Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 4

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Ivor Callely

Question:

97 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total moneys paid out to farmers by way of all schemes under the aegis of his Department to date in 1997; and the number of farmers who benefited in this regard. [23472/97]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

To date in 1997 my Department has made over 1.49 million payments to farmers amounting to more than £1,018 million under the various schemes. Payments continue to be made under the schemes and individual farmers may participate in a number of schemes.

Ivor Callely

Question:

98 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total amount paid out, by his Department, for each individual scheme under direct payments on farm investment schemes and accompanying measures to date in 1997; and if he will give comparative figures for 1996. [23473/97]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The detailed information requested is set out in the following table:

Scheme	1997 (18/12/97) Amount	1996 (18/12/97) Amount
	£m	£m
Farm Improvement Programme	7.022	13.659
Farm Improvement Programme	1.225	0.214
Control of Farmyard Pollution	44.020	32.592
Dairy Hygiene Scheme	11.090	6.333
Alternative Enterprise Scheme	3.898	3.312
Scheme of Installation Aid	6.014	6.429
Early Retirement Scheme	56.700	44.039
Rural Environment Protection	98.609	55.855
Agri-Tourism	1.230	1.290
Cattle Headage	100.379	92.512
*Ewe Premium	73.628	113.416
Sheep Headage including top-up	23.884	21.454
Goat Headage	0.009	0.046
*Special Beef Premium incl. Bull Premium	156.114	164.063
*Suckler Cow Premium	119.753	154.252
Slaughter Premium	23.718	16.800
Equine Headage	0.298	0.952
Extensification	66.878	60.551
Arable Aid	96.139	84.630
BSE Package (All Schemes)	71.892	69.126
Total	962.500	941.525

*NOTE: It should be noted that 60 per cent advance payments were made in respect of the 1997 suckler cow and special beef premia schemes. By special derogation 80 per cent advance payments were made in respect of these schemes in 1996. Consequently, the carry over into 1997 in respect of 1996 suckler cow and special beef premia schemes was only 20 per cent of total premium. As a result the total amount payable under these schemes in 1997 would be less than in 1996. Furthermore the combined first and second instalments payable under the 1997 ewe premium scheme is £2.63 per animal less than the equivalent instalments payable under the 1996 scheme.