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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 9 Oct 2002

Vol. 554 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

339 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the 2001 extensification payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16545/02]

The person named participated in the 2001 extensification premium, opting for the census system. Herdowners were notified by individual letter of each of the five census dates for 2001. When notified of the fifth date, herdowners were requested to return their completed CEN.2 forms to the Department by Friday, 18 January 2002. Some weeks after the passing of this date, those herdowners who had still not returned their CEN.2 forms were sent a reminder letter giving them a final opportunity to lodge their forms. The Department continued to accept CEN.1 and 2 forms where lodged up to Friday, 17 May 2002.

A CEN.2 form was not received from the person named before 17 May 2002 but in July 2002 he submitted a certificate of posting supporting his claim that on 15 December 2001 he posted his CEN.2 form to the district livestock office in Galway. Because of the late receipt of the form it was necessary to arrange for an on-farm check to be carried out. This check was carried out on 26 September 2002 and matters were found to have been satisfactory.

Arrangements are in place to pay 2001 extensification premium to the person named. He can expect two payable orders amounting to €858.00 shortly.

Paul Connaughton

Ceist:

340 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the 2001 extensification premium will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16546/02]

The person named participated in the 2001 extensification premium opting for the census system. Herdowners were notified by individual letter of each of the five census dates for 2001. When notified of the fifth date, herdowners were requested to return their completed CEN.2 forms to the Department by Friday, 18 January 2002. Some weeks after the passing of this date, those who had still not returned their CEN.2 forms were sent a reminder letter giving them a final opportunity to do so. The Department continued to accept CEN.1 and 2 forms where lodged up to Friday, 17 May 2002. This was the latest date that would permit CEN 2 forms to be recorded and the information on both CEN.1 and 2 forms to be checked for accuracy against my Department's database and spot-checked on the ground, in time to make extensification premium payments by the EU deadline of 30 June. It must be appreciated that to protect EU taxpayers, adequate checks must be carried out to verify the validity of claims.

As the person named did not submit his CEN.2 form until 8 July 2002, it is regretted that payment cannot be considered in his case. The person named was paid his full entitlements under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme and the 2001 area-based compensatory allowances scheme.

Question No. 341 answered with Question No. 283.

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