Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 30 November 2011
170 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37764/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 8 April 2011, processing of which has recently been finalised, thereby allowing the 50% advance payment to issue to the person named on 15 November.
171 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a forestry premium will be paid in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [37784/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Forest Service has no record of the application form for the 2011 annual premium being received from the applicant. A duplicate application form was sent to the applicant on 24 November for signing by him. The payment will be processed when a completed application has been received by the Forest Service.
172 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when outstanding REP scheme, single farm and area based payments will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [37785/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 20 April 2011. This application was selected for and was the subject of a Ground Eligibility/Cross Compliance Inspection. This inspection was completed and the results are now being processed.
In the vast majority of inspected cases, including this case, amendments have had to be made to the maps in order that the Land Parcel Identification System that is used for making payments to farmers is kept up-to-date. This work is ongoing and every effort is being made to complete the processing of those who were the subject of a Ground Eligibility Inspection.
173 Deputy Dara Calleary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo may expect a response to a query regarding their suckler cow welfare scheme payment. [37786/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named submitted an application in 2008 to participate in the Suckler Welfare Scheme. In doing so he agreed to comply with all of the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme. One of the essential components was that each participant would attend the mandatory training course. These courses were held extensively throughout the country during 2008 and 2009. The final tranche of training courses were held in November 2010 and those participants who had not attended a course were advised that that was the final opportunity to attend and that failure to do so would result in exclusion from the Scheme . It was open to each participant to nominate a family member to attend if they were unable to do so and each participant was so notified. Each participant also undertook to carry out all of the measures required under the Scheme for the five years duration and to submit all relevant data relating to these measures. Data was submitted in relation to the seven animals born during 2008 and payment issued in respect of six of these animals. An error was identified with the remaining animal. However, weaning dates were not received in respect of the animals born during 2009 and 2010. In the interest of expediting payments under this Scheme, I recently introduced a requirement that all data had to be received within one year of the birth of each animal and a grace period until the end of August 2011 was allowed for any outstanding information to be submitted.
A medical certificate was submitted by the person named for his non-attendance at a training course. However, given that none of the measures required under the Terms and Conditions of the Scheme were registered by the person named for any of the calves born in 2009 and 2010, it was not possible for the person named to continue participating in this Scheme.
174 Deputy Tom Hayes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a single farm payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37788/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received from the person named on 21 April 2011, processing of which has recently been finalised, thereby allowing the 50% advance of the Single Payment to issue to the applicant on 22 November.
175 Deputy Brendan Griffin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be permitted to switch from cattle to sheep and retain their entitlements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37801/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the provisions of the Single Farm Payment, it is necessary for the applicant maintain an agricultural activity including maintaining the land in Good Agricultural and Environmental Condition. There is no restriction, therefore, in an applicant altering his or her farming activity from cattle to a sheep breeding enterprise, for example. The important matter is that sufficient stock be maintained to keep the land compliant with Good Agricultural Condition and eligible for payment.
The Terms and Conditions governing the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme require applicants to maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare declared, for a period of at least three consecutive months during the year of application. Various types of livestock are acceptable under the Scheme such as cattle, sheep, goats, etc. Sufficient proof under each category will be required. For cattle, sheep and goats, details are held on the Department's database; in respect of horses, passports are required to be sent to Disadvantaged Areas Section of my Department; while in respect of deer, a Department official can verify the numbers.
