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Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 18 May 2000

Vol. 519 No. 4

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Jack Wall

Question:

45 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he can account for the large number of discrepancies which have been identified by his Department in slaughter premium payments for cattle; the way in which he proposes to deal with these discrep ancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13836/00]

The slaughter premium introduced under Agenda 2000 is payable on all bovine animals, including cows, heifers, bulls and steers aged eight months and older, slaughtered in local abattoirs or licensed meat export premises within the EU or exported live to third countries in the period 1 January 2000 to 31 December 2000.

The premium is payable to producers of bovine animals who are registered herdowners and who held the animals slaughtered or exported live to a third country for a minimum of two months and where those animals were slaughtered within one month or exported live to a third country within two months of leaving the producers herd.

The procedure is that application forms are not required for animals slaughtered within the State or exported live to third countries. This information is captured on the Department's database, the "Cattle Movement Monitoring System" (CMMS). The slaughter premium programmes process this information in conjunction with information held on several other databases such as the special beef premium, suckler cow, cattle headage, animal location file and calf birth registration system to determine the eligibility of these animals for premium. Payment will issue automatically where these animals are deemed to have met all the requirements of the slaughter premium scheme.

Full processing of slaughterings and live exports has not yet commenced since all elements of the processing programmes are not yet in place. The input of historical data to the CMMS is also ongoing. It is expected that these requirements will be in place by the end of June at which point all animals slaughtered or exported live to a third country since 1 January 2000 will be processed using all elements of the new slaughter premium computer programmes. It is not possible at this stage to accurately predict what number of animals will be automatically found eligible and what number will be the subject of a query. Initial testing and some live processing would indicate a very high level of eligible animals.

A producer's statement will issue to each herdowner within six-eight weeks detailing the premium status of animals slaughtered-exported. The statement will include a list of animals for which further information is required. In such instances the producer will be required to furnish evidence such as purchase-sales dockets, etc.

In accordance with Commission regulation payments under this scheme will commence on 16 October 2000 at which time a 60% advance payment will be made. Payments will be made on a monthly basis after that date for that scheme year. A balancing payment will be made in 2001 as soon as the quota position is established.

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