Michael Creed
Question:45 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the plans, if any, he has to introduce specific grant aid for pig farmers to improve production facilities and increase efficiency.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Under EU legislation the granting of investment aid having the effect of increasing pig production capacity is prohibited.
As I indicated in my reply to Parliamentary Question No. 19 of 10 May 1994, Teagasc will be given additional staff to launch an enhanced programme of advice for pig producers to assist them in achieving significant cost reductions within a short time-frame.
Michael Creed
Question:46 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will make grant assistance available for the preservation of old farmyard buildings under the REPS scheme.
The Rural Environment Protection Scheme (REPS) requires a participating farmer to retain and to do simple maintenance work to preserve old farmyard buildings.
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:47 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a headage payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The application of the person named for grants under the 1993 cattle headage scheme is being processed at present and any payment due will be made in the near future.
Paul Bradford
Question:48 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he has received an application for payment of a special beef premium in respect of January 1993 from a person (details supplied) in County Cork; the date on which the application was received; the date on which it was approved; the amount of money due to this person; the reason for the delay in payment; and when payment will be issued.
The person named applied for special beef premium on 29 animals on 11 February 1993. At a computer validation check, the application was rejected because of an age inconsistency in the case of one of the animals involved by reference to an application submitted by the person named in December 1992. This matter has been investigated and the problem has now been resolved. A payment of £1,529.17 will issue in the near future.