Joe Walsh
Question:546 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will have arrangements made for a payment to be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork for cows slaughtered due to BSE. [1441/97]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
As the epidemiological investigation following the occurrence of the case of BSE to which the matter is related has not yet been completed, I am not yet in a position to finalise payment in this case.
Liam Aylward
Question:547 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the way in which he can justify the introduction of the new land parcel identification system in view of the fact that it is causing serious delays in payment of grants and subsidies to farmers; and if he intends to rectify this situation. [1483/97]
The Land Parcel Identification System (LPIS) is a requirement under EU Regulations. Failure to implement the system would jeopardise all suckler cow premium, special beef premium, extensification premium and disadvantaged areas scheme payments in Ireland.
I fully accept that the introduction of LPIS for the first time in 1996 led to some delays in making payment. However, I would point out that in the period 1 January 1996 to 31 December 1996 payments totalling £787 million were made to farmers under the various headage and premia schemes. This was a record level of payments under these schemes. While there were some teething difficulties in implementing the system in 1996, the problems encountered should not arise in future.