Written answers

Tuesday, 13 November 2007

Department of Agriculture and Food

Grant Payments

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael RingMichael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 306: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason the disadvantaged area payment scheme and single farm 50% payment to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has been delayed following an overlap problem created by another herdowner; when a forestry inspector for the area will give their observations on this issue in view of the fact that her Department promised this over two months ago, that it is quite clear that the land is used for grazing rather than forestry, that the herdowner is under severe financial pressure due to this issue which they have not caused and that the Department is taking several months to resolve the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28205/07]

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

The issues that arose during the processing of the 2007 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme application for the person named have now been resolved. Therefore, the 50% Advance payment under the Single Payment Scheme and the payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme will issue shortly to the person named.

Photo of Seymour CrawfordSeymour Crawford (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 307: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan will receive their single payment entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28208/07]

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

An application to transfer entitlements from the father of the person named was received on 15th May 2007. The delay occurred because the transferor incorrectly quoted the herd number of the person named on the application form. This problem has now been resolved and the Single Payment will issue shortly to the person named.

Photo of Michael D'ArcyMichael D'Arcy (Wexford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 308: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if a second site inspection is necessary for an application for farm waste management by a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; if so, when this inspection will be carried out; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28210/07]

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

The person named is an applicant under both the Farm Waste Management and Farm Improvement Schemes. The grant application under the Farm Improvement Scheme includes proposed buildings that warrant a pre-approval inspection. A decision will be made in relation to the application as soon as possible.

Photo of Dinny McGinleyDinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 309: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when an area based payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [28271/07]

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

An application under the 2007 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on 17 April 2007. The Terms and Conditions governing the scheme require, inter alia, that applicants maintain a minimum stocking density on their holding of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare declared for at least three consecutive months. However, where the holding of an applicant is identified as not meeting this minimum requirement, the person in question is invited to submit evidence of satisfactory stocking i.e. Flock Register, Horse Passports or details of a REPS or Commonage Framework Plan, which provides for a lower stocking level.

The person named was written to and invited to submit appropriate evidence of the number of sheep maintained on his farm. On receipt of a satisfactory response from the person named, the application will be further processed with a view to payment at an early date.

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 310: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the status of a single farm payment for a person (details supplied) in County Longford, particularly in relation to information from her Department relating to the number of transfers requested by the person which are being contested; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28278/07]

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

The person named established 47.92 entitlements during the reference years. He subsequently applied to transfer entitlements to four different parties under the Inheritance measure of the Single Payment Scheme. He was successful in his application to transfer entitlements to three of the parties some time ago, and the remaining 28.59 entitlements were transferred to the fourth party recently. The person named has now been successful in transferring all of his entitlements to the four parties concerned, and as such is not due a Single Farm Payment.

Photo of James BannonJames Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 311: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the grounds on which payment under the single payment scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Longford was withheld on the grounds of non-compliance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28279/07]

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

An application under the Single Payment Scheme /Disadvantaged Areas Scheme was received from the person named on the 1st May 2007. As part of the control procedures under EU legislation governing these Schemes, the application was randomly selected for and was the subject of a ground eligibility and cross-compliance inspection. During the course of the cross-compliance inspection, errors were discovered with regard to the identification and registration of bovine animals that resulted in a 1% cross compliance penalty being recorded.

The ground eligibility inspection resulted in discrepancies being found regarding one parcel. As a result, the claimed area of 43.44ha was reduced to 41.79ha. The person named was informed of these findings on the 4th September 2007. If the total area found is not sufficient to support the number of entitlements held, the penalties will be applied as per the Terms and Conditions of the scheme. In this case the number of entitlements held by the person named is 43.58. As the difference between the area declared and the area found is more than 3%, under EU Regulations, the difference between the area found and the area claimed is doubled and deducted from the area found. On this basis the area put forward for payment under the Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas was 38.49ha.

Payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme totalling €3657.71 issued on the 20th September 2007. A Single Payment Scheme advance payment totalling €6514.39 issued on 16th October 2007. A request to review the findings of the eligibility inspection was received on the 24th of September 2007. This review is currently being considered and the person named will be informed of the outcome shortly. If the person concerned is not happy with the outcome of the review, he has the right to appeal to the independent Agriculture Appeals Office.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.