asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will give details of the total number of farmers awaiting payments under the EEC ewe premium scheme, the total number of sheep involved in the payments and the total amount of money due to farmers under this scheme; if he will clarify the exact situation immediately; and if he will make a statement on the entire matter.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
706.
Under the 1983-84 ewe premium scheme, 29,981 farmers were paid £25.67 million on 1.955 million ewes. Only a few cases remain unpaid at this stage and these will be paid as soon as the applicants concerned reply to queries raised.
As regards the current marketing year, application forms for the 1984-85 ewe premium scheme will be available next month but details of the numbers involved will not be known until the application forms are returned and inspections carried out. The total amount of money payable cannot be calculated until after the end of the 1984-85 marketing year in March next.
707.
asked the Minister for Agriculture when headage payments will be made for the 1984 scheme for Roscommon and east Galway.
Payments under the 1984 cattle headage and beef cow schemes in the disadvantaged areas, including Roscommon and east Galway, will commence later this month and will continue over a period of two months. Payments under the 1984 sheep headage scheme in the disadvantaged areas have already been made to 17,000 out of 18,500 applicants. The remaining cases are the subject of queries and will be paid as soon as the applicants reply to the queries raised.
708.
asked the Minister for Agriculture the reason for the delay in paying grants under the calf incentive scheme to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick, and if he will make arrangements to have the moneys due paid immediately.
There is no particular delay in this case. The application received from the person named is at present being processed and if found in order will be paid when payments of premium on calves born during the first half of 1984 commence at the end of December.
709.
asked the Minister for Agriculture when headage grants due to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick will be paid.
Payments under the 1984 cattle headage scheme in the disadvantaged areas will commence at the end of November and payments under the EEC calf premium scheme on calves born during the first part of 1984 will commence at the end of December. Payments under both schemes will continue for a period of two to three months. The person named will be paid his cattle and calf grants as soon as the batches which include his payments are processed.
710.
asked the Minister for Agriculture when cattle headage grants and sheep headage grants which are overdue will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry and if he will make a statement on the matter.
My Department are unable to trace an application for any cattle headage grants from the person named. He will, however, be paid his sheep headage grant under the 1984 disadvantaged areas schemes in due course when the particular batch which includes his payment is processed.