Michael Creed
Question:188 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the Department will facilitate requests from individual farmers for the direct payment of various grants to financial institutions. [26591/98]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Consideration is being given to the introduction of electronic funds transfer, EFT, of direct payment of various grants to financial institutions on a phased basis. There will be full consultation with the farm organisations in advnace of any final decision.
Michael Creed
Question:189 Mr. Creed asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kerry will be paid a 1998 cattle headage grant. [26592/98]
The area aid application for the person named has been processed. Any outstanding payments due will issue as soon as possible.
Michael Finucane
Question:190 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when an outstanding headage grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [26593/98]
The person named applied on 68 animals under the 1998 cattle headage scheme. One of the animals applied on under this scheme has not been registered with the National Calf Birth Registration Service and my Department has been in contact with the person named on 3 December 1998 regarding this matter. This animal will have to be registered before the application can be processed further.
John Browne
Question:191 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in paying cow subsidy and headage payment for cows and sheep to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26595/98]
The person named declared a forage area of 38.49 hectares on his 1998 area aid application. The area found from the digitising process was 36.39 hectares. As the difference between the area found and the area claimed is more than 3 per cent, a penalty reduction of double the difference was imposed on the found area in accordance with Regulations 3877/92, and as outlined in paragraph 16.2 of the terms and conditions of the scheme. This means that his livestock payments will be based on an area of 32.19 hectares. The person named also declared a cereals area of 16.09 hectares. As he was an applicant in the simplified scheme for arable producers, he may only be paid in respect of a maximum of 15.13 hectares. Any payment due will issue as soon as possible.
John Browne
Question:192 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in paying area aid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26596/98]
The area aid application for the person named has been processed and any payments due will issue as soon as possible.