Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 26 Jan 1994

Vol. 437 No. 6

Written Answers. - County Leitrim Herd Owners.

Edward Nealon

Question:

481 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to the fact that a large number of herd owners in County Leitrim did not receive the 60 per cent advance headage payment before Christmas, 1993; the percentage of herd owners who received their money; if, in view of the routine nature of this process which simply required referral to last year's headage payments, he will give the reason so many herd owners in County Leitrim were not paid; when the moneys will be sent on to these people; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Edward Nealon

Question:

483 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total number of herd owners in County Leitrim who qualified for headage payments in 1993.

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

I propose taking Questions Nos. 481 and 483 together.

The position is that up to Christmas 1993, out of the 4,021 herdowners in County Leitrim who applied for 1993 cattle headage grants, 3,558, 88.5 per cent, where paid the 60 per cent advance. Since then a further 335, 8.3 per cent, have been paid the advance. The remaining 128, 3.2 per cent of herdowners were not paid the advance principally because of various queries relating to their applications or because they were new applicants or for instance they had not been paid 1992 cattle headage grants. All 4,021 applications are being processed at present and if found in order, the entire grant or the balance as the case may be will be paid later in February 1994. Of the 935 flockowners who applied for sheep headage grants in 1993, 868 have been paid to date.