asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the reasons for the delay in payments of the subsidies under the beef cattle incentive scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Beef Incentive Scheme.
35.
I do not accept that there has been any delay in the payment of grants under this scheme. Payments are proceeding with all possible speed. The Deputy will appreciate that there is a very big job involved in making individual payments to an estimated 34,000 eligible herdowners.
What is the usual time lag between the man becoming entitled to a grant and its actually being paid?
This being our first real issue of cheques under this scheme there is no precedent, and I could not give any usual time.
How long has the delay been so far?
There has not been any delay. We are doing it as fast as we can. The second inspection took place in September and October. As soon as the files were cleared from our local offices we began to assemble them for payment and we calculated what was due. We are now making out the cheques, advising, addressing and submitting all these through the post to the various people. Undoubtedly there will be neighbours who may have their cheques before others, but this is unavoidable.
How long will it be before this is completed?
I said earlier on—and I hope this will still prove to be so, but I cannot say for certain—that we would have them paid by Christmas, with perhaps a few exceptions where we had to refer back for further information.