Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 May 1993

Vol. 430 No. 3

Written Answers. - Cattle Headage Payments.

Pádraic McCormack

Question:

129 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the position regarding late applications for cattle headage in 1992; if late applications were legitimately accepted by field officers up to November 1992 in the course of other farm inspection; if, in view of this, he will give the reason for the refusal of local livestock offices to accept genuinely late applications as there was widespread confusion with the new form in 1992, with the new areas included in headage payments; if, in view of the fact that field officers were helpful to farmers on farm visits, he will give the reason for this not being extended to the livestock office staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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

The position is that in 1992 there was a composite application form for the cattle headage scheme in the more severely handicapped areas, beef cow scheme in the less severely handicapped areas and coastal areas with specific handicaps and the EC suckler cow premium schemes. Where applications submitted within the period for receipt of applications revealed that farmers were confused as to which part of the application form was relevant to their situation both the field staff of my Department and the administrative staff in the local offices were authorised to accept amendments from the farmers concerned.

The closing date for the headage schemes mentioned above was 7 July but local offices were authorised to accept late applications up to the end of July and there was no authorisation for acceptance of late applications either by the field staff or the administrative staff of my Department after that date.