Jim Higgins
Question:164 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in the payment of headage to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named was paid an advance of his 1993 cattle headage grant and suckler cow premium on 21 January 1994. His applications are being processed further at present and if found in order the balance of the headage grant will be paid in the near future.
Payment of the balance of the suckler cow premium cannot be made to a particular applicant until all applications received from him/her in the course of 1993 have been processed. This is necessary to ensure compliance with EU regulations covering in particular the ceiling on eligible animals and stocking density.
The processing of November 1993 applications means that in most cases payment of the final 40 per cent of premium will not start before late March.
Jim Higgins
Question:165 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in the payment of 1992 headage and suckling cow grants to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person named was paid his 1992 cattle headage grant on 19 December 1992. He was paid his 1992 suckler cow premium on 20 January 1994. I regret the delay in making this latter payment which was due to the file being mislaid.
Jim Higgins
Question:166 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in the payment of a suckling grant to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The application of the person named for 1993 suckler cow premium was rejected at computer validation. The problem involved has now been resolved, however, and it is expected that a 60 per cent advance payment under that scheme will issue shortly.