Vol. 541 No. 2
298 Mr. T. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a grant payment for the provision of buildings under the NFP scheme has not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21327/01]
The national scheme for the control of farm pollution, now replaced by the new farm waste management scheme, was extremely successful and uptake exceeded all expectations. The EU-imposed ceiling for expenditure under this scheme has been reached and my Department has applied to the EU Commission to formally raise the ceiling. A number of payments under the scheme, including payment to the person mentioned in the question, has been delayed pending receipt of this formal approval. Following recent discussions between my Department and the European Commission a positive response is expected very shortly. All payments will issue immediately approval is received.
299 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when the suckler cow grant for 2001 will be paid. [21329/01]
Advance payments of 60% of the premium under the suckler cow premium scheme normally commence on 16 October of the calendar year in which the application is made. This is the earliest payment date permitted under the relevant EU regulations.
300 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not received a farm grant payment. [21339/01]
The national scheme for the control of farm pollution, now replaced by the new farm waste management scheme, was extremely successful and uptake exceeded all expectations. The EU-imposed ceiling for expenditure under this scheme has been reached and my Department has applied to the EU Commission to formally raise the ceiling. A number of payments under the scheme, including payment to the person mentioned in the question, has been delayed pending receipt of this formal approval. Following recent discussions between my Department and the European Commission a positive response is expected very shortly. All payments will issue immediately approval is received.
301 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received a payment of the rural world premium and the ewe premium for the year 2000 and other instalments of ewe premium for the year 2001. [21350/01]
According to my Department's records the person named was paid under the 2000 ewe premium scheme in two instalments on 23 June 2000 and 16 February 2001. However he did not qualify for payment of the rural world element of the ewe premium that year as he did not lodge an area aid application.
Under the 2001 ewe premium scheme he has already been paid the first instalment on 2 August last and the advance of the 2001 rural world element will be paid with the second instalment of the Ewe premium when payments of this instalment commence later on this month.
302 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will waive penalties on the 2001 suckler cow payments to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21360/01]
The person named applied on 18 cows and four heifers under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme on 5 April 2001. Following an examination of his application it was found that he had declared two of the animals as cows when in fact they were heifers at the date of application. The person named called to the public office of the Department's district livestock office on 4 September 2001 and confirmed that both of these animals had calved in April this year. Our records show that one animal had calved on 8 April 2001 and one animal had calved on 16 April 2001, both dates being after the date he lodged his application.
My Department wrote to the person named on 20 September 2001 advising him that as he had declared these animals as cows he had contravened Clause 9 of the terms and conditions governing the scheme. Clause 34(b) provides that "a producer who is found to have made a false declaration intentionally will lose all 2001 and 2002 suckler cow premium". He has been given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed by writing to my Department setting out any facts which may support his case. To date, no reply has been received.
303 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) is allo cated a suckler cow quota; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21361/01]
The person named is one of 2,944 farmers who have applied for an allocation of suckler cow quota from the 2002 national reserve. These applications are presently being processed and it is not possible to say at this stage what the result of any individual application will be. All applicants will be notified of the result of their applications by the end of November 2001.
304 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development If he will expedite the appeal hearing of an application by a person (details supplied) under the 2000 extensification premium scheme. [21365/01]
The herdowner lodged an appeal on 15 August 2001 concerning his 2000 extensification premium application. Appeals require individual examination and are dealt with in the order in which they are received. The appeal will be examined as soon as possible and the herdowner will be notified of the outcome.
