Paul Bradford
Question:78 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive his 1995 BSE compensation payment. [19238/97]
Written Answers. - Compensation Payments.
The person named was paid special beef premium in respect of 117 animals in 1995 and in respect of 93 animals in 1996. The EU regulations governing the top-up provided for a top-up payment in respect of eligible animals under the 1995 scheme with provision for subsequent adjustment upwards or downwards to take account of the eligible animals under the 1996 scheme.
Since the person in question was not paid the top-up in respect of animals eligible in 1995, the question of adjustment in his case does not arise and he will be paid a top-up of £1,744.44 representing 93 animals at £19.08 per animal qualifying under the 1996 scheme. This payment will issue shortly.
A payment of £930 representing 93 animals at £10 was issued on 26 May 1997 under the 1997 BSE compensation package. A payment of £233.43 in respect of the same animals at £2.51 per animal issued on 14 October 1997 under the 1997 agri-monetary package.
Paul Bradford
Question:79 Mr. Bradford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will introduce a beef heifer subsidy scheme as was introduced in 1996. [19239/97]
The 1997 agrimonetary compensation scheme, which I announced recently, will compensate beef producers for loss of income sustained because of green £ revaluations earlier this year. The closing date for receipt of application forms in district livestock offices was Friday, 7 November 1997.
The package is aimed at producers who had finished heifers and finished male animals slaughtered at licensed meat export premises or licensed abattoirs in the period 1 April 1997 to 10 June 1997. Producers of finished heifers weighing not less than 450 kilograms sold through livestock marts within the same period will also be compensated. The rate of payment will be about £41 per animal. Payments are expected to commence in mid-December.
In addition, the overall package provides for the payment of a £2 top-up of the 1996 special beef premium covering all animals on which the 22 month instalment of premium was paid.