asked the Minister for Agriculture why a 1977 cattle headage payment has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and when he can expect to receive payment.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Cattle Headage Payments.
12.
This herdowner was found to be in serious breach of the terms and conditions of the cattle headage payments scheme, consequently the payment of grants to him in respect of his 1977 application was disallowed.
13.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if any hold-up exists in the payments of cattle headage grants in any particular county or counties; and, if so, the reasons for the delay.
There is no hold-up in the making of payments under the 1978 EEC Cattle Headage Payments Scheme. Grants have been paid already to over 47,000 applicants and it is expected that within the next six weeks payment will be made in all other cases which have been found to be in order.
Does the Minister not think that this late payment and the long spread-over of payment is far from satisfactory? Is there a reason—in certain areas, if not in certain counties—for this late payment, whereas in some other cases in the same areas there have been very early payments?
I do not think there is any cause for dissatisfaction having regard to the fact that in the county of Donegal alone almost £1 million is being paid, and payments began last October only. It must be obvious that some applications will be dealt with before others. I do not agree with the Deputy that there has been any unwarranted delay.
Is it not possible to do something about speeding up payment in future years, if not this year, to have all payments made around the same time rather than having them spread out over four, five or six months.
I do not concede that there is any unreasonable delay in the payment of headage grants.
Might I ask the Minister to explain to the House how it is that some people whose herds were tested earlier than others still have not been paid while other people whose herds have been tested later have been paid already? Is there a system in the Department whereby if people's herds are tested earlier they are paid earlier?
All applications are examined, presumably, in some kind or order. It must follow that some payments are cleared earlier than others. There is nothing mysterious about that. If the applications are in order payment will be made and there will be no delay in the matter.
It is certainly mysterious that some people are paid earlier than others.
While the Minister has said that some sort of order has to be observed in payment, what is outstandingly aggravating is this: as Deputy White has already indicated, neighbours have had their cattle tested at different times and the earlier tested people have not yet been paid while those whose herds were tested later have been paid some time ago? I do not know where the order comes in.
They need not worry. Nearly £1 million has been given to county Donegal alone. It is the safest corner in the building.