asked the Minister for Agriculture whether it is his intention to have increased headage payments made to farmers.
123.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
121.
asked the Minister for Agriculture how much of an increase will be proposed for this year's headage payments in disadvantaged areas.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 121 and 123 together.
Headage payment rates on beef cows in 1986 have already been increased from £32 to £70 for each of the first eight beef cows and from £28 to £66 for each of the next 22 (20 in less severely handicapped areas). Also, payments on the first ten dairy cows have been increased by 25 per cent compared to last year.
Subject to obtaining the necessary EC approval and funding, I now propose as a once-off measure to increase the payments in the more severely handicapped areas for 1986 on all cattle other than beef cows and also on Connemara ponies from £32 to £50 for each of the first eight livestock units and from £28 to £44 for each of the next 22 livestock units.
122.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will make arrangements for headage payments to be made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway who is 27 years in possession of land which was owned by his mother up to her death three years ago, and who was issued a solicitor's letter indemnifying his Department in the event of him not becoming the legal owner of the land.
Payment of outstanding headage grants to the person named will be made shortly.