andMr. Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture whether all headage grants in County Donegal have yet been paid; and, if not, the cause of the delay.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Headage Grants.
7.
Some 90 per cent of claims have already been paid and the bulk of those remaining will be paid within the next week. A small number of cases requiring further examination are being dealt with as quickly as possible.
I take it the Minister refers to 90 per cent having been paid in Donegal?
Yes.
Would the Minister ensure that outstanding claims are paid? The Minister may recall that in late January in answering a question in this House he said all grants would be paid by the beginning of March. This has not happened. They are being paid on a most unusual basis. Some were paid three months ago. Others were paid last week. They do not follow any pattern. There seems to be a bit of a spread. This is giving rise to concern. If a man gets a grant and his neighbour does not this gives rise to concern. It almost seems as if they are drawing them out of a hat.
I inquired about the same thing myself in the Department. The applications come in in big numbers. Perhaps 18 or 20 girls are dealing with them. The applications are thrown there and pulled at random, so exactly what the Deputy says could be the case. One man could be paid and his next door neighbour not be paid. To take them in order of inspection would be a very difficult job where a number of people are dealing with them.
Could the Minister ensure that payment as late as this will not occur in future? What has caused the delay he did not anticipate as recently as last January?
The count only starts in September for some reason. By the time the count is over and the returns are in and payments are made, it is very difficult to see how this could be done any faster. It is a question of the use of staff as much as anything else.
Excepting those which will be paid next week, is there any particular type or category of case which is being reinvestigated?
I am afraid I cannot give that information. I can tell the Deputy something more accurate. To date, 9,842 herdowners in Donegal have been paid grants amounting to £1,620,000. A further 470 owners will be paid within the next week. About 500 cases still remain on which queries have arisen. These are being investigated and will be dealt with as quickly as possible.
In future will it be possible to have these grants paid at an earlier date, and paid closer together than they have been in the past? They are spread over three, four or five months.
The Deputy will know from his experience as a Minister that it would mean the employment of a very large temporary staff if it were to be done in the way he is suggesting. It takes a while for staff to become accustomed to this work. They become more expert as time goes on.
It was done before.
Between you, me and the wall, people in farming are not now waiting anxiously for the few pounds coming out of this scheme.
That is what the Minister thinks. He is circulating in the wrong areas.
I circulate in a good many areas.
Question No. 8.