Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 24 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

93 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Kerry was ineligible to participate in the 1993 suckler cow scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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

The person named applied for grants on three animals under the 1993 suckler cow premium scheme for small-scale milk producers.

He does not have a suckler cow quota as he was not paid under the scheme in 1992 and therefore has not established automatic quota rights. My Department has no record of an application from him for rights from the special reserve.

However, even if the applicant had a quota, the three animals on which he applied for grants under the 1993 suckler cow scheme for small-scale milk producers are not of a beef-type breed as required under the EU regulations and are in any event ineligible for grants.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

94 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a beef premium payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

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

The application of the person named for grants under the December 1992 special beef premium scheme is being processed at present and the payment due will be made within a week.

Jimmy Deenihan

Question:

95 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when an outstanding headage grant payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

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

The person named was paid advances of his 1993 beef cow grant and his 1993 suckler cow premium on 3 December 1993. His applications are being processed further at present and any balance of the headage grant due will be paid in the near future.

Payment of the balance of the suckler cow premium 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 April.

Paul Bradford

Question:

96 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the suckler cow quota entitlement of persons (details supplied) in County Cork; and the position concerning payment of the 1992 suckler cow premium scheme to these persons.

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

The persons named applied under the June 1992 suckler cow premium scheme in respect of 40 cows. At an inspection of their herd on 4 December 1992 a number of queries arose with regard to the application.

Until these queries are resolved, payment cannot issue, and a suckler cow quota cannot be determined.