Vol. 438 No. 7
25 Proinsias De Rossa asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the procedures used by his Department for verifying applications for headage payments; if he will give the number of inspections in regard to applications carried out in October, November, and December 1993; if inspectors have been instructed by his Department to sanction applications for payment without inspections; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department is obliged, under EU Regulations, to carry out administrative checks on all applications for headage and premia schemes. These checks have to be supplemented by on-farm checks. It is not the practice to reveal the internal office procedures or on-farm procedures that are carried out as such disclosures would have serious implications for control of the schemes. The percentage of on farm inspections in Ireland is higher than in most other member states.
26 Mr. Clohessy asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not received payment under the beef premium scheme from the Ennis Office of his Department; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person in question applied for January-February 1993 special beef premium but as he did not lodge an area aid application his premium could not be paid in accordance with the EU regulations.
However, following consultation, the EU Commission is now willing, as a concession, to allow premium payments on up to a maximum of 15 livestock units to applicants who did not submit an area aid application in 1993. As a result, arrangements are being made to pay premium to the person named in the near future.
29 Mr. Boylan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if, in view of the substantial increase in the value of dairy stock, he will increase the compensation to farmers who have valuable dairy stock removed through disease eradication; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Under the TB and Brucellosis Eradication Schemes a comprehensive scheme of reactor grants is in operation based on animal type and weight. In addition, herdowners may also be paid income supplement or depopulation grants as appropriate. Also a reactor collection service is provided free of charge to herdowners for the removal of their reactor animals.
The grant payment supplements the slaughter value of reactors paid to the herdowner by the meat plants. Generally speaking, the grants are designed to bridge the difference between the slaughter price and the cost of an equivalent replacement animal.
31 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the proposals, if any, he has to provide grant aid or support to poultry producers to assist them with the upgrading of their premises and to bring them in line with EU standards.
Because of the high standards which prevail in general on poultry farms in Ireland, I am not aware that compliance with EU standards is causing undue difficulties for Irish poultry producers.
