asked the Minister for Agriculture the total amount paid to date to farmers under the calved heifer scheme in (a) Offaly and (b) Laois.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Heifer Scheme Payments.
145.
The amounts paid up to 5th February, 1965, were (a) £63,060 and (b) £61,920.
146.
asked the Minister for Agriculture (a) the number of heiifers that qualified in County Meath during 1964 for the grant under the calved heifer scheme, (b) the number of applications involved, (c) the number of grants paid, indicating the number of heifers involved, and (d) the number outstanding, indicating the number of heifers involved; whether he is aware that considerable dissatisfaction exists at the slow rate of payment of these applications in County Meath; if he will have these payments expedited; and when it is expected that all claims for the year in question will be met.
The information is as follows:—(a) 6,158; (b) 2,072; (c) 1,897, involving 5,749 heifers; (d) 175, involving 409 heifers. Because of the unexpectedly large number of applications since this new scheme was introduced in 1964, it was not possible to have the grants paid as quickly as desired in all cases during the year. However, over the country as a whole grants have been paid in respect of 97 per cent of the heifers which qualified in 1964. I cannot agree that there is considerable dissatisfaction among herd owners in this matter. It is expected that payment of the outstanding claims in County Meath will be completed in the next couple of weeks.
Would the Minister be surprised to know that the grant has not yet been paid in respect of heifers inspected as far back as August of last year?
I should be horrified to hear that unless there are some complicating factors involved. As Deputies know, many of these cases involve investigation and decisions in principle about herd numbers and so on. However, if the Deputy will let me have a note of any cases in which he thinks there is undue delay, I shall be only too happy to have them expedited.