Vol. 562 No. 4
192 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the 2002 suckler cow grant has not been awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6328/03]
The person named applied for premium for 43 animals under the 2002 suckler cow premium scheme. The application has now been processed and payment of her 80% advance entitlement will issue within the next week.
193 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Monaghan should not be allowed to claim income or hardship supplement when more than 10% of the person's herd is down with tuberculosis; the difference between a herd being diagnosed with tuberculosis through a normal herd test and a herd diagnosed with tuberculosis through an animal being slaughtered in a factory which is diagnosed by a vet to have visual lesions; if the means of diagnosis changes the income position or makes a difference to the actual hardship and income burden on the farm family; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6329/03]
Eligibility under the income supplement scheme requires that more than 10% of the total number of animals in a herd at the breakdown test must be removed as reactors during the period of restriction. Following the disclosure of a TB lesion in an animal slaughtered at the factory on 16 December 2002, the holding of the person indicated was restricted and a follow-up test was carried out on his herd. Of the 33 animals tested, three were disclosed as TB reactors and were removed for slaughter. The animal slaughtered at the factory prior to restriction and found to have TB lesions does not qualify for compensation and is not included in the income supplement calculation. However, if further TB reactors are disclosed under the current restriction, the person concerned will then become eligible for payment under the income supplement scheme.
