Jimmy Deenihan
Question:201 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a suckling grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1141/94]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named applied for premium on eight animals under the 1992 suckler cow scheme on 30 June 1992.
He presented eight cows at first inspection on 11 September 1992 but at a compliance inspection on 7 December 1992 it was found that all these cows were sold. It is a condition of the suckler cow scheme that applicants retain their suckler cows for a period of six months after the date of lodgment of their application form. Since the applicant sold his suckler cows within the retention period my Department has no option but to refuse payment of his suckler cow grants.
He also submitted an application for grants under the 1992 beef cow scheme in the disadvantaged areas and has been requested to furnish further documentation in support of his claim. The documentation provided so far shows he had the use of only about a quarter of an acre which would render him ineligible for 1992 beef cow headage — all disadvantaged areas applicants are required to farm at least seven and a half statute acres. My Department has no record of having received applications from the person named in 1993 or 1994.
Jim Higgins
Question:202 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in payment of the 1992, 1993 and 1994 suckler cow premium to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [1159/94]
The person named applied originally under the June 1992 suckler cow premium scheme but withdrew this application later and submitted a replacement application for December 1992. This resulted in some complication in processing the case and to a delay in the payment of her 1992 and 1993 premia under the scheme. I am now arranging for payment of these premia to her.
Payment of 1994 suckler cow premium cannot start until 1 November 1994 under the EU Regulations governing this scheme. The 1994 application of the person named is being processed at present and, if found in order, payment should be made in November.
Jim Higgins
Question:203 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in payment of sheep headage to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo. [1160/94]
The person named was not an applicant under the 1994 sheep headage scheme as he did not have any mountain breeding ewes or hogget ewes. However, as he had ten lowland breeding ewes, payment of the advance of 1994 ewe premium is being arranged and will be made shortly.