Jim Higgins
Question:73 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in the payment of beef premium to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; and the balance of his headage.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The application of the person named for grants under the 1993 cattle and equines scheme is being processed at present and any balance due to him will be paid shortly. In so far as his January-February 1993 special beef premium is concerned, a problem arose at computer validation stage. This is now being resolved, however, and payment of a 60 per cent advance will be made within a fortnight. He has already been paid a 60 per cent advance under the June 1993 special beef premium scheme.
Payment of the balances of the special beef premium cannot be made until all applications received from him 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.
Mary Coughlan
Question:74 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when final payment of suckler cow and cattle headage will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal.
The person named has already been paid the balance of grants under the 1993 cattle and equines headage scheme. Payment of the balance of the suckler cow premium cannot be made until all applications received from him 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:75 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a 1992 suckler cow grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person named is not the registered owner of the herd number quoted. The registered joint owners of the herd number quoted have already been paid suckler cow premium on some of the animals on their 1992 application and will be paid the balance within the next three weeks. Their application for 1993 suckler cow premium was not lodged until 18 November 1993. If the application of the owners of the herd number quoted is found to be in order when November 1993 suckler cow premium applications are processed, payment will be made in due course.