Frank Crowley
Question:87 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a decision will be made regarding a 1992 suckler cow grant for a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The application of the person named for grants under the 1992 suckler cow premium scheme is being processed at present and if found in order payment will be made shortly.
Charles Flanagan
Question:88 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will sanction payments of agriculture grants to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The person named was paid his 1992 special beef premium scheme grants at the end of November 1992.
He did not apply for any other headage or premium schemes grants in 1992.
Charles Flanagan
Question:89 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a beef premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
The application of the person named for grants under the 1992 special beef premium scheme is being processed at present and if found in order payment will be made shortly.
Michael Finucane
Question:90 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the file of a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be referred from the Limerick Office of his Department; and when the outstanding headage grants will be paid to this person.
The applicant was paid his 1992 beef cow and equines headage scheme grants in late February 1993. His 1992 suckler cow premium scheme application is being processed at present and if found in order payment will issue shortly. This file is in the case of this applicant was referred by the Limerick Office on 6 February 1993.
Michael Finucane
Question:91 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will reconsider the application for a farm development grant for a person (details supplied) in County Limerick, as due to domestic circumstances this person did not satisfy the criteria required and is now faced with a difficult financial situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
It is a strict condition for the award of grant aid under the Farm Improvement Programme that the prior written approval of the Farm Development Service must be obtained before the commencement of development work.
As the work in this case was carried out without this approval, I regret that it is ineligible for grant aid.
Michael Finucane
Question:92 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a farm development grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
Payment of this grant is delayed due to the temporary assignment of clerical staff from the Farm Development Service Office in Limerick to livestock schemes to assist with the significant additional work arising under the Common Agricultural Policy reform measures.
The extra money provided in the budget to augment resources available to this Department to deal, inter alia, with the new schemes will facilitate the return of the temporarily withdrawn staff.
The payment referred to by the Deputy will be dealt with at the earliest opportunity when the staff are assigned back to their normal duties.
John O'Donoghue
Question:93 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will receive payment of his suckler cow premium for 1985 to 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
John O'Donoghue
Question:94 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will receive payment of his special beef premium for the years 1988 to 1990; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
John O'Donoghue
Question:95 Mr. O'Donoghue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will receive payment of his 1992 special beef premium; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named was paid suckler cow grants for the years 1980 to 1984. It was subsequently established that he had an off-farm occupation which he did not include in his application for those years. His off-farm income exceeded 50 per cent of his total income for the years 1981 and 1982 and he was, therefore, not eligible for payments in those two years. As a result grants due to him in respect of the 1989 suckler cow scheme and part of the grants due under the 1991 suckler cow scheme have been offset against the overpayments made in 1981 and 1982. The balance of grants due under the 1991 suckler cow scheme and grants due under the 1985 to 1987 calf premium schemes are also being withheld against possible overpayments under the suckler cow schemes 1985 to 1988.
A decision on the applicant's eligibility under the suckler cow schemes 1980 and 1983 to 1988 cannot be reached until tax assessments in respect of total income during those years are submitted by the applicant. He has been requested to submit these documents on a number of occasions but has not done so. The application under the 1990 suckler cow scheme was submitted after the closing date for receipt of applications and cannot be accepted.
Grants due under the 1988 special beef premium scheme were paid to the person named on 5 June 1992. My Department has no record of receiving an application under the 1989 special beef premium scheme from this herdowner. His application under the 1990 special beef premium scheme was received after the closing date for lodgement of applications and cannot be accepted. In relation to his application under the 1992 special beef premium scheme the person named has been requested to provide an explanation regarding one animal listed on his application which was absent at inspection. A decision regarding his eligibility under this scheme cannot be made until the applicant replies to the query.