Vol. 407 No. 3
54 Mr. Harte asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in the payment of ewe premia which are normally paid in the month of January-February and which are now not expected to be paid until April-May; and if he will make a statement on the matter having regard to the need which farmers have for money at this time of the year.
There has been no delay in paying the 1990 ewe premium to sheep farmers. In accordance with the EC Regulations governing the scheme, the premium is payable in two half-yearly instalments of 30 per cent of the expected premium during the year in question and the balance of 40 per cent is to be paid in the following year as soon as the amount of the final premium has been determined. In accordance with these arrangements, payment of the first instalment of £6.53 commenced in July 1990, and payment of the second instalment of £7.22 commenced in October 1990. The regulation fixing the 40 per cent balance of premium was dated 11 April 1991 and payments of that balance of £9.95 commenced on 18 April 1991 and will continue for the next week or two.
