Dinny McGinley
Question:113 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if cattle headage payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [11144/00]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Under clause 36(a) of the terms and conditions of the 1999 cattle headage scheme, payment of cattle headage grants will be refused where the applicant fails to comply with the provisions of the Disease of Animals Act, 1966.
The TB-free status of the herd of the person named was withdrawn because of the failure to test cattle in his possession, for two years from 1 November 1997 to 28 October 1999, at a time when there was a high incidence of TB in his area. My Department wrote to the person named on 18 June 1999 advising him that it was his responsibility to ensure that all bovines in his possession had an annual TB test, and that none had been carried out in 1998.
My Department wrote again to the person named on 15 October 1999, informing him that because his herd had not been tested since November 1997, his herd number was being suspended. He was also informed that because he had not surrendered all cattle identity cards in his possession, as requested by an authorised officer, he was in breach of the Disease of Animals Act, 1966, and payment of his 1999 cattle headage grant was withheld.
The person named had a clear TB test on 28 October 1999, and he was advised by letter of 9 February 2000 that if he had another clear test within 60 days of the last TB test he would regain his TB-free status. He was also requested again to surrender all cattle identity cards in his possession and was advised that failure to do so was an offence under the Disease of Animals Act, 1966. To date the person named has not had his herd tested nor has he surrendered his cattle identity cards. Until this matter is resolved, payment of cattle headage grants cannot be considered.