Vol. 555 No. 3
153 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the 2001 suckler cow premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; the reason for the delay; and if a cheque will issue immediately. [18458/02]
The person named applied on 14 cows and three heifers under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme on 29 June 2001. At an inspection of his herd, which was carried out on 18 September 2001, it was found that two of these animals had no ear tags. Under clause 27 (a) of the terms and condition of the scheme, each producer is required to ensure that all animals in the herd are properly tagged and that any animal found without ear tags may be rejected with consequent reduction penalties in premia payable on the other eligible animals on the claim.
The person named was advised that both animals were rejected from his claim and that payment of premia on his remaining eligible animals would be subject to 11.76% reduction penalty. He was given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed – which he did on 25 February 2002 – and my Department advised him on 18 April 2002 that there was no change to the original decision to reject these animals. The person named appealed this decision to my Department's independent headage and premia appeals unit on 8 May 2002 and he was notified on 20 August 2002 that his appeal was unsuccessful. Payment of his entitlement under the 2001 suckler cow premium scheme will issue to him within the next two weeks.
154 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an installation aid-grant is not being paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18459/02]
The current installation aid scheme operated by my Department requires that applicants must have been set up for the first time in farming on or after 1 January 2000. An examination of the application in this case revealed that the person named was set up in farming prior to that date. He is therefore ineligible for the scheme and the person concerned has been informed accordingly.
The person concerned may be eligible to apply for the national scheme of installation aid which preceded the current scheme and which is still open for applications. If, in consultation with his agricultural adviser, he feels he is eligible for that scheme he should submit an application to his local Department office without delay.
155 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment under the REP scheme will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18460/02]
The application from the person named was received in my Department on 13 August 2002 and is being processed in accordance with the targets set out in the protocol on direct payments to farmers.
156 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the 2001 extensification premium has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18461/02]
The herd owner lodged a 2001 suckler cow premium application in respect of six animals with my Department on 3 October 2001. However, as the closing date for receipt of applications was 29 June 2001, the application could not be considered for payment. Since payment did not issue under the 2001 suckler cow premium and the person named was not an applicant under the 2001 special beef premium, there are no qualifying animals on which a payment of 2001 extensification premium could be based.
The herd owner recently appealed the decision not to accept his 2001 suckler cow premium application to the agriculture appeals office. Appeals to that office require individual examination and are dealt with in the order in which they are received. The appeal will be examined in due course and the herd owner will be notified of the outcome.
157 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive an area based payment for 2002. [18462/02]
The 2002 area aid application of the person named has been fully processed with an area determined for payment purposes of 42.23 hectares. The person named will be paid his full entitlement under the 2002 area-based compensatory allowance scheme shortly.
158 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider making REP scheme 2 payments 100% tax free for the recipients of farm assist, similar to forestry payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18589/02]
All matters relating to taxation are in the remit of the Minister for Finance.
