Written answers

Tuesday, 28 June 2005

Department of Agriculture and Food

Grant Payments

10:00 pm

Photo of John PerryJohn Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the suckler cow premium of a person (details supplied) for 2000-2001 was appealed; if a copy of the decision will be released; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22802/05]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named applied on 35 animals under the 2000 suckler cow premium scheme. A cross-check with the cattle movement monitoring system, CMMS, in October 2000 showed that five of the animals applied on were disposed of during the retention period for the scheme. Clause 22 of the terms and conditions governing the scheme in 2000 required an applicant to notify my Department of replacement details within ten days of the event. The person named failed to do so and was advised by letter of 23 October 2000 that the five animals were rejected from his application and that a reduction penalty would apply to the payment on his remaining animals. He was given the opportunity to appeal and a letter was received by my Department on 5 December 2000 in which the herd owner provided details of the replacement animals.

To verify the eligibility of these replacements an inspection was carried out on his herd on 30 January 2001. It was found during this inspection that a total of 16 animals applied on had been disposed of during the retention period for the scheme and that, while they had been replaced, no notification of seven of these replacements had been received by my Department, contravening clause 22 of the terms and conditions of the 2000 scheme. As the number of rejected animals exceeded 20% of the remaining eligible animals, no suckler cow premium could be paid for the 2000 scheme year. The applicant was informed of this by letter on 26 April 2001 and was given the opportunity to have this decision reviewed.

On receipt of a written request for a review, the case was examined again by my Department and the decision to refuse the premia for 2000 was upheld. In the course of this review, it was also found that only 19 cows had calved in this herd over the previous 12 months, representing a low calving rate of just over 50%. In a letter issued on 11 July 2001 the person named was informed that the decision to refuse payment of the 2000 suckler cow premium was upheld and was told of his right to appeal the decision to the appeals unit. No further appeal was made.

No application was received by my Department under the 2001 suckler cow scheme, as the person named had sold his suckler cow quota.

Photo of Paul Connaughton  SnrPaul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of special beef premium to be awarded in the year 2004 to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22803/05]

Photo of Mary CoughlanMary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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The person named submitted three applications, in respect of a total of 30 animals, under the 2004 special beef premium scheme. The first application, in respect of 15 animals, was received on 20 December 2004, the second application, in respect of 13 animals, was received on 24 December 2004 and the third application, in respect of two animals, was received on 6 January 2005.

The advance payments and the interim balancing payments in respect of the three applications have already issued to the person named. The application of 6 January was subject to a late application penalty. Payment of the residual sums due can only issue when the position regarding the breach of the 2004 national ceiling has been resolved.

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