Michael Ring
Question:194 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Longford will receive his REP scheme payment. [18594/98]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person was issued a fourth year REPS payment on 30 September 1998.
Michael Ring
Question:195 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid an installation aid grant in view of the fact he was promised this in 1998. [18595/98]
The application in this case cannot be processed until all of the additional supporting documentation requested from the applicant on 31 August 1998 has been furnished.
Provided all conditions for payment are met, payment should issue within four to six weeks of receipt of the required documentation.
Michael Ring
Question:196 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the plans, if any, he has to reintroduce the western package for small suckler cow farms in the west of Ireland with particular attention being paid to small farmers with 20 suckler cows or less. [18596/98]
The position is that the EU suckler cow premium scheme is available to all suckler cow producers in Ireland. The current payment rate is £140.23 per eligible cow subject to an individual quota limit. In addition, suckler cow farmers in the more severely disadvantaged areas are entitled to a payment of £84 per suckler cow under the disadvantaged areas' cattle headage scheme. They are also entitled to headage grants on other animals. Producers in less severely disadvantaged areas are entitled to a payment of £75 per suckler cow under the disadvantaged areas beef cow scheme.
I have no plans to introduce a scheme along the lines suggested by the Deputy.