This matter applies to the sale of calves more than to other cattle. Even if my original question was not clear, I hope the Minister will be able to reply to me this evening. On 20 August 1992 the Minister for Agriculture and Food announced a number of concessions under the cattle headage and beef premium schemes. On the occasion of the Connemara pony show in Clifden the Minister said, in regard to the cattle headage scheme in severely handicapped areas, that his Department would accept dockets from official mart or licensed meat export premises for cattle other than cows sold on after Monday, 24 August for payment purposes under the scheme. This concession applied only to cattle other than cows listed on application forms submitted under the cattle headage scheme in severely handicapped areas. He advised that farmers should hold their dockets until inspection or until requested by their local office of his Department to forward them for examination.
In regard to the special beef premium scheme, the Minister said he has arranged for its administration to be simplified considerably in 1992 in order to streamline and speed up checking procedures and ensure that all farmers who applied in June and July this year can be paid any premium due to them before the end of 1992. That was most welcome.
The anomaly that has occurred is that farmers in disadvantaged areas who have suckler herds are not allowed to sell their calves at present. In a herd of, say, 20 suckler cows a farmer will have to hold on to his 20 calves until he has an inspection or until a date is given as to when he can dispose of them. That is a source of major hardship to farmers in disadvantaged areas. It is particularly so in my own county, where I have first hand information of it. As the House will be aware, there are over 3,000 farmers on 230,000 acres of disadvantaged land in Kerry. I call on the Minister to allow those farmers sell their calves and qualify for premia payments on presentation of a receipt from a mart or factory. That is a reasonable request.
I should say that farmers throughout the disadvantaged areas have suffered considerably from the bad weather experienced this summer. Some of them are overstocked and will have to use their winter fodder earlier than usual. It is a source of hardship to a hard pressed community. If the Minister can see his way to grant that concession it would be very welcome.
Receipt of documents for cattles sales, both in disadvantaged and severely handicapped areas, does not apply to farmers who sell cattle to jobbers who call to the various farm yards and also to vets. A legitimate receipt from either a jobber or a vet should also be accepted for payment. I would appreciate if the Minister could apply himself to the calf problem in his reply.
