Vol. 532 No. 4
255 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway was deemed ineligible for 22 months and ten months special beef premium; the further reason the cards were punched which has devalued the animals in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8104/01]
The person named declared a forage area of 14.5 hectares on his 2000 area aid application. This gave him a stocking density limit of 29 livestock units for which he could receive premium.
In 2000 the person named applied for special beef premium on 27 first age animals representing 16.2 livestock units and 37 second age animals representing 24.6 livestock units. This amounted to 40.8 livestock units in total. He has been paid £4387.0, that is, up to his limit of 29 livestock units.
Under the EU regulations governing the scheme, all animals applied on in excess of the applicant's stocking limit are deemed to have received the category of the premium for which they were submitted and may not be reapplied on for that same category. It is also a requirement that cattle identity cards-passports show the correct premium status of animals and, therefore, they were stamped and punched for the premium in respect of which they were submitted.
256 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason REP scheme payments to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo have been reduced by 25%. [8140/01]
My Department has not reduced the REPS payments to the person named. He is in his third year in the scheme. He was accepted into the scheme, and has since received his second and third annual payments on an eligible area of 13.25 hectares. He will shortly be invited to apply for his fourth year payment under REPS.
