The Hill Livestock (Compensatory Allowances) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996

Compensatory allowances for cattle and sheep

3.—(1) The Department may in respect of any Scheme year pay to any person who in the year prior to that Scheme year submitted a valid area aid application under Article 6 of Council Regulation 3508/92 which indicated eligible land a compensatory allowance for each breeding cow and ewe which was—

(a) owned; or

(b) leased under a formal leasing arrangement;

by him throughout the retention period for the animal concerned applicable to the Scheme year in question, at the rate of 20·3 ECU per breeding cow and 3·045 ECU per ewe.

(2) A compensatory allowance in respect of any Scheme year shall be paid to a person only if (except in the case of a person who is in receipt of a retirement pension) he has entered into a written undertaking in such form as the Department may reasonably require to the effect that he will, for a period of five years from the first payment of a compensatory allowance made under these Regulations, the 1994 Regulations, the 1993 Regulations, the 1992 Regulations or the 1984 Regulations, continue to use eligible land for agricultural purposes.

(3) The total amount of a compensatory allowance which may be paid in respect of any Scheme year—

(a) to the occupier of severaly disadvantaged land, shall not exceed £88·70 or 150 ECU for each hectare of such land which was included in an area aid application made under Article 6 of Council Regulation 3508/92 in the calendar year preceding that year and was determined by the Department to be eligible forage area for the purposes of that Regulation or which is relevant afforested land; or

(b) to the occupier of disadvantaged land, shall not exceed £60·85 or 150 ECU for each hectare of such land which was included in an area aid application made under Article 6 of Council Regulation 3508/92 in the calendar year preceding that year and was determined by the Department to be eligible forage area for the purposes of that Regulation or which is relevant afforested land.

(4) Where in this regulation alternative rates are given in sterling and ECU the rate which results in the lower payment in sterling shall apply.