Vol. 491 No. 2
108 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of days that bullocks must be retained from the date of application of ten and 22 month premiums; the number of days they must be retained after the date of lodgment; and the variance, if any, there is in the number of days they must be retained. [11578/98]
The critical date governing the commencement of the retention period for animals submitted for either ten or 22 month special beef premium is the date of receipt rather than the date of the application itself. By regulation, animals must be retained for two calendar months starting on the day after an application is received in the Department. Therefore, for example if an application is received on 14 May 1998 then the last day of the retention period is 14 July 1998 and the applicant may sell animals submitted for premium on 15 July and later.
Consequently, the length of the calendar month may have an affect on the number of retention days.
109 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be paid his 1997 suckler cow grant in view of the fact that all required maps have been returned and duly amended. [11579/98]
The person named applied for grants on 32 animals under the 1997 suckler cow premium scheme on 28 May 1997. There was a discrepancy in his declaration and the local office of my Department wrote to him on 26 August 1997 asking him to state whether or not he had a mixed enterprise herd and to indicate if he wished to apply under the suckler cow premium scheme for non-suppliers of milk or the scheme for small-scale milk producers. No reply has been received to date. My Department has again been in correspondence with the person named on this matter. His application cannot be processed further until the information requested by the local office has been received.
110 Mr. Kenneally asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have arrangements made to make a payment in relation to an application for 1997 suckler cow premium by a person (details supplied) in County Waterford in view of the fact that the application has been submitted on two separate occasions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11581/98]
The person named applied for an allocation of suckler cow quota from the 1997 national reserve and was provisionally allocated six premium rights on condition that he would apply for and have accepted for payment at least six suckler cows under the 1997 suckler cow premium scheme. However as my Department has no record of having received an application from the person named under the 1997 suckler cow premium scheme, the provisional allocation of six premium rights was withdrawn.
