Bernard J. Durkan
Question:146 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a beef cow premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
There are two people on my Department's record with the name and address quoted. If the Deputy supplies the herd number of the person on whose behalf he is making inquiries my Department will supply the information requested.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:147 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a beef cow premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named has been requested to supply documentary evidence in connection with his application under the 1992 beef cow and equines headage scheme and when he does so his eligibility for grants under that scheme will be considered further. He was paid his 1992 special beef premium scheme grant for applications lodged in the June 1992 application period in mid January 1993. His application for grants under the December 1992 special beef premium scheme is being processed at present and if found in order payment will issue shortly.
John Ellis
Question:148 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will pay beef premia due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person named was paid his grants under the June 1992 and December 1992 application periods for the special beef premium scheme in November 1992 and May 1993, respectively.
John Ellis
Question:149 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will pay suckler grants due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person named included on his 1992 suckler cow premium scheme application an animal which had died some time before the date of application. He has, therefore, been deemed ineligible for grants under the 1992 scheme and also stands to be debarred from the 1993 scheme. However, I have asked my Department to re-exam-ine all aspects of the case and a final decision will be communicated to the Deputy.
Andrew Boylan
Question:150 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in making headage payments and suckler cow payments to a person (details supplied); if his attention has been drawn to the fact that inspections have taken place and that various promises were made to the person in relation to making these payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department is not satisfied that the person named is entitled to the grants which he applied for under the 1991 and 1992 suckler cow premium and beef cow schemes. He has been requested to forward documentation in support of his applications and when this is received further consideration will be given to the case. My Department does not accept that any promises in regard to payment were made to the person named.
Andrew Boylan
Question:151 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in paying headage and premium grants to a person (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named applied for suckler cow premium on 33 cows. At an inspection of his herd he presented only 20 of the 33 cows and also eight in-calf heifers which were supposed to replace some of the absent cows. In his explanation for the absence of 13 cows he has indicated that five cows died and that seven were sold to another herdowner. The tag numbers of the five cows that were alleged to have died were not on his application however and there is no proof that he ever had the seven cows he claims to have sold.
Unless he can account satisfactorily for the absence of all 13 cows his application will be deemed to be fraudulent and he will be refused suckler cow grants for 1992 and be debarred from the 1993 suckler cow scheme. His December 1992 application for grants under the special beef premium scheme is being processed at present and if found in order payment will issue as soon as possible.
John O'Leary
Question:152 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in deciding the applications of a person (details supplied) in County Kerry for payment of cattle headage grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter having regard to previous representations made by Deputy John O'Leary.
The person named has failed to satisfy my Department that he is the owner of the animals on which he is claiming grants or that, if he is the owner, he is farming independently. The position has been conveyed in considerable detail to him already. His response to our letter is being considered and further queries will be put to him shortly in regard to his application.