Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 2 November 2010
486 Deputy Finian McGrath asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with regard to the 2010 single payment scheme and disadvantaged area scheme, when he expects the digitising of maps to be complete in order that payments due can be issued. [39839/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe number of eligible Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme applications amount to almost 130,000 per annum. As part of the application procedures for the both Schemes, applicants are requested to identify and remove ineligible areas, on maps provided by my Department, from their pre-printed land parcel details supplied by my Department. On receipt, the amended maps have to be processed and the changes identified by the applicants are digitised onto my Department's Land Parcel Identification System.
By the time the processing of the 2010 applications is completed, it is expected that we will have processed and digitised maps received from over 70,000 farmers. This compares with a figure of 30,000 for 2009 and an average of 22,000 maps in recent years. On average each farmer submitted two maps with their 2010 application forms.
The payment of the aid under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September 2010. In order to enable my Department to make payments to many farmers as possible including those farmers with non-digitised maps, I decided to make a 75% advance payment to eligible farmers under this Scheme. The balancing payments were made on 20 October 2010 to all applicants, who were fully processed and clear. The total number of farmers paid to date under this Scheme is 88,478 with the total amount paid of €169.7 million.
The earliest permissible date for the payment under the Single Payment Scheme is 1st December. However in 2010 I made a special case to the European Commission and secured agreement to make an advance payment of 50% from 18 October. The total number of farmers paid since payments commenced two weeks ago is 108,845 farmers with an amount totalling €507.67 million. As in the case of the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, I arrange for payments to be made to applicants, where the only outstanding issue was non-digitised maps. The balancing payments of 50% will commence on 1 December.
In addition to the deployment of additional resources, a number of other initiatives were taken to enable payments (even if it was not the entire payment) to issue earlier that might have been the cases. These included paying on the eligible land that was digitised and clear. The number of herds with maps processed on a weekly basis is some 3,000. To date we have processed 38,000 herds with re-digitising required. There are approximately 32,000 herds with maps to be re-digitised. This is a significant task and it is estimated that re-digitising will be completed in early 2011.
I set a very demanding schedule of payments for the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, Single Payment Scheme and the Grassland Sheep Scheme form September to December 2010. I intend to adhere to this schedule. In the meantime, multiple payment runs under the Schemes will be made on a weekly basis to pay farmers, whose applications are fully processed and clear.
487 Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the position regarding an application under the agri-environment options scheme (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39870/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe application from the person named is being examined by my Department with a view to a decision being taken on entry into the Agri-environment Options Scheme. My Department will be in contact with the person named on the outcome of this process in the near future. Under the EU Regulations governing the Agri-Environment Options Scheme and the NATURA 2000 Scheme, payments may issue when comprehensive administrative checks on all applications, including cross-checks with the Land Parcel Identification System, have been completed. My objective is to complete this process as soon as possible.
488 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received their full single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39886/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. Payments under the Single Payment Scheme commenced on 18 October, with an advance payment of 50% issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application required digitisation, immediately this process is complete, provided no errors are identified, payment due in respect of the Single Payment Scheme will issue to the person named.
489 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received his single farm payment in full; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39888/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 13 May 2010. Payments under the Single Payment Scheme commenced on 18 October, with an advance payment of 50% issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. A parcel listed on the application requires digitisation, immediately this process is complete, provided no errors are identified, payment due in respect of the Single Payment Scheme will issue to the person named.
490 Deputy Paul Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason single farm payments have not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39889/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 May 2010. Payments under the Single Payment Scheme commenced on 18 October, with an advance payment of 50% issuing in respect of those parcels cleared for payment at that stage. A number of parcels listed on the application required digitisation; immediately this process is complete, provided no errors are identified, payment due in respect of the Single Payment Scheme will issue to the person named.
491 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their payment under the single farm payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39893/10]
Amharc ar fhreagra492 Deputy John O’Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive their payment under the disadvantaged area payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39894/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 491 and 492 together.
An application under the 2010 Single Payment Scheme / Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 10 May 2010. An advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme issued to the herd-owner based on 18th October in respect of the land parcels cleared for payment at that stage. One parcel listed on the SPS application was not included in the payment, as it required re-digitisation. This process has now been completed and the total declared area of 6.52 hectares has been cleared for payment. A further payment will issue shortly.
493 Deputy Joe McHugh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will deal with a matter (details supplied) in view of the fact that the deadline is 12 November 2010; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39910/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThis is a matter for Bord Iascaigh Mhara, which has responsibility for the implementation of the grant aid scheme. I have forwarded your question to BIM for direct response.
494 Deputy John Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will receive their suckler welfare scheme payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39911/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named registered 35 animals under the 2009 Suckler Welfare Scheme. During the validation process it was established the 8 of the suckler cows had twin calves. Under the conditions of the Scheme, payment is made on the basis of the number of cows. It follows, therefore, that 27 animals were potentially eligible for payment. However, as the dam of one of the calves was sold before weaning it is ineligible for payment. Payment on the eligible 26 animals will issue shortly.
495 Deputy Edward O’Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [39912/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 14 May 2010. A number of parcels listed on the application of the person named required digitisation; immediately this process is complete, provided no errors are identified, the application will be further processed, with a view to the further payment due issuing shortly thereafter.
