Grant Payments.

Tuesday, 22 February 2005

Questions (280)

Denis Naughten

Question:

281 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of applicants under the area aid scheme, the suckler cow scheme, slaughter premium, special beef premium and the sheep premium in the years 1997 to 2004; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5547/05]

View answer

Written answers

Minister for Agriculture and Food (Mary Coughlan)

The numbers of applicants-applications under the various schemes from 1997 to 2004 are set out in the table:

	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
Suckler Cow Premium	79,823	77,116	74,107	71,080	66,935	64,349	62,905	61,847
Ewe Premium	45,768	44,583	43,704	41,209	38,647	36,177	35,099	34,821
Special Beef Premium*	212,320	242,341	187,100**	169,095	158,973	173,029	163,702	223,119***
New Slaughter Premium*	—	—	—	98,921	97,139	92,686	89,429	83,814
Deseasonalisation Slaughter Premium*	32,174	33,774	33,115	—	—	—	—	—
Area Aid	135,186	132,935	133,874	130,589	129,050	127,546	128,131	131,501†

*The figures shown refer to the number of applications received rather than applicants as a producer may submit more than one application or slaughter animals on more than one date.

**In 1997 and 1998 a farmer had to submit a different application for special beef premium under each age bracket ten months, 22 months and bulls. A combined application was introduced as and from 1999, hence the large change in the volume of applications received.

***Extra applications have been received due to final year of scheme.

†As a result of the introduction of the single payment scheme farmers who were not previously required to lodge area aid applications were required to lodge them in 2004.