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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

250 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding the payment of extensification to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and the details of his Department's calculations in this case. [15663/02]

The person named participated in the 2001 extensification premium opting for the census system.

A stocking density of 1.5960 livestock units per hectare for the holding was established based on the numbers of bovine animals over the age of six months declared by the herdowner on CEN.1 and 2 forms at all five census dates. Where the stocking density of a holding is less than 1.6 livestock units per hectare, premium is paid at the rate of €66.00 per qualifying animal.

Under EU regulations, however, at pre-payment stage the Department is obliged to carry out a stocking density cross check against the Department's cattle movement and monitoring system, CMMS. For the purposes of carrying out the cross check in this case, the numbers of bovine animals declared by the person named at one of the five census dates were substituted with the numbers found to have been present on the holding at that same date according to CMMS and the stocking density recalculated. When recalculated, the stocking density of the holding increased to 1.6086 livestock units per hectare. Where stocking densities of between 1.60 and 2.0 livestock units per hectare are established, premium is paid at the rate of €33.00 per qualifying animal.

On 15 August 2002 an extensification premium grant amounting to €1,650 was paid to the person named. The sum represents payment at the €33.00 rate on 50 male animals that had already qualified for payment of 2001 special beef premium in this herd. The person named did not apply under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme.

With regard to the difference found between the stocking density as declared and as cross checked, the person named should receive a CMMS based herd profile shortly. The profile will list by livestock unit category the tag number and date of birth of each bovine animal over the age of six months found to have been present on the holding according to CMMS on the census date checked.
The person named was paid his full entitlement under the 2001 special beef premium scheme.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

251 Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position regarding an appeal, which was lodged with the local DVO office in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Cork and their application for extensification for 2001 which was refused; and if consideration will be given to the appeal on grounds of hardship. [15664/02]

The person named participated in the 2001 extensification premium opting for the census system.

Due to foot and mouth disease, control measures relating to the movement of animals were in place during the early part of 2001. Commission Regulation 1900/2000 provided for an across the board application of a 0.8 co-efficient to the livestock unit value of bovine animals declared by herdowners on their CEN.1 forms in respect of the first and second census dates in 2001. Thus a co-efficient was applied in this case at the first and second census dates.

The regulation also provided for the granting of the co-efficient in cases where herds are totally restricted under TB or brucellosis regulations on a census date. Should a census date fall within a 20 calendar day period immediately following de-restriction, the co-efficient may be granted for that date also. The herd was restricted under brucellosis regulations from 21 May to 26 October 2001 and a 0.8 co-efficient was applied to the livestock unit value of the bovine animals declared as present in the herd at the third and fourth census dates. Since the herd was de-restricted on 26 October 2001, the 20 day period as referred to will not allow for the granting of a co-efficient at the fifth census date of 18 November 2001.

Notwithstanding the granting of the 0.8 co-efficient at four of the five census dates, a stocking density of 2.0164 livestock units per hectare was established in this case which is based on the numbers of bovine animals the person named declared as being present in his herd at all five census dates for 2001. I regret that the relevant EU regulation does not allow payment of 2001 extensification premium where the stocking density of a holding is greater than 2.0 livestock units per hectare.

The person named was paid his full entitlement under the 2001 special beef premium scheme.

Question No. 252 answered with Question No. 232.

253.
Mr. N. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a higher rate of payment under the extensification scheme was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork who only received the second rate payment; and if the position can be clarified. [15679/02]

The person named participated in the 2001 extensification premium opting for the census system. The herd was selected for a field inspection which was carried out on 20 May 2002.

At the inspection the numbers of bovine animals over the age of six months found to have been present in the herd at all five census dates in 2001 were such that the stocking density when calculated amounted to 1.753 livestock units per hectare. Under the census system, where the stocking density of a holding is found to be between 1.60 and 2.0 livestock units per hectare, payment may only issue at the lower payment rate of €33.00 per qualifying animal.

On 8 June 2002, a payable order for €330.00 issued which represented payment of extensification premium on ten animals that had already qualified for payment under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme. On 11 July 2002, a payable order for €6,864.00 issued which represented payment of extensification premium on 208 male animals that had already qualified for payment under the 2001 special beef premium. The person named was paid his full entitlement under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme, the 2001 special beef premium scheme, 2001 slaughter premium scheme and the 2001 area based compensatory allowance scheme.

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