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Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 20 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Tony Killeen

Question:

119 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will ensure that all outstanding headage and premia payments issue to farmers before the end of April 1994, to alleviate financial hardship arising from extra feeding and veterinary costs due to bad weather conditions.

I accept that the weather conditions until recently have created difficulties for livestock farmers and indeed farmers in general.

I am very conscious of the importance of direct payments to farmers in the light of the CAP reform changes and the need to ensure that such payments reach farmers as quickly as possible with the minimum of red tape. The position is that some £345 million has already been paid out to farmers on foot of 1993 premium and headage schemes. These payments are continuing and I expect payments of the order of £40 million to be made over the next few weeks.
The EU regulations precluded any payments under the special beef and suckler cow premium schemes before 1 November last and even then limited the payments to 60 per cent advances. 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 and the 40 per cent suckler cow premium balance commenced recently and I expect that payment of the 40 per cent balance for the 1993 special beef premium will commence within a few days. Payment of extensification premium is also linked to stocking density and here too I expect payments to commence by the end of the month.
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