Dinny McGinley
Ceist:72 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a cattle headage payment for 1999 will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [14193/02]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Under clause 36(a) of the terms and conditions of the 1999 cattle headage scheme, payment of cattle headage grants will be refused where the applicant fails to comply with the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966.
The TB free status of the herd of the person named was withdrawn because of his failure to test cattle in his possession, for two years from 1 November 1997 to 28 October 1999, at a time when there was a high incidence of TB in his area. My Department wrote to the person named on 18 June 1999 advising him that it was his responsibility to ensure that all bovines in his possession had an annual TB test, and that none had been carried out in 1998.
My Department wrote again to the person named on 15 October 1999. He was informed that because his herd had not been tested since November 1997 his herd number was being suspended. He was also informed that because he had not surrendered all cattle identity cards in his possession, as requested by an authorised officer, he was in breach of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966, and payment of his cattle headage grant may be withheld.
The person named had a clear TB test on 28 October 1999. He was advised by letter dated 9 February 2000 that if he had another clear test within 60 days of the last TB test he would regain his TB free status. He was also requested again to surrender all cattle identity cards in his possession and was advised that failure to do so was an offence under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966.
On 18 February 2000 he was informed by his district livestock office that his 1999 cattle headage grants were being refused because he had failed to comply with the provisions of the Diseases of Animals Act, 1966. He was given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed by writing to my Department within 21 days setting out any facts which he wished to put forward to support his case. He asked for a review by letter dated 28 February 2001. His case was examined by the regional higher executive officer and the original decision was upheld. He was notified of the results of the review by letter of 10 April 2001 and was given an opportunity to appeal the decision to the independent headage and premia appeals unit. His case was examined in the appeals unit where the decision to refuse grants was upheld. He was notified of same by letter of 15 October 2001. At his request, his case was further examined at an oral hearing on 19 December 2001 but the appeals unit did not amend its original findings. He was informed accordingly by letter of 9 January.