asked the Minister for Agriculture how many grants for payments are outstanding in the South-West Cork area for (a) reactors and (b) free herds; and when it is hoped to clear arrears.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Bovine TB Payments.
20.
(a) No claims are on hands for headage grants for reactors.
(b) 12 claims are on hands for clear herd bonus, to which it is presumed the Deputy is referring. The outstanding claims are being investigated and will be cleared as soon as possible.
21.
asked the Minister for Agriculture whether he is aware of the grave dissatisfaction felt by the farmers in Munster, particularly in County Kerry, with the extremely poor prices being paid for reactor cattle by his Department; and if he will cause the question of these payments to be reinvestigated with a view to providing more adequate recompense to the persons in question.
The answer to both parts of the question is "No". I am satisfied that the prices being paid for reactors in the southern area are fair and reasonable, and the increasing number of reactors being purchased each week in the area indicates that the herd owners are satisfied, too.