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Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 19 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Frank Crowley

Question:

151 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when 1993 and 1994 equine headage grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.

The application of the person named under the 1993 equine headage scheme is being processed at present and any payment due will issue shortly. Application forms for the 1994 equine headage scheme will not be available until June and payment will not begin until later in the year.

Jim Higgins

Question:

152 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in the payment of the ten month beef premium and the 22-month beef premium to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.

The person named has already been paid 60 per cent advances under the January/February and June 1993 special beef premium schemes. His applications are now being processed further and any balances due will be paid shortly.

Special beef premium balances become payable to a particular applicant only when all his/her applications submitted 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.

Jim Higgins

Question:

153 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of beef premium will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.

The person named has already been paid a 60 per cent advance under the January-February 1993 special beef premium scheme. His application is being processed further at present and any balance due will be paid shortly. He did not apply for grants under the June 1993 and November 1993 special beef premium schemes.

Jim Higgins

Question:

154 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not been paid suckler or beef grants; and the reason he has only received 80 per cent of his headage; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Due to a problem with the 1993 area aid application of the person named grants due to him under the 1993 suckler cow and special beef premium schemes were not made. The problem has now been resolved and payment of his 1993 suckler cow and the balance of his 1993 cattle headage grants will be made within a week.

Payment of his 1993 special beef premium scheme grants will be made within a fortnight.

Jim Higgins

Question:

155 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in the payment of the balance of sheep headage to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.

Payment of the balance of the 1993 ewe premium will be made to the person named in the very near future. The applicant did not apply for 1993 sheep headage scheme.

Jim Higgins

Question:

156 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in the payment of the balance of headage to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.

The application of the person named for grants under the 1993 cattle and equines headage scheme is being processed further at present and any balance due will be paid shortly.

Payment of the balances under the 1993 suckler cow and special beef premium schemes cannot be made until all applications received from 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. Payment of balances under the suckler cow premium commenced recently and payment of special beef premium balances will start within a week.

Edward Nealon

Question:

157 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the percentage of the total 1993 headage paid by county in each of the following counties: Sligo, Leitrim, Mayo, Galway and Roscommon; the date on which all the remaining headage payments will be made except those which are in dispute; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

The position is that over £91 million has been paid out to farmers in the counties mentioned on foot of 1993 claims for the various premia and headage schemes. The vast majority of non-problem cases have now been paid either an advance payment or full entitlement. The number of farmers paid under each scheme is as follows:

Scheme

Galway

Leitrim

Mayo

Roscommon

Sligo

Suckler Cow (Main)

8,738

3,173

8,548

4,450

2,931

Suckler Cow (Small)

404

130

599

204

329

Slaughter Premium

864

80

618

683

183

Special Beef Premium (Jan./Feb. and June)

12,737

2,085

10,465

5,438

3,159

Cattle Headage (Advance)

13,291

3,896

12,325

6,509

4,675

(Balance)

7,691

2,920

6,993

4,370

3,497

Beef Cow (Advance)

339

N/A

N/A

N/A

N/A

(Balance)

221

Ewe Premium

7,005

947

5,047

2,829

1,711

Sheep Headage

5,055

911

4,309

1,868

1,232

Payments made in respect of ewe premium, and sheep headage represent full entitlement. Payments under the suckler cow and special beef premium schemes represent in the main 60 per cent advances in line with EU requirements. Slaughter premium payments represent full amounts due in most cases. Cattle headage and beef cow schemes are normally paid by way of advances. Payment of the balances due under these two schemes commenced before Easter and are continuing at present. Payment of 40 per cent balances under the suckler cow premium scheme has now commenced and those under the special beef premium scheme will start within a week.
Payment of the balances under these schemes is subject to EU requirements relating to the ceiling on eligible animals and stocking density. This obliges member states to process all applications received from a particular applicant during the course of 1993 before paying out the balances. Payment of the November 1993 special beef premium scheme commenced recently. Payment of extensification premium is also linked to stocking density and here too I expect payments to commence by the end of the month.

Ivan Yates

Question:

158 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if a person (details supplied) in County Wexford can be paid on the full eligible number of ewes presented on his 1993 application; and, if not, the reason therefor.

The person named applied under the 1993 ewe premium for payment on 200 sheep all of which were accepted at inspection. As he had a quota of 173, he could only be paid premium on that number. However, he recently leased an additional quota of 20 rights and arrangements are being made to have additional premium based on the extra number to be paid to him.

Ivan Yates

Question:

159 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Wexford was refused ewe premium quota; and if this will be reconsidered on an appeal basis.

The person named did not qualify for an allocation of ewe premium quota from the 1993 national reserve because he did not apply for ewe premium in 1992 or 1993.

He has applied for ewe premium under the 1994 scheme. Therefore, it will be open to him to apply for a quota allocation from the national reserve for 1994. The application period for this will be announced later in the year.

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