P. J. Sheehan
Question:204 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive his suckler cow grant for 1991.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
This applicant's 1991 suckler cow premium scheme is being processed at present and payment will issue shortly.
Jim Higgins
Question:205 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in the payment of a beef premium to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo where a genuine error was made in filling the application form.
Following a review of this case and in the light of the medical evidence submitted this applicant's 1991 special beef premium scheme grant has now been approved and payment will issue shortly.
John V. Farrelly
Question:206 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Meath has been refused a beef subsidy because of a problem with four of the total applied for; if he intends giving approval for applicants, such as in this case, who have problems with the application; if the grant will only be reduced for the specific number in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named was deemed ineligible for grants under the 1991 special beef premium scheme as four of the 38 animals on which he applied for premium had already been paid in his own herd and one other was a female. This exceeded the tolerance laid down by EC Regulations. However, the applicant has submitted a medical certificate, part of which is illegible and which requires clarification before my Department can make a decision in the case. My Department's decision will be conveyed to the applicant as soon as possible.
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. Applications lodged under the scheme in June 1991 were reviewed by local offices of my Department in the light of these recommendations and as a result the number of applicants paid under the 1991 special beef premium scheme who lodged their applications in June 1991 is now over 88,300, that is, over 200 more than the number paid for 1990.
Michael Finucane
Question:207 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a depopulation grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick as the ongoing delay is causing financial hardship.
The depopulation grant due to the person named will be paid within the next few weeks.