Vol. 424 No. 6
105 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total number of people eligible to claim a grant from his Department in 1992; the number of grants claimed and approved; and the total amount of money paid out in grants.
My Department operates a large number of schemes under which grants are payable to persons who are eligible, mainly under EC regulations, and who make application.
The largest part of these grant arrangements consists of the various schemes of livestock grant. It is estimated that under those schemes some 440,000 applications may be made in 1992 and would be payable if in order. This, however, would include applications from the same person for different schemes, as for instance a particular farmer keeping cattle, sheep and equines would be in a position to apply for a number of grants. Under the 1992 livestock schemes, over 80,000 claims, totalling some £59 million, have been paid to date. A further £20 million will be paid to some 30,000 farmers under the suckler cow scheme over the next few days.
Under the group of schemes known as "Farm Development", about £38 million has been paid in 1992 to approximately 10,000 applicants.
