Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 16 Dec 1998

Vol. 498 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Martin Brady

Question:

39 Mr. M. Brady asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the amount of direct income payments to farmers projected for 1998 compared with 1997 and 1996 including the amounts under the cattle, sheep and beef cow headage schemes, the amounts under the special beef, suckler cow, deseasonalisation and ewe premium schemes and the amounts for other schemes including extensification, arable aid, the REP scheme and the early retirement scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27762/98]

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mr. Walsh)

I am circulating a table showing the list of direct income payments to farmers in 1996, 1997 and the most up-to-date forecast for payments in 1998. Included also are figures relating to the farmers early retirement scheme for the same period.

Payments in 1998 are expected to reach a record level of over £1 billion and include advances of 80 per cent under the suckler cow and special beef premia, as well as the new fodder and cull ewe schemes announced recently.

Direct Income Payments to Farmers 1996-98

Scheme	1996	1997	1998(forecast)
	£m	£m	£m
Cattle Headage Scheme	81.392	88.792	84.695
Sheep Headage Scheme	22.523	23.889	23.181
Beef Cow Scheme	11.324	13.359	11.653
Special Beef Premium	167.147	157.777	196.00
Suckler Cow Premium	157.712	121.279	175.00
Deseasonalisation Premium	16.773	23.752	26.400
Extensification Premium	60.491	66.904	79.800
Ewe Premium	113.238	73.632	95.080
Arable Aid Scheme	88.618	95.714	91.947
REPS	56.448	101.400	135.000
BSE Compensation	68.968	31.152	6.815
Agri-Monetary Compensation	–	88.546	30.16
Installation Aid Scheme	6.535	7.006	3.753
Forestry Premia	12.653	10.929	19.000
Disease Eradication Schemes	28.855	34.397	36.100
Other	18.723	1.873	18.252
Total	911.4	940.4	1,032.836*
Farmers Early Retirement Scheme	44.011	57,029	67,000

Other in 1996 includes £17.3 million under milk schemes and includes £16 million in fodder and cull ewe schemes in 1998.

* Note that this latest estimate is slightly higher than the figure used in the CSO's income estimate of 11 December.