Michael Ring
Question:122 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his slaughter premium payment. [6920/98]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named is not an applicant under the 1998 EU deseasonalisation slaughter premium scheme. He did, however, apply under the 1997 agrimonetary compensation scheme. His application has been processed and it is expected that a payable order for £41.12 will issue to him in the coming days.
John Perry
Question:123 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the deduction of £171 from a headage payment for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if he will be reimbursed for this amount; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6949/98]
John Perry
Question:124 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will receive his ten month beef premium payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6950/98]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 124 together.
The person concerned submitted a ten month special beef premium application in respect of five animals on 25 February 1997. This application has been fully processed for payment and the first instalment of 60 per cent amounting to £270.51 issued on 4 November 1997. A further advance payment of 30 per cent amounting to £135.25 is due to issue in the next fortnight.
The regulations governing payment of the 1996 BSE compensation package, which was paid out in October 1996, provided for payment of top-ups in respect of animals which qualified for payment under the 1995 EU suckler cow premium scheme or 1995 EU special beef premium scheme. The regulations also provided for adjustments, upwards and downwards, later on to take account of the number of animals qualifying for payment under the 1996 EU suckler cow premium scheme and the 1996 EU special beef premium scheme. In effect the regulations require that when all balancing payments under the 1996 EU suckler cow premium scheme and 1996 EU special beef premium scheme are made a comparison is to be carried out between the number of animals qualifying for payment under the 1995 schemes and the number qualifying under the 1996 schemes. Money is to be recouped from those farmers who had fewer animals qualifying under the 1996 schemes. The person named did not apply for special beef premium under the 1996 schemes.
In order to comply with the regulation, the £171.72 — £19.08 x 9 — BSE compensation payment made on 7 October 1996 had to be recouped from his 1997 cattle headage payment of £683.00. The balance of £511.28 was paid on 10 October 1997. Recouped money will be used to make payments to those farmers who had more eligible animals under the 1996 schemes.