Ned O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will consider issuing a premium payment to a person (details supplied) in County Cork in respect of animals. [14142/04]

Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named applied for premium on ten animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme. The 80% advance instalment amounting to €1793.20 issued on 16 October 2002 while a balancing payment for €52.01 issued on 30 April 2003. The total suckler cow premium due on ten animals is €2241.50 but in the case of the person named a penalty of 17.68% has been applied to payment. This penalty was applied in accordance with paragraph 43 of the terms and conditions of the scheme as a result of 11 animals found at inspection on 13 December 2002 that were not compliant with identification and registration requirements. These 11 animals did not include any of those listed in the question.

The person named applied for first age special beef premium in respect of 42 animals including the eight animals listed in the question. Payment for the 42 animals has issued in full subject to application of the appropriate penalty for non-compliance with the identification and registration requirements as outlined above. No application was received for second age premium in respect of the eight animals in question.

Paul McGrath (Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Question 139: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food when suckler cow payment for 2003 will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; and the reason this payment is being delayed. [14155/04]

Joe Walsh (Cork South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named applied for premium on 27 animals under the 2003 suckler cow premium scheme on 30 June 2003. The application has been processed for payment and his 80% advance instalment amounting to €4704.47 issued on 29 October 2003. This payment was in respect of 26.5 animals, being the number of quota rights on record for the applicant. As the closing date for the scheme was 27 June 2003, payment was also subject to a 1% late application penalty applied in accordance with paragraph 29 of the terms and conditions of the scheme. Processing in respect of the 20% balancing instalment is complete and payment will issue as soon as a query arising under the 2003 slaughter premium scheme is resolved.

Under the slaughter premium scheme 54 animals were slaughtered under the herd number of the person named. The 80% advance payment issued in respect of 53 animals on 21 October 2003. The person named was contacted regarding the movement of one animal which had been incorrectly notified to the CMMS database. Balancing payments cannot issue until the query on this animal has been resolved.

The person named submitted one application under the 2003 special beef-bull premium scheme on 21 August 2003 in respect of three animals. The 80% advance payment in respect of two animals issued on 2 December 2003. One of the animals included on this application was not seven months old and therefore too young to be considered for payment under the special beef premium scheme. Again, balancing payment cannot issue until the slaughter premium scheme query has been resolved.