Liz McManus
Question:135 Ms McManus asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the income conditions, threshold figures and any other conditions for the payment of headage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
There are no income restrictions on the payment of headage grants. There are, however, forage area restrictions which limit the maximum grant payable to £36.27 per acre. As there is a substantial number of other conditions attaching to each headage scheme, it would not be practical to list them in this reply and accordingly I am arranging for copies to be sent to the Deputy.
Edward Nealon
Question:136 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when 1993 ewe premia and outstanding 1992 sheep payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo.
I regret the delay in paying 1992 ewe premium and sheep headage and 1993 ewe premium to the person named. The delay was due to an oversight and I have now arranged for all outstanding payments to be made to him immediately.
Theresa Ahearn
Question:137 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a beef premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.
The person named applied for special beef premium on 52 animals in January-February 1993. An advance payment of £1,138.96 was made on 5 March 1994 on foot of this application. This represents an advance on 36 animals.
Processing of the claim in respect of the remaining 16 animals has been delayed because of a problem regarding the ages declared on the application.
The balance due under this scheme cannot be paid 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 the end of the month.
Theresa Ahearn
Question:138 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary is not entitled to a suckler cow premium; the reason this person's quota was withdrawn; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named applied for premium on 12 cows under the 1993 suckler cow premium scheme but presented only nine cows at inspection. Under the terms and conditions of the scheme the herdowner can only be paid premium on the nine cows at a reduced rate. As the herdowner has already been paid £569.45 advance on the 12 cows applied for an overpayment of £213.55 has now occurred which will be recouped from future grants due to the herdowner. The person named is entitled to a quota of 12 cows under the suckler cow scheme which was never withdrawn.
John Ellis
Question:139 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason his Department has declined to grant extra quota to a person (details supplied) in County Cavan who appears to satisfy the quota conditions.
The person named applied for an allocation of quota from the national reserve under the category which provides for reserve quota to be allocated to producers who were paid premium on a lower number of ewes than normal in 1991 because of exceptional circumstances. As the person named was paid ewe premium for the first time in 1991 he has no previous ewe premium history and does not therefore qualify for an allocation of quota from the reserve under this category.
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:140 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when headage, suckler and bullock grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person named was paid an advance under the 1993 cattle headage scheme on 27 November 1993. His application is being processed further and any balance due will be paid shortly. He did not apply under the 1993 suckler cow scheme.
Applications received from him in June 1993 for special beef primium are being processed and any advance payments due in accordance with EU regulation will be made shortly. He also applied for special beef premium in November 1993 and processing of these applications will commence in the near future so as to allow advance payment as soon as possible.
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:141 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be paid sheep headage.
Payment of the 1993 sheep headage grant was made to the person named on 29 November 1993.
Under the 1993 ewe premium scheme he had a quota of 599 rights. He was paid the advance of the first and second instalments on only 499 sheep on 25 July 1993. A payment in respect of 100 sheep was made on 7 March 1994.
Bernard J. Durkan
Question:142 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if sheep subsidy will be paid before 15 March 1994 to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Payment of a balance of the advance of the first and second instalments of the 1993 ewe premium was made to the person named on 7 March 1994.