Mildred Fox
Question:124 Miss Fox asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the special measures, if any, he will take to address the ongoing delays in many sheep headage payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17688/97]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Payment of the 1997 sheep headage grants which commenced on 28 September last are ongoing with a view to ensuring that all but the most intractable problem cases are paid as soon as possible.
To date, 13,683 applicants (44 per cent) have been paid compared to 12,585 applicants (40 per cent) at the same stage last year.
Michael Ring
Question:125 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid his cattle headage for 1997 in view of the fact that the delay is causing hardship. [17689/97]
The area aid application of the person named has not yet been cleared to allow payment of headage to him. Every effort is being made to clear all area aid applications, other than a small minority of very intractable cases, by the end of this month so that payment can be made in this and other similar cases during the next four to five weeks.
If the area aid application of the person named is found to be in order, he should be paid cattle headage within this period.
Michael Ring
Question:126 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid his 1997 headage and premia grants. [17690/97]
The person named is deceased and his executrix has applied to become the registered herdowner. When registration is completed, 1997 headage and premia grants will be paid to the executrix.