Have your donkeys chipped and your land folios ready
They have been central to many of Minster Coveney’s Dail replies explaining why farmers didn’t get Areas of Natural Constraint cheques.
For example: “An application under the 2015 Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme was received from the person named on 29 May, 2015.
"Payment has not issued as the holding concerned cannot be confirmed as satisfying the Scheme’s minimum stocking density requirements.
“While donkeys continue to be considered as a qualifying animal for inclusion in the stocking density calculations, only donkeys registered in the name of the applicant and in accordance with EU Regulation 504/2008 will be considered eligible under the Areas of Natural Constraints Scheme.
“Five donkey passports were received from the person named. Upon examination, three were deemed eligible and two deemed ineligible.
"EU Regulation 504/2008 requires all equines to be micro chipped and passports obtained by year end or within six months of birth, whichever date occurs later.
No deeds no payment, and it’s as simple as that, as the minister pointed out to a TD seeking answers for a Kerry commonage farmer. “Evidence of proof of entitlement to claim a share of a commonage was requested from the person named.
“While a rental agreement was provided, no folio evidence was included illustrating the entitlement of the lessor, in this instance, to rent this particular share of commonage to the person named.
Accordingly, a penalty has been imposed which results in no payment under the Basic Payment Scheme for the year in question and an administrative fine for the subsequent year.”
It was left to Minister Coveney in the Dail to break the bad news that if you are dead, you are no longer entitled to a farm payment.
“My Department has been notified that the person named is deceased.
"The Inheritance Enquiry Unit of my Department has informed the legal representative of the person named of the testamentary documents that are required for the release of payments to his estate.
"The balancing payments due to the estate will issue when the required documents are provided.”
