asked the Minister for Agriculture if, as an interim measure to alleviate the hardship being endured by farmers, he will arrange to have the ewe premium, now due, paid on presentation of their latest dipping certificate.
136.
Written Answers. - Ewe Premium Scheme.
135.
asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will take steps to have the ewe premium, now due, paid to farmers as soon as possible.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 135 and 136 together. The EC Regulations governing the ewe premium scheme require flockowners to keep their eligible ewes for 100 days from the last day of the period for accepting applications. In Ireland the last day for accepting applications was 14 March 1986. An examination of the latest dipping certificates would show numbers dipped between 15 September 1985 and 31 January 1986 and could not be used to confirm the number of eligible ewes kept for the 100 days period between mid-March and end June 1986. Instead, my Department rely on actual flock inspections by their technical staff. These are in progress at present and I am making arrangements to expedite the premium payments, starting next month, as inspections are completed.