Michael Creed
Question:168 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of cattle headage grant and beef premium grant for 1993 will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named was paid an advance of his 1993 suckler cow premium on 27 November 1993. This application is being processed further at present.
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 be made before late March.
His application for grants under the 1993 cattle headage scheme is being processed at present and if found in order payment will be made shortly. He was paid an advance of his January-February 1993 special beef premium on 4 December 1993. He is not an applicant under the June 1993 special beef premium scheme.
Frank Crowley
Question:169 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when farmers, who have already been paid 60 per cent of headage and beef grants will be paid in full.
EU regulations preclude payments under the special beef and suckler cow premium schemes before 1 November and then limit the payments to 60 per cent advances. Disadvantaged areas headage payments other than for sheep are normally on the basis of advances. These payments commenced in November 1993.
Payment of the balance of disadvantaged areas headage will commence shortly following final processing. Payment of the balance of the special beef and suckler cow premia 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.
Frank Crowley
Question:170 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a beef premium grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person named has already been paid a 60 per cent advance under the January-February 1993 special beef premium scheme and the balance will be paid in due course.
His application for grants under the 1993 deseasonalisation slaughter premium was rejected at a computer validation check. The problem with the application has now been resolved and payment will be made shortly.
Payment of the balance 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.
Frank Crowley
Question:171 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a beef premium grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person named is not the registered herdowner of herd number quoted. The registered herdowner applied for premium in respect of 23 animals under the January-February 1993 special beef premium scheme but sold 22 of the animals without submitting cattle identity cards for stamping and punching prior to sale as required under the terms and conditions of the scheme. As the 22 animals were sold at a mart and could be submitted for premium again payment cannot be made on these 22 animals.
The registered herdowner has already been paid a 60 per cent advance on the remaining one animal and the balance will be paid in due course.
Liz McManus
Question:172 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will ensure that a person (details supplied) in County Carlow is granted payment on the basis of his application for cattle headage.
The person named applied for cattle headage in 1993 under the herd number quoted. As the herd number is registered in another person's name, an investigation of the ownership of stock and lands must be carried out before the application can be processed further.
Patrick J. Morley
Question:173 Mr. Morley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when cattle headage grants and beef premium grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person named was paid an advance of his 1993 cattle headage on 27 November 1993. His application is being processed further at present and if found in order the balance will be paid in the near future.
He applied for special beef premium on two 22 month animals and on 11 ten month animals in June 1993. His applications are being processed and if found in order an advance payment in accordance with EU regulations will issue in the near future. Payment of the balance cannot be made 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.
Enda Kenny
Question:174 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the file of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in respect of eligibility for headage and premium payments is currently valid; the period since 1977 that such file is valid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named in this case is now deceased and was not the registered owner of herd number quoted. My Department will only be prepared to give further information in this case to or on behalf of persons who can prove that they are legally entitled to such information.
Enda Kenny
Question:175 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive sheep headage, sheep premium and a quota.
The person named was paid his 1993 sheep headage grant on 21 January 1994. Under the 1993 ewe premium he has a quota of 23. He applied for premium on 13 sheep and qualified for a payment of £215.53 under the first and second instalments. However this amount has been offset against an overpayment of £225.88 which he received under the 1992 ewe premium and the balance of £10.35 will be offset against the final instalment of the 1993 premium which fall due for payment in March-April.
Enda Kenny
Question:176 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not been paid beef premium; and when it will be paid.
The application of the person named for grants under the June 1993 special beef premium scheme is being processed at present and if found in order a 60 per cent advance as provided in EU regulations will be paid shortly. He did not apply for grants under the special beef premium scheme in the January-February 1993 application period.
Enda Kenny
Question:177 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid in respect of suckler cows in view of the fact that he was not paid for the last number of years.
The person named applied for grants under the suckler cow premium scheme for small-scale milk producers in 1991 and 1992 but did not qualify for grants under either of those schemes because he did not have cows surplus to those required to produce his milk quota.
He cannot be paid grants under the 1993 suckler cow premium scheme for small-scale milk producers as he has not yet established a suckler cow quota.
The person named may apply for suckler cow reserve quota when application forms become available in about four weeks time. If he succeeds in obtaining a quota from the national reserve, his 1993 suckler cow application can then be considered.
Seymour Crawford
Question:178 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who have received payment under the 1993 cattle headage scheme to date; the total amount paid to date; the number of farmers who are still awaiting payment; the amount of money outstanding under this scheme; and when all payments will be made.
Seymour Crawford
Question:179 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who have received payment under the 1993 beef cow headage scheme to date; the total amount paid to date; the number of farmers who are still awaiting payment; the amount of money outstanding under this scheme; and when all payments will be made.
Seymour Crawford
Question:180 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who have received payment under the 1993 sheep headage scheme to date; the total amount paid to date; the number of farmers who are still awaiting payment; the amount of money outstanding under this scheme; and when all payments will be made.
Seymour Crawford
Question:181 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who have received full payment under the 1993 deseasonalisation premium scheme; the number of farmers who have received only partial payment; the total value of the premium paid out to date; the total number of applications; the total amount due under this scheme; and when all payments will be made.
Seymour Crawford
Question:182 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who have applied for and are eligible for payment of extensification premium under both the 1993 special beef premium and 1993 suckler cow premium schemes; the number of farmers who have received payment of extensification premium to date; the total amount paid to date; the number of farmers who are still awaiting payment; the total amount of money outstanding under this scheme; and when all payments will be made.
Seymour Crawford
Question:184 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who have received payment under the 1993 special beef premium scheme; the amount of money paid out to date under this scheme that is in respect of January/February 1993, June 1993, and November 1993, applications; the number of farmers who are still awaiting 60 per cent advance payment under this scheme; the amount of money outstanding; when farmers will receive the final 40 per cent payment; and when all payments will be made.
Seymour Crawford
Question:185 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who have received payment under the 1993 suckler cow premium for small scale dairy producers to date; the amount of money paid to date; the number of farmers who are still awaiting 60 per cent advance payment; the amount of money outstanding; and when all payments will be made to farmers.
Seymour Crawford
Question:186 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who have received payment under the 1993 suckler cow premium, that is, in respect of the June 1993, application; the amount of money paid to date; the number of farmers who are still awaiting 60 per cent advance payment; the amount of money outstanding under this scheme; when farmers will receive the final 40 per cent payment under this scheme; and when all payments will be made.
I propose taking Questions Nos. 178, 179, 180, 181, 182, 184, 185 and 186 together.
The position is that over 500,000 payments amounting to over £377 million were made to farmers under the various premium and headage schemes in the year ended 31 December 1993. This compares to total payments of £350 million in the year ended 31 December 1992. A further £14 million has been paid to date in 1994. Payments made to date on foot of 1993 schemes are as follows:
|
Scheme |
No. of Payments Made |
Amount Paid |
|
£m |
||
|
Cattle Headage |
74,472 |
42.2 |
|
Beef Cow Headage |
11,637 |
6.4 |
|
Sheep Headage |
29,481 |
18.5 |
|
Suckler cow Premium (June-July) |
63,538 |
33.9 |
|
Small Scale Suckler Cow (June-July) |
5,525 |
1.4 |
|
Deseasonalisation Slaughter Premium |
17,200 |
9.4 |
|
Special Beef Premium (Jan-Feb) |
42,947 |
15.7 |
|
Special Beef Premium (June-July) |
34,783 |
6.4 |
|
Ewe Premium |
48,875 |
70.4 |
EU regulations preclude payments under the special beef and suckler cow premium scheme before 1 November and even then limit the payments to 60 per cent advances. Disadvantaged areas headage payments other than for sheep are normally on the basis of advances. It is estimated that the total value of the 1993 headage, deseasonalisation slaughter premium, suckler cow premium (June-July) and special beef premium (January-February and June-July) schemes is of the order of £220 million.
Payment of the balances in respect of the disadvantaged areas headage schemes will commence shortly. Payment of the balances in respect of the special beef and suckler cow premium schemes 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. Payment of extensification premium is expected to commence in April.
A large number of unpaid special beef premium cases involved various problems such as incorrect tags, no cards or incorrect cards, no herd number, incomplete application forms etc. It had been necessary to write to 40,000 individual farmers in order to process the cases for payment. In many cases there had been a long delay in getting responses from farmers to the queries raised.