Vol. 547 No. 1
272 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in the payment of the 2001 ewe premium in respect of 47 eligible sheep to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [1291/02]
The person named applied on 69 ewes under the 2001 ewe premium scheme. He disposed of 22 ewes within the retention period which, under the terms and conditions of the scheme means that he would not qualify for any payment. Following appeals to the local office it was decided to pay him without penalty on the 47 ewes retained by him throughout the retention period. He was advised that he could appeal this decision to the appeals unit which the Member did on his behalf on 20 September 2001. The appeals unit gave its decision on 10 January last upholding the decision of the local office to pay premium on 47 ewes without penalty. The application of the person named has now been fully processed on the basis of 47 eligible ewes and payment will be made shortly.
