asked the Minister for Agriculture the exact amount of the quality ewe grant which will be paid to farmers in the severely handicapped areas; and the amount to be paid to farmers outside those areas.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
171.
Two types of payments are currently made on ewes namely — (1) headage payments in areas designated as disadvantaged under EEC Directive 75/268 and (2) the ewe premium which is paid to producers in all parts of the country under the common organisation of the market for sheepmeat.
The headage payments are paid at the rate of £9.50 for each of the first 150 ewes and £6.50 for each ewe from 151 to 200 but in the lowland parts of the disadvantaged areas these payments are made on hogget ewes only.
The ewe premium payable under the common organisation of the market for sheepmeat is intended to compensate producers should market prices fall below the Irish reference price, which for the marketing year 1981-82 is 106.4p/lb. The premium is primarily a market support measure and the same rate is payable to applicants in all parts of the country. Based on market prices forecast by the EEC Commission for the current marketing year an advance of the premium amounting to 75p per ewe is at present being paid to all eligible applicants. The balance, if any, of the premium, will be paid after the end of the marketing year in April next.
172.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is intended to up-date the regulations pertaining to off-farm income in respect of cattle and sheep subsidy payments.
The off-farm income limit under the cattle and sheep headage payments schemes in the disadvantaged areas has been updated for the 1981 schemes to £4,750 compared with £4,175 for the 1980 schemes.
Questions Nos. 173 to 175, inclusive, postponed.
176.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware that there has been a serious increase in the incidence of bovine tuberculosis in some areas in County Mayo; and if he will arrange for a full investigation of the areas affected with a view to protecting the livelihood of farmers and also to guard against a further spread of the disease in the county.
177.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he is aware of the serious outbreaks of TB in cattle herds in the Ballyglass-Cornacan area in County Mayo; and if he will make arrangements to have the matter fully investigated and make funds available to compensate farmers for the hardship suffered.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 176 and 177 together.
I am aware of the serious position as regards Bovine TB infection in the Ballinrobe area of County Mayo, which includes the townlands of Ballyglass and Cornacan. My Department's veterinary staff is doing everything possible to improve the situation and prevent further disease spread.
Investigations carried out to date indicate that the breakdown is primarily due to lateral spread arising from fragmentation of farms in the area and to the relatively high cattle density.
Compensation by way of reactor grants and payments under the hardship fund scheme are available to herdowners under the disease eradication schemes.
Questions Nos. 178 to 180, inclusive, postponed.