Vol. 471 No. 8
116 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will consider introducing the earlier ewe premium application period; his views regarding an increased sheep headage in the third tier disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22317/96]
The introduction of an application period earlier than that announced (12 December 1996 to 13 January 1997) would mean that a proportion of hoggets born in 1996 would not be one year old at the end of the retention period. As long as the EU regulations require that an animal must be one year old to qualify for the ewe premium I believe that the dates selected for 1996-7 are the most judicious to enable maximum payment of premiums.
A submission to establish a new category of extremely disadvantaged areas in Ireland was formally presented to the EU Commission on 9 October 1996.
The Commission will carry out a technical examination of the submission. Until this process has been completed, it is not possible to indicate how many hectares will be approved for reclassification as extremely disadvantaged, or to speculate on the consequences for individual schemes.
117 Mr. Gallagher (Laoighis-Offaly) asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will grant an appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Offaly in respect of payment under the 1996 suckler cow and cattle headage premia schemes on the basis that the grounds set out in the appeal are genuine and any further unnecessary delays should not be caused to this person and his family. [22318/96]
The headage and premia appeals unit received an appeal from this herdowner on 31 October, 1996.
He will be notified of the outcome of this appeal as soon as his case has been fully examined by the unit.
