Cecilia Keaveney (Donegal North East, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 604: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the details of the NeighbourWood scheme; the number of applications expected this year; the funding available; the scope of the projects; the support in relation to insurance issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10286/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The NeighbourWood Scheme offers considerable support to local authorities, community groups, environmental NGOs and private woodland owners to work in partnership to develop appropriate woodland amenities in and around villages, towns and cities.

Six applications for preliminary approval have been received to date this year. Since this is a demand-driven scheme, it is impossible to say what further applications will be received. Maximum grant levels are: €6,730 per hectare for woodland establishment; €4,444 per hectare for woodland improvement and €2,540 per hectare for the installation of recreational facilities. Insurance is a matter for the woodland owner and would not be an appropriate item for support under a scheme such as this.

I urge all those interested in developing appropriate woodland amenities to come forward with their proposals for consideration as to possible financial support under the current scheme.

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 605: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the outcome of the decision of the single payments appeals committee in connection with a review of the circumstances of a case, including additional information which was carried out by the independent single payment appeals committee regarding a single payment appeals consideration for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [10068/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The person named, having been notified that the circumstances outlined by him did not satisfy the criteria for force majeure or exceptional circumstances under Article 40 of Council Regulation (EC) 1782/2003, submitted an appeal to the independent single payment appeals committee. Following a full examination of the circumstances of the appeal, the findings of the independent single payment appeals committee were that the original decision taken by my Department should be upheld. However, further information relating to the appeal was received after the date of the appeals committee decision. A full review of the circumstances of the case including this additional information was carried out by the independent single payment appeals committee at their meeting on 23 February 2005. The outcome of the independent single payment appeals committee's further review was that the original decision taken by my Department should be upheld. The person named was notified of this decision on 3 March 2005.

Michael Lowry (Tipperary North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 606: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of north Tipperary farmers affected by a penalty (details supplied); if she will seek legal advice on the matter; if farmers will be sufficiently informed by her Department prior to this penalty; the steps she will take to minimise the penalty to farmers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10097/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Ireland's quota under the special beef premium scheme is 1,077,458 animals, comprising animals in the bull or first age categories. Under the provisions of Council Regulation (EC) 1254/1999, where the quota is breached in respect of the bull or first age category, the overshoot reduction must also be applied to the second age category animals. These provisions were applied when the overshoot reduction was applied in respect of the 2002 scheme.

Under the 2004 scheme, applications for in excess of 2.418 million animals were lodged, of which 1.394 million were quota animals, that is bull or first age animals. During December, applications in respect of 930,000 animals were submitted, compared with 600,000 during December 2003.

Following discussions with the farming organisations in late 2003, it was agreed that any overshoot reduction would not apply to the first 25 animals submitted by individual farmers. This means that any farmer who applied for special beef premium under the 2004 scheme in respect of a total of 25 or fewer animals will not suffer any reduction; all other farmers will be exempt on their first 25 animals.

The extent of the overshoot of the national quota for the special beef premium scheme and the numbers of farmers who will receive a reduced payment can only be definitively established when all applications are fully processed. This processing involves computer validation and, where errors or inconsistencies are highlighted in such validation, those cases require individual attention. Therefore, it will be appreciated that given the volumes of applications involved, it will take further time to establish the definitive level of quota overshoot, as ineligible animals and animals applied on in excess of each applicant's stocking density limit of 1.8 livestock units per hectare will have to be excluded from the overshoot calculation. However, mindful of the need to expedite balancing payments to farmers affected by the quota excess, I am making arrangements to enable outstanding payments to be made at an early date to special beef, suckler cow and slaughter premium applicants based on an estimated special beef premium scheme overshoot. A final residual payment can issue in respect of the special beef premium when the exact quota position has been established.

Some 220,000 balancing payments totalling over €98 million have already issued to farmers under the 2004 suckler cow, special beef and slaughter premium schemes. These payments have been made to farmers who applied for no more than 25 special beef premium animals.