Ivan Yates
Ceist:179 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if all 1992 direct income aids have been paid to farmers; and if not, when all headage and premia payments will be finalised and issued.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The present position is that over 93 per cent of applicants under the disadvantaged areas schemes (cattle, beef, cow, equine and sheep headage) have been paid their 1992 grants. A similar situation applies in the case of payments to June-July 1992 EC suckler cow premium scheme applicants while 85 per cent of June-July 1992 special beef premium scheme applicants have now been paid. Some 98 per cent of sheep farmers have been paid the first and second instalments of the 1992 EC ewe premium.
In all, £250 million has been paid to farmers to date under the various 1992 headage and premium schemes.
Apart from the special beef premium scheme, most of the cases still awaiting payment are the subject of queries which are being followed up. Every effort will continue to be made to clear up the remaining eligible claims under all schemes as soon as possible.
December 1992 applications for special beef premium and suckler cow grants are being processed and I expect payments to commence after Easter.