Terry Leyden
Question:158 Mr. Leyden asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will approve headage payments for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The applications of the person named for grants under the Cattle Headage Scheme in More Severely Handicapped areas will be considered further when he produces documentary evidence of a change of ownership of lands.
He is not eligible for grants under the 1991 Special Beef Premium Scheme as he applied for grants on 12 animals and 7 of these were found to be ineligible heifers. Furthermore he is debarred from the Special Beef Premium Scheme for 12 months from 10 September 1991.
Terry Leyden
Question:159 Mr. Leyden asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will approve payment of a beef premium for a person (details supplied) in County Roscommon.
The person named has been paid his 1991 Special Beef Premium Scheme grant already.
Michael Bell
Question:160 Mr. Bell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a company (details supplied) are in the process of establishing a turkey plant in Ardee, County Louth which would have a potential of 300 jobs in an area of high unemployment with a further 200 jobs in the supply and distribution area also envisaged; if his attention has further been drawn to the fact that these jobs could be put in danger because of uncertainty of funds promised by FEOGA which have not as yet been allocated; if, in view of the importance of this project to County Louth, he will outline the steps he is taking; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
An application for EC grant aid under Regulation (EEC) No. 866/90, submitted by my Department to the Commission, requested FEOGA assistance for the investment referred to by the Deputy. While every effort was made to obtain a positive decision on the investment proposal contained in the application, the Commission, which makes the final decision on the award of aid to investments, has stated that the investment applied for cannot be proposed by the Commission for a grant in the framework of Regulation (EEC No.) 866/90.
Austin Deasy
Question:161 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether a monitoring committee was set up to examine individual cases disqualified from beef premium payments; if so, if he will outline the number of cases that have been examined to date, and the number of these cases which have been granted payment.
A special Departmental Task Force was set up, earlier this year to examine problems being encountered in the operation of the Special Beef Premium and other livestock headage schemes. Certain recommendations were made by the Task Force in regard to the operation of the Special Beef Premium Scheme and these recommendations were accepted by me. The 1991 applications under the Scheme were reviewed by Local Offices of my Department in the light of these recommendations. The result is that over 80,000 applicants have now been paid 1991 Special Beef Premia.
This figure already exceeds the number of payments made under the 1990 scheme and I expect some further payments to issue during the coming week.
Gerard Collins
Question:162 Mr. Collins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment of a beef subsidy scheme grant will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The person named has been paid his 1991 Special Beef Premium Scheme grant already.
Paul Bradford
Question:163 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a 1991 special beef premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork, and if he will outline the amount due to him in respect of same.
My Department is unable to trace any 1991 Special Beef Premium Scheme application from the person named.
His 1991 Beef Cow and Suckler Cow Premium Schemes grants are being processed at present and if found in order payable orders amounting to £692 and £411.24 respectively will issue to him shortly under these Schemes.