Michael Ring
Question:176 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the outstanding headage or premia payments, if any, due to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo for 1997. [9618/98]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named is not the applicant for grants. The herd number in question was transferred from the person named on 20 November 1997. The new registered owner of the herd number has received his full entitlement under the 1997 sheep headage scheme, ewe premium scheme, cattle headage scheme and EU suckler cow premium scheme. The registered herd owner applied on five cows under the 1997 cattle headage and EU suckler cow premium schemes. At an inspection carried out on 7 August 1997 four cows were presented and one cow was absent. In accordance with clause 28 of the terms and conditions of the cattle headage scheme, and clause 27 of the terms and conditions of the EU suckler cow premium scheme, a shortfall penalty of 20 per cent was applied to the headage and premium grants payable on the eligible animals. The applicant was informed by my Department on 6 January 1998 that he would be receiving reduced payments under both schemes. He was also advised that if he wished to appeal this decision he should write to my Department setting out any facts which he wished to put forward to support his case. No such appeal however was received by my Department.
Michael Ring
Question:177 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive his 1997 sheep top-up payment in view of the fact he believes he is entitled to £192. [9619/98]
Payment of the l997 sheep-headage top-up will be made to the person named within the next two weeks.