asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason for the undue delay in the payment of cattle headage grants in south-west Cork; and the number of cases in which payment is outstanding.
498.
Written Answers. - Cattle Headage Grants.
497.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the number of farmers who have not been paid the headage grant in mid-Cork; and the reason for the delay.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 497 and 498 together. There has been no undue delay in the payment of cattle headage grants to eligible applicants in County Cork. Over 5,500 applications were received and of these about 600 requiring further investigation remain to be processed for payment. In most instances these will be cleared when certain information which has been requested from the herdowners in question is furnished to the cattle headage scheme office in Cork.