asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if all those who made application and qualified under the fodder voucher scheme will be granted the four vouchers; and if his Department are still accepting applications under the scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Fodder Voucher Scheme.
117.
The number of vouchers granted to individual applicants varies according to the applicant's young cattle numbers and his existing fodder situation. It was announced on 21st January that the latest date for accepting applications for vouchers was being extended to 7th February.
The Parliamentary Secretary, I am sure, is aware that this question has been on the Order Paper for three weeks and when it was put down there was a complete breakdown. Seeing that a loan will be given to continue it on, will everybody who qualifies and who has applied before 7th February now get four vouchers?
I expect they will, provided they qualify. The qualifications are: for one to three young cattle a holder will receive one voucher; from four to eight, two vouchers; from nine to 15, three vouchers and from 16, four vouchers.
If a person meets all those qualifications, will he receive four vouchers?
Yes. It is estimated that the number will be about 104,000 and we expect that the additional funds provided by the Minister for Finance will ensure that all will qualify.
Is the Parliamentary Secretary aware that many of those who qualified for the four vouchers have up to now received only three?
It is possible that that is so because all the vouchers have not been issued yet. It is just a week since the scheme was closed.
Some of those who were issued with three vouchers a month ago are still awaiting the fourth voucher they are entitled to.
Without the additional funds, since provided by the Minister, they could not get more than three vouchers.
Can we take it that all who qualify for four vouchers will receive that number?
That is my expectation.
When will the backlog of applications be cleared up?
I did not say there was any backlog to be cleared up. This matter is being dealt with expeditiously.
The Parliamentary Secretary said that only three vouchers were issued where the applicant qualified for four and that is an indication of a backlog. I know of cases that date back to December.
118.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries if, in view of the fact that farmers have in recent times been unable to obtain application forms for cattle fodder vouchers with a consequent partial breakdown in the operation of this scheme, he is now satisfied that all those qualified to participate will be catered for.
The scope of the cattle feed vouchers scheme was originally governed by the contribution provided by the beef processing factories and this enabled applications made up to 13th December to be accepted. Following the provision of an additional £2.2 million in the budget, it was announced that the period for making applications would be extended to 7th February. I am satisfied that vouchers can be granted to all the eligible applicants who have feeding difficulties with young cattle this season.