Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 28 Mar 1996

Vol. 463 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Brian Cowen

Question:

123 Mr. Cowen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the amount of money paid to farmers in County Donegal in each of the past three years under cattle, sheep and equine headage, ewe and cattle premia, beef cow and suckler cow and extensification and slaughter premia; and the EU Commission's proposals in relation to these payments in the 1996 prices package. [6809/96]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. Yates)

The amounts of money paid to farmers in County Donegal under 1993, 1994 and 1995 headage and premia schemes are as follows:

Scheme	Amount Paid 1993 Schemes	Amount Paid 1994 Schemes	Amount Paid 1995 Schemes
	£m	£m	£m
Cattle Headage	5.602	5.002	4.957
Equine Headage	0.046	0.027	0.020
Sheep Headage	4.214	3.735	3.728
Goat Headage	0.002	0.001	0.001
Suckler Cow Premium	3.427	4.710	5.544
Special Beef Premium	2.048	3.107	4.105
Slaughter Premium	0.453	0.524	0.683
Extensification Premium	1.776	2.122	To be paid April to June 1996
Ewe Premium	11.684	10.030	11.612
Total	29.252	28.258	30.650

The European Commission's proposals on the premium arrangements in the context of the 1996/97 prices package are as follows:

(i)withdrawal of the second instalment of the special beef premium for bulls and its replacement by a single premium at 14 per cent above the premium for steers;

(ii)reduction in the trigger for qualification for the deseasonalisation slaughter premium from 40 per cent to 38 per cent based on total steer slaughterings on the island of Ireland. In addition, when the trigger is no longer met, member states would have the option of maintaining the premium at 60 per cent of its current rate, which would be financed by way of a reduction in the second instalment of the special beef premium. Discussion on all elements of the 1996/97 prices proposals is ongoing in the Council and I am seeking to secure the best possible outcome.