Seymour Crawford
Ceist:186 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive an area aid payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13821/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named was an applicant under the 2002 area-based compensatory allowance scheme. It is a requirement of the scheme that a minimum stocking density of 0.15 livestock units per hectare must be met. However, farmers who are unable to meet that minimum stocking density but who traditionally qualified for headage grants in respect of cattle and-or sheep may continue to qualify for payment, provided their land is being utilised and is not in danger of undergrazing. The person named was not a headage recipient in 2000, and according to my Department's records he has had no stock in his herd since 29 July 2000. My Department wrote to him on 11 March 2003, with a view to establishing the type of farming activity being pursued. A decision on entitlement to 2002 area-based compensatory allowance will be made on receipt of reply.