asked the Minister for Agriculture if he will pay sheep headage payments to farmers in Connemara based on last year's numbers, due to the large amount of fatalities and to the fact that many farmers cannot collect their sheep because of the danger of further fatalities.
Written Answers. - Connemara Sheep Headage Payments.
58.
At present two-thirds of inspections under the sheep headage and ewe premium schemes have been completed and no great difficulties have been encountered with inspections of ewes in poor condition. My inspection staff report that the problems caused by the harsh weather conditions during the spring have now eased and accordingly inspections can proceed in the normal way. There can be no question of making payments on any basis other than the number of ewes inspected this year.