Jimmy Deenihan
Question:114 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when ewe premium and headage payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24323/98]
Written Answers - Grant Payments.
Difficulties have arisen in processing the area aid application for the person named and she has been informed. When these have been resolved, any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Jimmy Deenihan
Question:115 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when ewe premium and headage payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24324/98]
The area aid application for the person named has been processed. Any outstanding payments due will issue as soon as possible.
John McGuinness
Question:116 Mr. McGuinness asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will investigate the case being made by a person (details supplied) in County Carlow in relation to 1997 ewe premia; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24325/98]
The herdowner lodged an appeal concerning his 1997 ewe premium application. The appeal was fully examined by the headage and premia appeals unit and the herdowner was notified on 17 July 1998 that his appeal had been unsuccessful. The herdowner was not satisfied that all the points raised in his appeal had been addressed regarding an inspection which was carried out and a further letter issued to him on 1 August 1998 from the district inspector. The herd-owner, in his letter of 30 October 1998 has not presented any new evidence and I regret, therefore, that his appeal cannot be re-examined.
Theresa Ahearn
Question:117 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment of area aid to farmers in south Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24339/98]
To date the Area Aid Unit has processed for payment over 90 per cent of all applications, representing 90 per cent of forage applications and 95 per cent of arable applications. Those applications as yet not processed to payment stage are spread throughout the country. All those applicants who have been contacted by the area aid unit, special beef premium unit or local offices of my Department with specific queries on their applications are urged to reply as a matter of urgency to facilitate the finalisation of their payments.
John Perry
Question:118 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if area aid problems will be resolved for a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; if 1998 cattle and suckler cow grants will be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24346/98]
The area aid application from the person concerned has been processed and any payment due will issue as soon as possible.
Willie Penrose
Question:119 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if 1997 beef premia will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath; the reason for the delay in payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24388/98]
The person named applied for 14 animals on his ten month special beef premium application on 30 January 1997. The herdowner received payment on seven animals, but due to a query in relation to the other seven animals payment could not be made. The query has now been resolved and payment of £597.66 will issue within the next two weeks.
Willie Penrose
Question:120 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if a person (details supplied) in County Westmeath will be paid suckler cow and beef cow premiums; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24389/98]
Difficulties have arisen in processing the area aid application of the person named and he has been contacted. When the difficulties have been resolved, any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Dinny McGinley
Question:121 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a cattle headage payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [24405/98]
Difficulties have arisen in processing the area aid application for the person named. When these have been resolved, any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Question:122 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food his views on the system whereby people who have owned commonage in a disadvantaged area cannot qualify for the ewe premium scheme due to the fact they are not in a shared leased commonage; and if he will extend the scheme to include them. [24416/98]
The position is that commonage land which has been divided between two or more farmers is no longer regarded as commonage for the purpose of the ewe supplementary measure 1998. Farmers who own such land may of course apply for the ewe premium scheme in the normal way.
Michael Ring
Question:123 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in respect of sheep and cattle headage grants. [24417/98]
Difficulties have arisen in processing the area aid application for the person named and he has been notified. When the difficulties have been resolved, any payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Ring
Question:124 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if payment will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in respect of cattle headage and suckler cow premia. [24418/98]
The person named made application under both the suckler cow premium scheme and the cattle headage scheme on 29 May 1998.
Payments under both the cattle headage and suckler cow premium schemes are restricted to applicants who are registered herdowners. As the person named is not a registered herdowner she is not entitled to payment. My Department is writing to the applicant to outline why payment did not issue.
Michael Ring
Question:125 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the assistance, if any, available to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo whose house and land in north Mayo have been completely flooded. [24420/98]
Assistance under the fodder scheme is available only in respect of fodder losses. Losses for structural and other damage are not eligible for grant aid.