The number of farmers in County Galway who qualified for cattle headage grants in more severely handicapped areas and for beef cow grants in less severely handicapped areas in 1989 was 5,900 and 4,900 respectively. It is expected that for 1990 these numbers will increase by 600 and 650 respectively, due mainly to the abolition of the off-farm income restriction and, in the case of the beef cow scheme, to more farmers qualifying for beef cow grants in herds with both dairy and beef cows.
It is estimated that the total amounts payable to County Galway farmers under the cattle headage and beef cow schemes for 1990 are £3.57 million and £2.69 million respectively.