asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers who have not yet received their 1988 cattle headage payments; the total amount of money involved; and when payment will be made.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
48.
Out of a total of over 76,000 cattle and beef cow headage applications under the 1988 disadvantaged areas schemes there are approximately 10,000 yet to be finalised. Most of these cases are under query regarding off-farm incomes, ownership of lands or stock etc., and it is not possible to say how many will eventually prove entitlement to grants or to indicate the total amount of money involved. Applicants who prove themselves eligible for grants will then be paid without delay.
49.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether farmers whose main enterprise is an income from suckling should be given priority in inspection and payment for cattle headage grant purposes; and if he will arrange for same.
As regards inspections, it would not be possible to give priority to suckler cow farmers but as regards payments I would point out that in 1988 applicants under the EC suckler cow premium schemes were paid one and a half to two months earlier than other cattle headage applicants.
51.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment of a calf subsidy grant to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person named will be paid her 1988 calf premium, EC suckler cow premium and beef cow schemes grants when the pay directions involved are processed by computer. There is no particular delay in payment of her 1988 calf premium schemes grant as payments under this scheme commenced on 16 January 1989 and will continue for about another month. Delay in payment of her 1988 EC suckler cow premium and beef cow schemes grants arose because she failed to present any animals at the first two attempts at inspection under these schemes made by my Department on 26 July 1988 and 4 August 1988 and because some of her cattle identity cards were missing at the third attempt at inspection on 29 November 1988. She did not apply under the 1988 EC special beef premium scheme.
52.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if it is the intention of his Department to allow farmers who have fulfilled their milk quotas to participate in the suckler and beef cow grants where they have the capacity to do so, even if they reside outside the disadvantaged areas and thereby contribute to the building up of our national cow herd.
It is not my intention to do what the Deputy suggests. Payments on beef cows in mixed enterprise herds which I introduced for the first time under our disadvantaged areas schemes in 1988 seem to have had a positive result and judging by the increases in both the national cow herd and in beef cow numbers between December 1987 and December 1988, I see no need at present to change a successful formula.