Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 383: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive extensification and suckler cow payment; and if so, when. [12137/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person in question applied for a total forage area of 15.95 hectares on his 2004 area aid application. The area that was found was just 13.29 hectares, however, resulting in an area overclaim of 2.66 hectares. Under EU regulations, when the overclaim is greater than 20%, a 100% penalty must be applied and no area-based payments can issue to the applicant. The herdowner appealed the decision to the agriculture appeals office, but his appeal was rejected. He was sent a letter in this regard.

The person in question is not an applicant under the suckler cow premium scheme. He lodged three applications under the 2004 EU special beef premium scheme — on 29 January 2004 in respect of 22 animals, on 26 April 2004 in respect of one animal and on 11 January 2005 in respect of ten animals. Notwithstanding the area aid position, there is provision in the governing regulations for payment of premia where the "found" area is sufficient to support the numbers of animals claimed upon. In this regard, payment under the special beef premium scheme is due to issue to the person named at balancing payments stage.

The person in question also submitted an application under the 2004 extensification premium scheme. Notwithstanding the area aid position, the 13.29 hectare "found" area is sufficient to support payment of extensification at the higher €80 rate on each animal that qualifies for payment under the 2004 special beef premium scheme. Payment of extensification premium for 2004 will commence in June.