Brendan Kenneally
Ceist:155 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when headage grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Waterford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8953/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named applied on 137 animals under the 2000 cattle headage scheme. At an inspection carried out on his herd on 23 October 2000, 11 animals which were not present at inspection were deemed not to have been in his herd at the date of application. The person named was informed in writing on the day of inspection that the missing animals were rejected for grants, and that the likely penalty would be the loss of all 2000 cattle headage grants. He was given the opportunity to explain in writing within seven days why the 11 animals were absent. However, no satisfactory explanation was provided.
My Department wrote to the person named on 13 November 2000 advising him that the 11 absent animals were rejected from his claim, and that as it had been found a false declaration had been made through serious negligence, no grants would be paid to him under the 2000 cattle headage scheme. He was given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed by writing to my Department within 21 days setting out any facts which he wished to put forward to support his case. No reply was received directly from him, but representations dated 15 December 2000 were received on his behalf. These are being considered at present, and a reply will issue shortly.