Written answers

Wednesday, 8 October 2008

Department of Agriculture and Food

Grant Payments

9:00 pm

Photo of Paul Connaughton  SnrPaul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 332: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has been awarded their area based payment in respect of 23 hectares when in effect they own 37 hectares of land; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person, currently undertaking a green cert in agriculture, purchased 14 hectares from a neighbouring farmer in early 2008; if the are entitled to entitlements from the national reserve; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34053/08]

Photo of Brendan SmithBrendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Under the 2008 Single Payment Scheme/Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the person named applied for 31.47 hectares, which was an increase of 8.24 hectares from 2007. These land parcels were found to be slightly over-claimed and when the applicant was queried about this, he agreed that the area determined by the Department, 7.92 hectares, was correct. As this error had not been rectified when the Disadvantaged Areas payment issued, payment was issued in respect of the area which was not in error, 23.23 hectares. However, as the matter has since been rectified, payment will issue shortly in respect of 7.92 hectares.

With regard to the National Reserve, the person named submitted an application for an allocation of entitlements from the 2005 Single Payment Scheme National Reserve under Category B which catered for farmers who made an investment in production capacity in a farming sector for which a direct payment under Livestock Premia and/or Arable Aid schemes would have been payable during the reference period 2000-2002. Investments could include purchase or long-term lease of land, purchase of suckler and/or ewe quota or other investments. The person named applied under Category B(i) in relation to investment in leased land and was granted an allocation of 23.83 entitlements.

The National Reserve does not provide for the allocation of entitlements on land purchased in 2008. The person named did not submit National Reserve applications for the years 2006, 2007 or 2008.

Comments

No comments

Log in or join to post a public comment.