Vol. 442 No. 6
56 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the full beef premium entitlement of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford for 1993 will be paid; if so, when; and if, in view of the fact that the retagging of the cattle was essential for identification reasons and that all the cattle applied for were bona fide and eligible for payment, he will ensure that the premium for the full complement of cattle applied for will be paid.
The application of the person named for the January 1993 special beef premium is being processed at present and any payment due will be made in the near future. The delay in payment was due to inconsistencies in the ages of 11 of the animals claimed on.
57 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has sought any change in the EC rules in regard to headage payments and premium payments, so as to allow payments to be made earlier in the year, in 1994.
58 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will seek a change in the rules in regard to the special beef and suckler cow premium schemes so that payments can be made to an applicant on a provisional basis in advance of receipt of all applications for that year, rather than waiting until the end of the year to make payments.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 57 and 58 together.
Current EU regulations governing the suckler cow and special beef premium schemes already allow payment of 60 per cent advances before all applications for the year in question are processed. This system in effect provides for payment of these premiums on a provisional basis as suggested by the Deputy. Payment of the balances is governed by EU regulations relating to the ceiling on eligible animals and stocking density and must await processing of all claims submitted by an individual applicant in the course of a year. Disadvantaged areas' headage schemes, other than for sheep, are normally on the basis of advances.
The Government is committed, in the Programme for Competitiveness and Work, to move progressively to a position during the period of the programme where all valid disadvantaged areas' headage claims will be paid by October of the year of application. As a first step in this direction additional funding has been provided in my Department's Vote for 1994. The Government is also committed to the payment of all eligible premium claims within three months of application in 1995 where this is allowed under EU regulations and to seeking changes in these regulations with a view to permitting premium payments to be made earlier in the year.
59 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Sligo did not get the first payment of a suckler cow premium; and when it will now be paid.
A payable order in the sum of £379.63 which was the first instalment of the 1993 suckler cow premium issued to the person named on 4 December 1993. If she did not receive this payment she should notify in writing the local livestock office of my Department in Sligo so that the matter can be investigated.
60 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will receive payment of their 1993 cattle headage.
The person named was paid an advance of his 1993 cattle headage grant on 3 December 1993. His application is being processed further at present and any balance due will be paid shortly.
