Vol. 395 No. 6
97 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in issuing a farm grant to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; and if his attention has been drawn to the fact that farmers who have experienced the trauma of depopulation have to wait five or six months before payment is issued.
I am aware that herdowners are experiencing delays in the payment of reactor grants. These delays are due to a combination of factors such as staff shortages and the disruption of work occasioned by the transfer of the Department's accounts branch to Cavan. The backlog is now receiving attention and reactor grants due to the person named will be paid in the near future. Depopulation grants due to the person named have been paid.
98 Mrs. Taylor-Quinn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a person (details supplied) in County Clare has not received a headage payment for the years 1988 and 1989; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Payments to this applicant under the 1989 EC suckler cow, special beef and cattle premium schemes are being processed and will issue shortly.
It is an EC requirement of the cattle and equines headage scheme in the more severely handicapped areas that an applicant must be able to prove that he will remain farming in the disadvantaged areas for five years from first payment of grant under the scheme. The person named rents his entire holding and on a number of occasions has been requested by the local office of my Department to forward a five year lease as evidence of his intention to remain in farming for the stipulated five year period. So far he has not done so, and until such evidence is forthcoming he cannot be considered for a payment under the cattle and equines headage scheme.
99 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will arrange early payment of an installation aid grant for a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
I expect this premium to be paid within the next few weeks.
