Edward Nealon
Question:110 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a suckler cow grant for 1992 will be issued to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named was paid his 1992 Suckler Cow Premium scheme grant and the advance of his 1992 Cattle Headage Scheme grant in mid November 1992 and the balance of his 1992 Cattle Headage Scheme grant in mid December 1992.
Andrew Boylan
Question:111 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason the full suckler cow premium has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan in view of the fact that this person meets all the regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named was paid his 1992 Beef Cow Scheme advance in mid November 1992 and the balance in mid December 1992.
He applied for grants under the 1992 Suckler Cow Premium scheme for Small-Scale Milk Producers but under EC Regulations governing the Scheme he was deemed to need 13 cows to produce his milk quota of 8,929 gallons. Since he had only 12 cows in his herd he had no cows which were surplus to his requirements to produce his quota and accordingly he was ineligible for any Suckler Cow Scheme grants.
Brendan Kenneally
Question:112 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason the higher rate of payment of the 1991 suckler cow and beef premium was not paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who lives in a disadvantaged area, evidence of which was submitted to his Department; and the reason this person has been debarred from the schemes for 1992.
The person named was paid his 1991 Suckler Cow Premium Scheme grant at the end of January 1992 and his 1991 Special Beef Premium Scheme grant in mid January 1992 on all animals applied for and at the full rates of payment.
He did not apply for grants under the 1991 Beef Cow Scheme.
He was paid his 1992 Suckler Cow Premium Scheme grant and his 1992 Beef Cow Scheme grant at the end of December 1992 and his 1992 Special Beef Premium Scheme grant in mid January 1993. He was not debarred from any of these schemes in 1992.
Denis Foley
Question:113 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a suckler cow grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
This person's cattle file is with field staff at present in connection with the inspection of his herd. When it is returned I will be in touch with the Deputy regarding the subject matter of the question.
Denis Foley
Question:114 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when headage, suckler cow and beef premium grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
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 issue shortly. He is not eligible for grants under the 1992 Beef Cow and Equines Headage Scheme because he does not occupy and farm at least 7.5 statute acres in a disadvantaged area.
My Department is unable to trace any June or December 1992 Special Beef Premium applications from the person named. He did not apply under any of the 1992 Sheep Schemes.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:115 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the special beef and suckler cow premia for December 1992, will be paid to farmers; the number of farmers who qualified; the total cost of the schemes; and the amount outstanding.
Approximately 62,000 applications for the Special Beef Premium Scheme and 15,600 applications for the Suckler Cow Premium Scheme were submitted to my Department in the period November/December 1992. These applications are being processed at present and payments are scheduled to commmence later this week. As all of the applications have not yet been processed, it is not possible to indicate the total cost of the Schemes or the amount outstanding.
Colm M. Hilliard
Question:116 Mr. Hilliard asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when the outstanding special beef and suckler cow premia for June 1992, will be paid to farmers; the number of farmers who qualified; the total cost of the schemes; and the amount outstanding.
Approximately 84,800 farmers have qualified for the Special Beef Premium Scheme in respect of applications submitted in June 1992. The total value of these applications is estimated at £31 million and the amount of grants outstanding is approximately £2 million.
With regard to the Suckler Cow Premium, some 75,600 farmers have qualified for the Scheme in respect of applications submitted in June 1992. The total value of these applications is estimated at £54.5 million and the amount of grants outstanding is approximately £1.5 million.
The bulk of the outstanding cases have been rejected at validation stage by computer, largely because of incorrectly quoted ear tag numbers. The queries on these cases are being resolved and payment will be made as quickly as possible where they are found to be in order.