Denis Foley
Question:30 Mr. Foley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry his views on whether adequate funds have been set aside for the 1994 headage schemes.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Disadvantaged areas headage payments, other than for sheep, are normally made by way of an advance payment in October-November each year with a balancing payment in the following spring. The advance payment is usually of the order of 60 per cent of entitlement.
A sum of £135.4 million has been provided for headage payments in the 1994 budget. This represents an increase of £52.4 million on the 1993 provision of £83 million. 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 headage claims will be paid by October of the year in question. As a first step in this direction additional funding of £10 million has been provided this year and the 1994 Estimate reflects this additional funding.
It is too early yet to say if the 1994 allocation will be sufficient to pay all valid claims in full by the end of the year. However the increased provision will certainly provide for payment of a much higher percentage of advance on all valid claims and is in line with the Government's commitment in theProgramme for Competitiveness and Work.