Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 Dec 1997

Vol. 485 No. 4

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

103 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the current position regarding the £17 million aid package approved by his predecessor; if this package will be more than the £50 per head envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23542/97]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

In accordance with EU regulations it is necessary to obtain the Commission's prior approval for all schemes for agrimonetary compensation whether the funding comes from the EU budget or the national Exchequer. The figures of £50 per head for eligible cattle and £17 million for the beef sector were announced by my predecessor despite the fact that such approval had not been obtained by him.

The compensation to be paid for cattle must, under EU regulations, relate to actual losses to producers resulting directly from the revaluations of the Irish green pound alone and not from any other factor. On this basis the Commission has given me its approval for payment of approximately IR£41 per head on eligible steers, young bulls and heifers disposed of between 1 April and 10 June 1997. A top-up of £2 per head of the special beef premium in respect of animals which qualified for the 22 month premium in 1996 has also been approved. Payments have now commenced and will be completed by the end of this month.

Bernard J. Durkan

Question:

104 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of premium and headage payments made to date in 1997; the number still outstanding; and if he will make a statement on the matter with particular reference to when he expects all these payments to be made. [23543/97]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

The information requested is outlined in the following table together with a table showing the percentage paid under the 1997 schemes at 18 December 1997 and the comparable percentage paid at the same time in 1996 in respect of the equivalent 1996 schemes.

I would like to point out that in the period since 1 Janaury 1997 some £733 million has been paid to farmers under the various headage premia and arable aid schemes of which over £480 million relates to payments made under the 1997 schemes. To date this year some 1.409 million payments have been made of which 903,136 represent payments under the 1997 schemes, including payments made under the various EU BSE and agrimonetary compensation schemes.

Payments under the 1997 disadvantaged areas headage schemes commenced on 28 September 1997 and to date over £109.7 million has been paid. Payments under the 1997 arable aid scheme commenced on 16 October (the earliest possible commencement date under EU regulations) and some £85 million was paid to 94 per cent of applicants within one week of commencement of payments. The current position is that over £90.8 million has been paid to 99 per cent of applicants.

Payments under the 1997 special beef premium and suckler cow premium schemes commenced on 1 November and 3 November respectively. The EU regulations provide that these payments cannot commence until 1 November and that only 60 per cent of entitlement can be paid. To date over £131.7 million has been paid under these schemes.

Payments are continuing to issue to farmers under all premiums and headage schemes. I am making every effort to ensure that remaining eligible applicants under all of these schemes will be paid by Christmas and that only real problem cases will remain.

Headage and Premia Schemes — Amount Paid to date in 1997

Scheme	Number of Payments	Amount paid to 18 December 1997 under 1997 and previous years' Schemes
		£m
Cattle Headage	91,110	100.379
Ewe Premium	135,566	73.628
Sheep Headage including Top-Up	57,560	23.884
Goat Headage	133	0.009
Special Beef Premium including Bull Premium	390,135	156.114
Suckler Cow Premium	148,496	119.753
Slaughter Premium	41,871	23.718
Equine Headage	1,693	0.298
Extensification	93,187	66.878
Arable Aid	17,713	96.139
BSE Package All Schemes	432,044	71.892
Total	1,409,508	732.692

1997 Headage and Premia Schemes — Percentage Paid

Scheme	% Paid to date	% Paid at same time in 1996
Cattle Headage/Beef Cow	88	87
Ewe Premium
1st Instalment
2nd Instalment	98	98
Sheep Headage Top-up	92	87
Special Beef Premium	88	86
Suckler Cow	89	86
Slaughter Premium	98	98
Arable Aid	99	95