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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 30 Jan 2002

Vol. 547 No. 1

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Tom Hayes

Ceist:

267 Mr. T. Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary did not receive an area aid payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1195/02]

The animal based headage schemes were replaced in 2001 by the area based compensatory allowance scheme. The new scheme, which was approved by the European Commission, provides that applicants must meet a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare of the holding in the year preceding application. However, farmers who are unable to meet that minimum stocking density but who traditionally qualified for headage grants in respect of cattle and-or sheep may continue to qualify for payment, provided their land is being utilized and is not in danger of undergrazing. The person named was not a headage recipient in 2000, and according to my Department's records, the stocking density of the holding does not meet the minimum requirement. My Department wrote to the person named on 7 November 2001 with a view to establishing the type of farming activity being pursued. A reply was received in the district livestock office with details of the stock on the holding. As the stocking density was 0.14 livestock units per hectare in 2001 she would not appear to qualify for payment under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme. A final decision on all outstanding cases will be made soon.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

268 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he has received an appeal from a person (details supplied) in County Cork in connection with a penalty imposed on this person's beef premium application; and, if so, when this appeal will be heard. [1224/02]

The herdowner lodged an appeal on 27 November 2001 concerning his 2001 special beef 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.

Michael Creed

Ceist:

269 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the way in which a person (details supplied) in County Cork has had lands classified for the purposes of the 2001 disadvantaged areas scheme; if he will establish an appeals mechanism for aggrieved land owners in view of the reduced payment relative to previous years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1225/02]

In this case payment of 4,075.10, £3,209.40 was made under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme on 26 September 2001 in respect of 37.2 hectares of mountain type land at 57.14, £45 per hectare sum of 1,949.49, £1,535.35, under a compensation package agreed with the European Commission for farmers experiencing losses under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme. The additional sum is equal to 90% of the difference between the average sum of the headage payments under the 1998, 1999 and 2000 headage schemes and the amount payable under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme.

Following a thorough review of the area-based compensatory allowance scheme, proposals have been submitted to the European Commission for increased payment rates for farmers with mountain type land. The proposals involves making a payment of 101.58, £80, per hectare on the first 10 hectares of mountain type land with a payment of 88.88, £70, per hectare on each remaining hectare subject to an overall payment ceiling of 45 hectares. Subject to securing the necessary EU approval it is that the revised payment rates will apply from 2001.
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