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department will pay headage grant to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [29766/00]
An overclaim was identified on one of the parcels of land on the 2000 area aid application of the person named and the relevant map for the land parcel was sent to him to enable the matter to be resolved. The map has now been returned and the land parcel is being inserted on the Department's database. Any payments due will be made as soon as possible.
John Ellis
Ceist:160 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department will pay headage and premium to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [29767/00]
There was a problem with a parcel of land on the 2000 area aid application of the person named. The relevant map for the land parcel was sent to the person named in order to resolve the matter. The map has now been returned and the 2000 area aid application has been cleared. Payment of £707.47, representing the 60% advance under the 2000 suckler cow premium scheme, has now issued to the person named, and he will be paid his entitlement under the 2000 cattle headage scheme within the next seven days.
The person named submitted two applications for 2000 special beef premium. Payment of £57.64, which represents 60% of the premium due, has issued in respect of one animal applied on 7 March 2000. He applied for one animal on 6 October 2000 and payment in respect of October applications will commence in January 2001.
John Ellis
Ceist:161 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department will pay headage and sucker premium to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [29768/00]
The person named submitted an application under the 2000 cattle headage and suckler cow premium schemes on 30 May 2000.
When finalising checks were carried out it was found that one animal was not in the ownership and possession on the date of application. Consequently the person named is not entitled to payment under the 2000 cattle headage and suckler cow premium schemes in line with the terms and conditions of those schemes.
He was advised of the position on 14 November and asked to provide documentary evidence regarding the purchase of the animal in question. Independent evidence was not provided and as a result the person named was informed of this decision on 8 December 2000. This letter of notification affords the applicant an opportunity to appeal the decision within 21 days.
Prior to the information regarding the missing animal coming to the attention of the Department the person named was paid £1066.20 under the 2000 cattle headage scheme on 25 October 2000 and as matters stand at present these moneys are now due to be refunded to my Department.
Willie Penrose
Ceist:162 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a decision will be made on an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath in relation to a proposed reduction in REP scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29769/00]
Following an inspection by my Department in 1999 of the farm of the person named, a penalty was imposed because a habitat listed on the farm had not been retained. Retention of habitats is a fundamental requirement of the REP scheme. An appeal was lodged to the REPS appeals committee on behalf of the person named in January 2000 and this was forwarded to my Department's regional office for investigation. Because of the complexity of the case, two inspections have taken place and it is expected that the matter will be considered by the REPS appeals committee in January next and the person named will be informed of the outcome directly in writing.