asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment of a reactor grant will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if his attention has been drawn to the hardship involved in this case.
98.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
86.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when reactor grants and cow grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 86 and 98 together.
I am fully aware of the hardship involved for herdowners whose herds become infected with disease. I am satisfied, however, that serious cases of hardship are alleviated through the system of grants in place.
Delays in payment of grants have occurred recently through a combination of factors such as staff shortages and the disruption of work occasioned by the recent transfer of the Department's accounts branch to Cavan. Additional staff have now been allocated to these duties. Work on the clearance of the backlog which has built up has commenced. Payment of the grants to the persons named in the questions will be made as soon as possible.
87.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when an approval form for a grant for the provision of a slatted unit will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.
The application is being processed and approval will issue as soon as possible. The number of applications under the scheme is very large and every effort is being made to issue the necessary approvals at the earliest possible moment.
88.
asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a headage grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.
The person named has been requested to produce evidence of off-farm earnings for income tax years ended 5 April 1986, 1987 and 1988.
When he submits the information requested his eligibility for the 1986, 1987 and 1988 cattle and equine headage schemes will be considered further.
He will be paid his calf premium and special beef premium grants when the pay directions involved are processed by computer.