In relation to 2002 extensification premium, on 24 September 2003, two payable orders amounting to a total of €1,000 issued to the person named on 24 September 2003 representing his full entitlement in respect of the 25 animals that had already qualified for payment of 2002 suckler cow premium and special beef premium on his holding.
The person named applied for premium on 17 animals under the 2003 suckler cow scheme on 16 May 2003 and an advance payment of €3048.44 issued to him on the 16 October 2003. Under the stocking density limits for 2003, a producer may only be paid premium on up to 1.8 reckonable livestock units per hectare of the forage area established from the producer's 2003 area aid application. Based on the forage area of 47.13 hectares declared by him under his 2003 area aid, this meant that he could receive payment on a maximum of 84.83 livestock units across the livestock premia schemes. The person named applied on 22.5 livestock units under the 2003 ewe premium scheme and 67.8 livestock units under the 2003 special beef premium scheme, giving a total of 90.30 livestock units.
While processing for the 2003 suckler cow balance payment, it was established that the person named had exceeded the stocking density limits and was not entitled to any payment of suckler cow premium for 2003. As his suckler cow advance payment was deemed to be overpaid, the Department was obliged to seek recovery of this money at the earliest opportunity. The person named was due €3999.60 under the 2004 area based compensatory allowance scheme from which the overpayment of €3048.44 was recouped, leaving a balance due of €951.16 which issued to him on 17 September 2004.
In relation to 2003 extensification premium, the position is that the premium may only be paid where the stocking density of a holding does not exceed 1.80 livestock units per hectare. Since the stocking density of the holding in this case was 1.8158 livestock units per hectare, the person named cannot be considered for payment. He was advised of the position by letter last July.
