Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 1

Adjournment Debate. - Ewe Cull Scheme.

Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin

This issue arose after Christmas when a number of farmers in County Kerry became concerned, as did the IFA, when cheques due under the ewe cull scheme had not been received as usual prior to Christmas. Dúchas advised these farmers on or about 11 January that the cheques were issued and were more than likely lost in the post and that the matter was being investigated. The farmers concerned were advised to write to Dúchas and apply for payment.

Some days later a representative of the IFA discussed the matter on Radio Kerry. I am advised that on the same programme a Dúchas representative apologised for the fact that the cheques were not issued. It was stated by the official that a senior official in the Department was dealing specifically with the issue and that all outstanding cheques would be issued the next day. There was no reference to farmers having to apply for payment. No cheques had been received by 23 January. At that stage, one of the farmers concerned contacted Dúchas again and was advised most definitely that the cheques had been issued before Christmas, that what was stated on Radio Kerry was not correct, and that the situation was that anyone who had not received his cheque would be required to apply in writing. I have a copy of a letter sent to a farmer in question on that day which states:

Further to our recent correspondence, I have rechecked the position with our accounts branch and it does now appear that the cheque was never issued before Christmas. We apologise for this error. Please find enclosed your cheque for the ewe cull payment 2000.

Perhaps the Minister would advise me why the cheques were not issued before Christmas as usual, and why these farmers were requested to apply in writing for these payments. The farmers in question were given the run-around by the Department.

I want to know whether all the farmers have now been paid. I also want clarification from the Minister of what happened. One of the most worrying aspects of this is that it appears that the Department was not in a position to identify who had been paid and who had not been paid. Otherwise farmers would not have been requested to write in and apply for the payment.

I regret having to raise this matter in the House tonight, but the farmers concerned are entitled to know what happened.

Éamon Ó Cuív

I am pleased that this issue has been raised. I hope to be able to clarify it to the satisfaction of the Deputy.

The ewe compensation scheme arose from the 30% destocking which was undertaken at the end of 1998. This reduction in sheep numbers applied to the six western counties of Donegal, Sligo, Mayo, Leitrim, Galway and Kerry, and was intended to address the serious ecological damage to our upland areas, much of which have been designated special areas of conservation (SACs). My Department therefore has the responsibility for paying compensation, which amounted to about £4.5 million in both 1999 and 2000, to the approximately 3,500 farmers involved. I am delighted the Deputy referred to payments being made "as usual". As she is aware this is the second year of the scheme. I remember when people cast doubts on whether the payments would ever be made. However, we gave an undertaking and we will honour it.

First payments were made in December 1999, with the second round issued before Christmas 2000. Early in January 2001, it became clear that some of those who were due payment in the Kerry area had not received their cheques. Initially, it was thought that many of these cheques had been caught up in the Christmas post, but on checking with An Post this was found not to be the case. Instead, it was established that the problem was that a small number of cheques had not been issued. Immediate measures to remedy this situation were put in place and it was decided that where a farmer reported that he had not received a cheque, a new or replacement cheque would issue as a matter of urgency. Five telephone lines were available to receive reports of people not receiving cheques and people reporting this were asked to confirm it in writing. To date, my Department has received 86 written reports of missing cheques and has issued new or replacement cheques to 81 of these people. The balance will issue during the coming week.

While this is a small percentage of 3,500 farmers involved in the overall scheme, I fully appreciate that it has been a cause of anxiety and I very much regret any inconvenience caused. I am also aware that there was a great deal of confusion in the early stages with different reports in the media as to what was happening. I regret this, but the Deputy will agree that my Department moved swiftly and with sensitivity to ensure that all those affected received their entitlement as quickly as possible.

It is regrettable that this happened. A number of farmers approached me directly about this issue. I immediately contacted the Department, and every effort was made to deal as speedily as possible with this difficulty. This scheme has probably caused fewer problems than most agricultural schemes, and the response of the Department in terms of payment has been rapid. Most farmers would be willing to admit that in this case.

The Dáil adjourned at 9.05 p.m. until 10.30 a.m. on Thursday, 8 February 2001.