Vol. 437 No. 6
477 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford will be paid for the production of a linseed crop; and if he will seek to resolve the legal wrangle so that this person can pay his creditors for the production costs associated with this crop.
The legal issue regarding entitlement to aid in this case was raised by a private agency and not by the Department. The responsibility of the Department is to ensure that, before any aid is paid, the legal terms of the EU regulations on linseed aid have been correctly met by the applicant. The position is being examined by the Department in consultation with its legal advisers.
478 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a slaughter beef premium payment will be made to persons (details supplied) in Wexford; and if he will expedite the payment.
The person named applied for slaughter premium on 95 animals slaughtered in early 1993. Due to a number of errors on his application form — namely 14 animals duplicated, one animal entered three times and two other animals slaughtered outside the specified period — processing of the application was delayed. Subject to clearance at computer validation, payment will issue shortly.
479 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a farm installation aid grant has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason for the delay; and when payment will be made.
A detailed examination of this case was not possible before autumn 1993 when the applicant submitted copy folios of his lands to Teagasc. The file was passed to the Department in December 1993 but due to the additional work arising from the recently announced early retirement scheme in particular, the processing of the application has been delayed.
It is now expected to have a final examination of this case completed within the next two weeks. If the applicant is found to be eligible payment will be made shortly after that.
480 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of beef premium will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; the reason payment has not been made to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The inclusion of 20 underage animals on his application for the January-February 1993 special beef premium scheme contributed to the delay in processing this case. Assuming his application is now in order, a 60 per cent advance will, as provided in EU regulations, be paid to him shortly in respect of the eligible animals. He has already been paid a 60 per cent advance under the June 1993 special beef premium scheme.
