Gay Mitchell
Question:29 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will provide extensification grants for sheep farmers in hill areas; if he will make a statement on the matter. [19476/97]
Written Answers. - Hill Sheep Farming.
Michael Joe Cosgrave
Question:43 Mr. Cosgrave asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will ensure that extensification grants are paid to flock owners in mountainous areas which are severely disadvantaged in view of the disastrous crisis suffered by hill sheep farmers in severely disadvantaged areas during the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19349/97]
Seymour Crawford
Question:49 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the steps, if any, he intends to take to alleviate the grave hardship being caused to hill sheep farmers resulting from the substantial reductions in ewe premium payments on hill sheep farms from 1995 to date in 1997. [19428/97]
I propose to answer Questions Nos. 29, 43 and 49 together.
Reported mart and factory prices show that average prices for hill lambs to date this year were significantly higher than in previous years. These higher prices substantially offset the reduction in the ewe premium for 1997. When account is taken of the payment of the rural world premium and headage grants in the disadvantaged areas, the total return on hill lambs is equivalent to that available to producers of lowland lambs.
As far as the extensification premium is concerned, the European Commission has rejected requests for the introduction of this premium in the sheepmeat sector. However, I will continue to press this issue with the Commission at every possible opportunity.