Pádraic McCormack
Question:255 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when farmers will be paid their final 1993 headage, premium, suckler cow and sheep grants; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
EU regulations preclude payments under the 1993 special beef and suckler cow premium schemes before 1 November 1993 and then limit payments to 60 per cent advances.
Payments of the balances of the 1993 special beef and suckler cow premum 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.
Disadvantaged areas headage payments other than for sheep are normally on the basis of advances. These payments commenced in November 1993. Payment of the balances of the 1993 disadvantaged area headage payments will commence shortly following final processing. The final instalment of 1993 ewe premium will be paid after the rate had been fixed by the EU in March-April 1994.