asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason for the delay in the payment of a headage grant to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for the years 1977 to 1979, inclusive.
Written Answers. - Cattle Headage Payments.
352.
Payment of these grants is being withheld until the applicant produces proof of his entitlement to the herd in succession to the deceased registered owner. Two letters addressed to him to this effect have so far met with no response.
353.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of applications for cattle headage payments in County Mayo for 1979 and 1980 to date; the number paid to date; and the total amount of such payments.
A total of 16,279 applications were received from herdowners in County Mayo under the 1979 Cattle Headage Payments Scheme; 142 of these were rejected as invalid. Grants amounting to £3,142,076 have so far been paid to 15,326 herdowners. The remaining 811 applications are the subject of inquiries in relation to such matters as off-farm income, ownership, herd registration, and so on. Details of the 1980 scheme, which has not yet come into operation, will be announced shortly.
354.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the rate of cattle headage grants expressed in Irish pounds in each country of the EEC at present.
From the information currently available, the approximate equivalents in Irish pounds at current exchange rates of the compensatory allowances payable on cattle in each member state under the EEC Disadvantaged Areas Directive are as follows:
Belgium—£33 on the first ten livestock units; £25 on the next ten livestock units. Denmark—Compensatory allowances are not payable on cattle. Germany—£18-£48 per livestock unit depending on region, degree of handicap and the type of farming. France—For 1979, the rates were £11.50-£34 per livestock unit depending on the region and degree of handicap. Italy—For 1979, the rates were £12.50-£40 per livestock unit depending on the region and degree of handicap. Luxembourg—£36 on the first ten livestock units: £24 on the next 30 livestock units. Netherlands—£47 per livestock unit. United Kingdom—£38.50 per livestock unit. Ireland—The rates under the 1979 Scheme were £17 per livestock unit on the first eight livestock units and £13 per livestock unit on the next 22 in the severely handicapped areas; £17 per head on the first ten beef cows and £13 per head on the next 18 in the less disadvantaged areas.