P. J. Sheehan
Ceist:93 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason an installation aid grant has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
I understand that an application has not been received in the local Teagasc office from the person in question.
Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:94 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when an installation grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I expect that it will be possible to determine this application shortly. If the applicant is found to be eligible payment will be made as soon as possible.
Charles Flanagan
Ceist:95 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a grant entitlement under the western package will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
This grant will be paid as soon as possible.
Matt Brennan
Ceist:96 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a calf premium grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; the reason for the delay in payment; and if he will expedite payment in this case.
This applicant received a 70 per cent advance payment under the 1989 cattle and equines headage scheme but is not eligible for payment under that scheme as his off-farm income was over the limit.
His 1989 calf premium scheme grant is being offset against the cattle and equines headage scheme overpayment, therefore, and he is being requested by the local livestock office to refund the balance.
Matt Brennan
Ceist:97 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a cattle headage grant, calf premium and suckler cow grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; the reason for the delay in payment; and if he will expedite payment in this case.
This applicant has aready received a 70 per cent advance payment under the 1989 cattle and equines headage scheme. Payments covering the balance payable under that scheme and the full amounts due to him under the 1989 suckler cow premium and special beef premium schemes are being processed and will issue shortly.
It was a condition of the calf premium scheme that in order to qualify for premium a calf must have been ear-tagged with a calf premium scheme eartag within 42 days of birth and have its eartag number, colour or breed, sex, date of birth and dam's eartag number recorded in a calf register within three days of eartagging. The person named failed to comply with these requirements and consequently is ineligible for 1989 calf premium grants.
The reason for delay in issue of payments was the late issue of application forms following a High Court case last year and a policy of non-co-operation by some unions at the end of the year. Payments are now back to normal, however.
Matt Brennan
Ceist:98 Mr. M. Brennan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a cattle headage grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; the reason for the delay in payment; and if he will expedite payment in this case.
This applicant has already received a 70 per cent advance payment under the 1989 cattle and equines headage scheme. Payments covering the balance payable under that scheme and the full amount due to him under the 1989 suckler cow scheme are being processed and will issue shortly.
The reason for delay in issue of these and other payments was the late issue of application forms following a High Court case last year and a policy of non-co-operation by some unions at the end of the year. Payments are now back to normal, however.
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:99 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his attention has been drawn to the hardship caused to farmers due to the delay of up to four months in the payment of farm development grants; and if he will outline the steps he proposes to take to improve the situation.
Payments under the farm investment schemes are at present made on average within four to six weeks of receipt of claims at headquarters.