John Perry
Question:286 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the grants available for the provision of an all-weather equestrian paddock; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15942/02]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
My Department makes grant aid available to farmers for investment in housing-hand ling facilities for horses under the scheme of investment aid in alternative enterprises. Horse exercise areas are among the investment items eligible for grant aid, with or without a special all weather surface. Such facilities must, however, comply with my Department's building specifications for such facilities. The maximum amount of investment eligible for grant aid under the scheme is €31,742 per holding in respect of horses.
Application forms and further details of the scheme may be obtained from the local offices of my Department. It is a strict condition of the scheme that only investments undertaken with prior written approval of the Department will qualify for grant aid.
John Perry
Question:287 Mr. Perry asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if headage payments will be brought forward; if he will consider setting up a special hardship fund for farmers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15944/02]
Michael Ring
Question:297 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will bring forward direct payments to farmers due to the bad year they have had. [16038/02]
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:305 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the suckler cow, special beef, slaughter premia and the beef national envelope payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16136/02]
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:306 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when all arable aid payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16137/02]
Denis Naughten
Question:314 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the measures he is taking to ensure that disadvantaged areas receive their full area based payments at the earliest possible date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16190/02]
Denis Naughten
Question:315 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if 80% advanced payment of all livestock premia will be made on or before 16 October 2002 and 100% of the ewe premia by that date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16191/02]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 287, 297, 305, 306, 314 and 315 together.
The position is that in the period 1 January 2002 to date some €656 million has been paid to farmers under the various premium and compensatory allowance schemes of which almost €192 million relates to payment under the 2002 area based compensatory allowance scheme. Payments under that scheme commenced on 20 Sep tember last ahead of the target date agreed in the protocol on direct payments to farmers.
Under EU regulations governing payment of premiums, advance payments representing 60% entitlement under the bovine premium schemes cannot commence until 16 October, the beginning of the EU budget year. In the case of ewe premium, full entitlement may be paid from 16 October and in the case of arable aid, full entitlement may be paid from 16 November.
I have already secured EU approval to have the advance payment under the bovine premium schemes increased to 80% and this will improve the cash flow of farmers by some €88 million. I have also secured agreement to make a 50% payment worth about €65 million under the arable aid scheme with effect from 16 October. Full ewe premium payments will also be commencing on that date.
We have set ambitious targets for payment delivery in the protocol on direct payments to farmers and these targets are being met. I expect that payments to farmers under the 2002 schemes will reach over €500 million within the next couple of weeks with up to €800 million paid out under the 2002 schemes by the end of the year bringing total payments for the calendar to well over €1.2 billion.
As well as the improvements in the area of earlier delivery of direct payments, many other actions have been taken which are addressing the difficulties faced by farmers. These include improved market supports in the milk and beef sectors, a derogation on the use of set-aside land, the provision of an intensive advisory service by Teagasc and arrangements which allow the farm assist scheme to take account of the situation faced by farmers.
I have no plans for the setting up of a special hardship fund for farmers.