Michael Ring
Ceist:322 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive the remainder of an area based payment for 2001. [2003/02]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named was paid 1,831.34, £1,442.30, under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme on 25 September 2001 in respect of 32.05 hectares of mountain type land at 57.14, £45, per hectare. This compares with his average payment of 1,611.81, £1,269.40, under the old animal-based headage schemes in the three years 1998, 1999 and 2000.
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 proposal involves making a payment of 101.58, £80, per hectare on the first ten 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 intended that the revised payment rates will apply from 2001.
Michael Ring
Ceist:323 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when the top-up of area based payment will be introduced and made. [2004/02]
Michael Ring
Ceist:334 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the progress which has been made regarding the top-up grant of area based payments; and when this money will be allocated. [2138/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 323 and 334 together.
Proposals for a revised scheme of Compensatory Allowances in Disadvantaged Areas are being considered at present by the European Commission. Any additional payments will issue as soon as the proposal is approved.
Michael Ring
Ceist:324 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an area based payment for 2001. [2005/02]
The person named was selected for an inspection in accordance with EU Regulations and her application was found to be in order. Payment due under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme will issue within the next week.
Michael Ring
Ceist:325 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive area based payments for 2001. [2128/02]
The 2001 area aid application for the person named has been fully processed and payment due under the 2001 area-based compensatory allowance scheme will issue within the next week.
Michael Ring
Ceist:326 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received a REP scheme payment. [2130/02]
The person named joined REPS under the transitional arrangements approved by the EU Commission for the period between the end of the first scheme and the commencement of the current one. In accordance with the requirements of the transitional arrangements, she undertook to join the new scheme by lodging an application and an agri-environmental plan within a specified period.
She did lodge an agri-environmental plan with my Department but it has been found to be deficient. The plan is being returned to her planner for amendment and it is to be resubmitted by 5 February 2002.
When the amended plan is received, my Department will be in a position to consider the person named for payment under the scheme.