Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 4 Mar 1993

Vol. 427 No. 4

Written Answers. - EC Payments.

Charles Flanagan

Question:

60 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will introduce a special telephone hot line direct to his Department providing information on the entitlement of farmers to EC headage and premia payments in order to minimise confusion, uncertainty and the delays involved in administering the system.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

I share the Deputy's view that it is important to minimise confusion, uncertainty and delays in administering the livestock headage and premium schemes.

For this reason, my Department, with the assistance of Teagasc, held a series of public information meetings from mid-January to mid-February 1993 at over 60 centres around the country in order to explain the new arrangements to farmers. These meetings were attended by approx 25,000 farmers. My Department has also produced a special booklet which explains the details of the new arrangements and the procedures for claiming the grants. Furthermore, at my request, Teagasc has put in place a package of measures to assist farmers in dealing with the complexity of the new Common Agricultural Policy arrangements while also advising them how to secure optimum income under the various schemes. The extra £1 million which has been provided under the 1993 budget to enable Teagasc to extend its small farm development service should contribute significantly to this effort.

As the Deputy is aware, the headage and premium schemes are operated through a network of local offices throughout the country and farmers have ready telephone and personal access to these offices. The Government has provided a significant sum of money in the 1993 Budget for additional staff in order to ensure that the Common Agricultural Policy reform package can be satisfactorily implemented by my Department. In view of the foregoing, I do not see any need for a hot line direct to my Department in addition to the various initiatives outlined above.