Andrew Boylan
Ceist:242 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in payment of a suckler grant to a person (details supplied); and if payment will be made forthwith. [12217/01]
Written Answers - Grant Payments.
The person named applied on 17 suckler cows under the 2000 suckler cow premium scheme. The cattle movement monitoring system or CMMS database showed that one of the animals on which the farmer had applied under the scheme had died during the retention period. While clause 26 of the terms and conditions governing the scheme requires an applicant to notify my Department of any such deaths within ten days of the event the person named failed to do so. He was notified by letter on 18 December 2000 that this animal was rejected from his application and that a reduction penalty would apply to the payment of his remaining eligible animals. He was given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed and on 21 December 2000 the person named wrote to my Department and provided details of a replacement animal for the animal which had died. As it has been established that this is an eligible replacement animal my Department has written to the person named confirming that the review has been successful. Payment of his entitlement under the 2000 suckler cow premium scheme will issue within the next seven days.
Michael Finucane
Ceist:243 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when an extensification grant payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [12235/01]
Under the protocol on direct payments to farmers, as agreed with the farming bodies, my Department is committed to paying the 2000 extensification premium in June 2001 and to having payments in all eligible cases completed by 30 June 2001 in line with EU rules. However, in view of the current difficulties being experienced by farmers, I have asked my officials to examine prospects for achieving an earlier payment date. When payments commence, the person named will be paid without delay provided he meets the criteria for eligibility.