Vol. 547 No. 1
287 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when depopulation grant payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1542/02]
The appropriate compensation has been processed and will issue to the person concerned shortly.
288 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a suckler cow payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1544/02]
The person named applied for 27 cows and five heifers under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. Following an examination of his application it was discovered that one animal, tag number SPHP0048D, had died prior to the date of application. A letter issued on 28 November 2001 to the applicant informing him that as he was in breach of clause 20(iii) of the terms and conditions of the scheme, no payment would be made under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. On 12 December 2001, the herdowner successfully appealed this decision and 26 cows and five heifers were accepted for payment. However, one animal, tag number MYA259511, is not showing on the applicants herd profile on CMMS and this matter remains unresolved. In the meantime, the application is being processed for payment on the basis of 25 cows and five heifers and if found in order, his 80% advance entitlement will issue shortly.
289 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a suckler cow grant payment has not been made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reasons for the delay; when payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1545/02]
The person named applied for premium for 95 animals under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. Under the terms and conditions of the scheme a producer with more than 15 reckonable livestock units may be paid premium on up to two reckonable livestock units only per hectare of the forage area of his holding as established from the producers 2001 area aid application. The livestock units counted are cows-heifers submitted for the suckler cow premium, steer-bulls submitted for special beef premium, ewes submitted for ewe premium and any milk quota held divided by 876 gallons. Any cattle submitted for 2001 suckler cow and special beef premium over and above that two reckonable livestock units limit will not be paid such premium. In this case area aid records show 25.29 hectares allowing payment on a maximum 50.58 livestock units. The person named has been paid for 36.6 livestock units of special beef premium and 12.3 livestock units of ewe premium. The 80% advance payment under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme for 1.68 livestock units will issue within the next week.
290 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in the headage beef premium and extensification payment to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [1546/02]
The person named was paid her 80% advance entitlement under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme on 26 November 2001. The person named submitted applications for special beef premium on 11 January and 20 November 2001 for 13 animals and three animals respectively. The January 2001 application has been processed to payment stage by the special beef premium unit. November applications will be eligible for payment in February 2002 when the retention period is complete and the terms and conditions of the scheme have been met.
It was subsequently discovered, however, that one of the parcels claimed by the person named in her 2001 area aid application overlaps with a parcel of land claimed by another applicant. This resulted in both the final instalment under the 2001 suckler cow premium and all other area aid related payments being held, pending the resolution of the problem. Special beef premium payments cannot be made until the outstanding area aid issues have been resolved.
The area aid unit has examined the files of both herdowners involved and the overlap is being resolved in favour of the person named. This information is now being entered on to the Department's electronic database, and the balancing payment under the suckler cow premium scheme, and the 2001 area based payment will be made when the area aid application is fully processed and found in order. It should be noted, however, that payment of the 2001 extensification premium is not scheduled to commence until June 2002.
