211 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if the application of a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath for premia payments under area aid has been held up since December 2001 due to a fault with his Department's computer system; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that this person is suffering severe financial hardship as a result of his Department's delay in making payment; and if immediate payment will be made in this case. [10189/02]

The person named furnished an incomplete 2001 area aid application in that he did not forward a map for a new parcel of land which he included in his claim. The area aid unit requested the person named to furnish a map outlining the area claimed. As this map was not furnished, the unit then issued a map to the applicant requesting him to outline the parcel of land concerned. When this was returned in January 2002, the information was entered on to the Department's electronic database.

212 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when a top-up payment will be made to hill sheep farmers under the area based payments scheme; the meetings which have taken place in Europe on this matter; and if a time frame has been set for when the farmers will be paid. [10190/02]

Proposals were submitted to the European Union in October 2001 for increased payment rates under the area based compensatory allowance scheme for farmers with mountain-type land. The proposals involve making a payment of €101.58 per hectare on the first ten hectares of mountain-type land with a payment of €88.88 per hectare on each remaining hectare subject to an overall payment ceiling of 45 hectares. However, the Environment Directorate of the European Union has indicated that they would not be willing for this increased payment to be approved by the Union's Star Committee until Ireland has made a formal decision in relation to the implementation of the Nitrates Directive. Ongoing discussions are taking place between the Department of Environment and Local Government and the farming organisations in relation to this matter. Subject to the necessary EU approval, it is intended that the revised payment rates will apply to the 2001 scheme.

213 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received a REP scheme payment; when this person can expect to receive a payment. [10246/02]

The application for payment in this case was received on 7 February 2002 and is being processed in accordance with the targets set out in the Protocol on Direct Payments to Farmers.