Vol. 552 No. 1
183 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason for the delay in having a beef premium payment, applied for in December 2001, made to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [11573/02]
The person named applied for premium on 45 animals under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. He has been paid his full entitlement under this scheme on 27 February 2002.
The person named submitted two applications under the 2001 special beef premium scheme, the first in October 2001 in respect of 16 animals and the second in December 2001 in respect of nine animals.
Advance payment in respect of the October application issued during February and advance payment in respect of the December application has issued this week. Balancing payments in respect of all 25 animals will issue as soon as possible.
184 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a decision will be made on an appeal in respect of a 2001 suckler cow grant by a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11574/02]
The herd owner lodged an appeal on 26 February 2002 concerning his 2001 suckler cow premium. Appeals require individual examination and are dealt with in the order in which they are received. This appeal will be examined as soon as possible and the herd owner will be notified of the outcome.
185 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason various grants and subsidies continue to be recouped by his Department in respect of an overpayment in REP scheme against a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and when outstanding grants due to this person's spouse will be paid for 1988, 1989 and 2000. [11575/02]
As the Deputy is aware, the person named incurred an overpayment under the REP scheme. To recover this overpayment, my Department withheld €16,452.92 in payments under other schemes to what had been his herd number. It turned out, however, that the herd number had been transferred to his wife and the amounts should not have been withheld from her.
The wife of the person named was refunded a total of €10,395 under the rural environment protection scheme to the end of 2001. Two further cheques, for €5,073.45 and €983.51 respectively, covering the final amounts due to her, issued within the past few days. Arrangements are in place to have the overpayment repaid directly by the person named.
186 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department will arrange to reissue three cheques in respect of various grants which were not received by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny. [11576/02]
The person named was refunded a total of €10,395.96 under the rural environment protection scheme to the end of 2001. Two further cheques, for €5,073.45 and €983.51 respectively, covering the final amounts due to this person, issued within the past few days.
187 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a grant for a slatted unit will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11577/02]
Payment of €27,934.24 will issue to the named person within the next two to three weeks.
188 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if his Department will review the decision made with regard to the REP scheme application by a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11591/02]
The person named began his REP scheme contract on 1 January 2000 and was subject to the arrangements governing the transition between the first REP scheme and the second one. Accordingly, he gave a written undertaking to complete the measures specified in his REP scheme plan over a five year period and to integrate and adapt that plan for the new REP scheme when it came into operation. The new REP scheme came into operation on 27 November 2000 but the person concerned never adapted and integrated his plan as he had undertaken to do.
When he applied to join REP scheme, the person named gave a written undertaking to repay any moneys received under the scheme if he failed to carry out this undertaking.
In light of the above, my Department must seek to recoup all the payments that the person named received under the rural environment protection scheme.
189 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment in respect of a beef premium. [11592/02]
The person named submitted one application in respect of 18 animals under the 2001 special beef premium scheme on 28 November 2001. The application was selected for an on-farm inspection which took place in March 2002. All was found to be in order at inspection and payment will issue as soon as possible.
190 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive a REP scheme payment. [11593/02]
The IMPACT union had withdrawn its co-operation in respect of the processing of all REP scheme applications in all FDS offices throughout the country on the basis that a satisfactory solution to the implementation of the recommendations of a report carried out by the management services division of my Department on the staffing in the technical agricultural officer grades of the farm development service areas had not been finalised.
I am pleased to say that the industrial action has been suspended from this morning. This suspension allows the Labour Relations Commission to intervene in the matter.
The protocol on direct payments to farmers sets specific processing and payment targets for REP scheme payments. As a consequence of the industrial action, my Department will not now be able to achieve these targets in a number of cases; however, all outstanding REP scheme payments applications will be processed as a matter of urgency.
