Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

42 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to concerns being expressed by farmers at the complexity of forms which confront them and the penalties associated with the incorrect completion of those forms; and the proposals, if any, he has to improve the situation.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

46 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total number of cases to date in which cow, beef or sheep premia have been withheld by his Department on the grounds that incorrect or insufficient information was supplied by the applicant; the number of appeals against such decisions received to date; the number of successful appeals; the number, if any, still under consideration and likely to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Jim O'Keeffe

Question:

89 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of forms for farmers to fill to apply for or comply with the various schemes administered by his Department and the farm advisory services; and whether simplified procedures will be introduced.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

99 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total number of applicants who have been refused cow, beef or ewe premia on technical grounds in each of the past two years; the number currently under review; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

I propose taking Questions Nos. 42, 46, 89 and 99 together.

I acknowledge that the various premium schemes involve complexity for farmers and my Department is constantly monitoring the various requirements in the interest of simplifying the procedures. However, as I said earlier given that the schemes involve considerable amounts of money — as much as £600 million when the CAP reforms are fully in place in 1995 — it is not, therefore, unreasonable that the European Commission lays down very specific conditions for the filling of forms and the meeting of other requirements. The complexity of the schemes also bear on the administration. I have recently announced a £4.8 million investment for 1994 to develop and upgrade computer facilities and other resources particularly in local offices with the objective of achieving the optimum delivery of my Department's services to farmers and with special emphasis on the timely payment of headage and premia grants.

The position is that, generally speaking, payments are not refused because of insufficient information being supplied by applicants. The problem is that failure to properly complete an application form leads to delay in processing an individual case for payment. Detailed statistics are not maintained in respect of improperly completed application forms for each individual scheme.

In the case of the June 1993 special beef premium scheme, for example, a recent analysis showed that up to 40,000 applicants had to be written to by my Department. Despite several reminder letters, responses are still outstanding in many cases. In general, the vast bulk of unpaid cases under each scheme are the subject of unresolved queries.

Godfrey Timmins

Question:

50 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will make grants available to Coillte for replanting areas of forest which have been cleared in particular where replanting will involve hardwoods.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

I have no plans to introduce a scheme of the type mentioned in the Deputy's question.

EU supported schemes do not provide funding for reforestation activities, and therefore the costs of such a scheme would have to be met solely from Exchequer resources. These costs would be substantial in view of the fact that Coillte currently reforest some 4,000 hectares per annum, a level of activity which is projected to increase by approximately 50 per cent over the next four years.

While there are clear budgetary constraints, I am not, in any event, convinced as to the necessity for such a scheme bearing in mind the substantial timber revenues which accrue from the clear-felling of sites.