Pádraic McCormack
Question:35 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if grants are available for Connemara ponies and stallions; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Headage grants are payable on breeding mares registered with the Connemara Pony Breeders' Society in the disadvantaged areas. Rates of payment are £70 on the first eight mares and £66 on the next 22. Grants are not paid on stallions.
In addition, I recently announced an outline of grants to be made available over the three year period 1991-93, inclusive, in the sport horse sector generally, including aid for Connemara ponies and stallions. The grants are being made available under the operational programme for rural development which was approved by the EC Commission late last year.
They include: (i) 50 per cent grant for housing and related facilities in the less favoured areas and 40 per cent in other areas, subject to an investment ceiling of £10,000; (ii) a grant of £150 for foals, from approved sires and dams, registered in the Irish Horse Register or Connemara Stud Book, subject to a maximum of five foals per annum per applicant; (iii) areas, on the first foal registered from each Connemara young brood mare; and (iv) the payment of a premium to selected stallion owners to encourage them to acquire better quality stallions. The level of premium payable is 40 per cent of the purchase price, 50 per cent in disadvantaged areas, subject to a maximum of £4,000, £5,000 in disadvantaged areas, per stallion.
John Connor
Question:36 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the long delay in processing for payment a 1990 livestock headage grant due to a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon; and when the grant will be paid.
This applicant has already been paid his grants under the 1990 cattle and equines headage, suckler cow and special beef premium schemes.
There was no particular delay in making these payments.