Vol. 255 No. 18
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total number of herd owners in County Laois; the total amount received by them under the beef cattle incentive scheme in the year 1970; the total amount paid under this scheme in the present year in that county; and the reason for the delay in making payments of grants this year in that county.
43.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries the total number of herd owners in County Offaly; the total amount received by them under the beef cattle incentive scheme in the year 1970; the total amount paid under the scheme in the present year in that county; and the reason for the delay in making payments of grants this year in that county.
With your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to take Questions Nos. 42 and 43 together. I have no evidence of any undue delay in the payment of grants under the scheme to herd owners in Laois and Offaly. The great majority of grants do not mature for payment until after the autumn inspections which, this year, will commence in a few weeks time.
The further information requested by the Deputy is in the form of a tabular statement which, with your permission a Cheann Comhairle, I propose to circulate with the Official Report.
Following is the statement:
Beef Cattle Incentive Scheme
|
Total Number of Herd owners (on 1st March, 1971) |
Number participating in Scheme (on 1st March, 1971) |
Amount of Grants paid in 1970 |
Amount of Grants paid in 1971 (to 30th June) |
|
County Laois 4,980 |
1,396 |
£181,250 |
£58,450 |
|
County Offaly 5,058 |
2,188 |
£191,207 |
£91,760 |
Can the Minister give me the reasons for the delay in the payment of grants in the south Offaly area?
I do not accept that there is any undue delay.
I have received a considerable number of representations in regard to the long delays in the payments of these grants.
The Deputy will accept that there is bound to be some delay in the examination of individual cases. The moving of an individual herd owner's file to headquarters necessarily involves some delay but I would not accept that there is undue delay in the payment of the grants.
