Vol. 547 No. 1
275 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will reconsider refusal on the basis of alleged application of REP scheme payments to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare which was due to change of address; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1362/02]
This case was reviewed in my Department and the outcome of that review was communicated to the person named on 1 October 2001. The decision was appealed and a more senior official reviewed the case again, but it was concluded that there were no grounds to amend the original decision.
There is an onus on REPS participants to ensure that they make their annual application for payment within the prescribed timeframe. The application for payment in this case should have been received by 31 October 2000 to avoid penalty for late application. It was not received until August 2001, over nine months later. While the scheme provides for certain extreme circumstances such as long-term illness or incapacity to be accepted as force majeure excusing late application, what the person named has put forward as mitigating circumstances do not in the view of my Department constitute sufficient grounds.
276 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Cork has not received cattle headage payments; and if the amount of arable acres as distinct from total acreage will be taken into account in calculating entitlement in this case. [1411/02]
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. Arable area is not acceptable for calculation of stocking density for the purpose of the area based compensatory allowance scheme, and the person named did not include arable land on his 2001 area aid 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 utilised 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 did 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 his district livestock office with details of the stock on the holding. As his stocking density was 0.11 livestock units per hectare in 2001 he 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.
277 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) has not received a cattle headage payment for 2001; if payment will be immediately granted; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1412/02]
One of the parcels claimed by the person named in his 2001 area aid application overlaps with a parcel of land claimed by another applicant. The person named was contacted in this regard and in his reply clarified the position by including a map showing the correct position. This information is now being entered onto the Department's electronic database. When this is completed any payments due under the 2001 area based compensatory allowance, special beef premium schemes and 2001 suckler cow premium scheme will issue. The person named has been paid slaughter premium for 2001 in respect of two animals found eligible on the basis of data recorded on the CMMS for the period 01 January 2001 to 30 September 2001. Payment to the amount of 84.80 has issued representing an 80% advance on the amount due.
