Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 5 March 2013
415. Deputy John O'Mahony asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo received their suckler welfare scheme payment for 2011; the reason the payment was not paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10952/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe person named registered 10 animals for the 2011 Suckler Welfare Scheme. The Terms and Conditions of the Scheme require that applicants undertake to carry out and notify to my Department the requisite measures for the full 5 year duration of this Scheme. In August 2011, applicants were informed of the requirement to notify the details of such measures within one year from the date of birth of the animal. In this particular instance, 9 animals were born between May and June 2011 and data in relation to the measures carried out on these animals has not been received to date. The remaining animal was born on 29 October 2011 and the weaning information was not received in the ICBF (Irish Cattle Breeders Federation) until 28 November 2012, which is outside the one-year notification time limit.
The onus lies with the participant to ensure that all data is submitted within the specified timeframe and given the nature of the Scheme, the varying ages at which animals are weaned and the notification timeline, of necessity, a time lag occurs before the herdowner can be advised by my Department that specific data have not been received. If the applicant wishes the decision to be reviewed on the basis that information had been submitted in sufficient time, an application should be submitted to; the Review Officer, Suckler Welfare Scheme, Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Government Offices, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, setting out the circumstances and provide any supporting information and evidence.
