Michael McDowell
Ceist:57 Mr. M. McDowell asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the steps, if any, he will take to simplify procedures for farmers applying for premium and headage grants in 1993.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The Common Agricultural Policy reform package adopted by the European Community last June substantially overhauled the livestock premium schemes. I accept that the new arrangements are relatively complex and that many farmers may have difficulty in coming to terms with them. For this reason my Department with the assistance of Teagasc held a series of public information meetings from mid-January to mid-February 1993 at over 60 centres around the country in order to explain the new arrangements to farmers. These meetings were attended by approximately 25,000 farmers. My Department has also produced a special booklet which explains the details of the new arrangements and the procedures for claiming the grants.
At the Department's request, Teagasc has put in place a package of measures to assist farmers in dealing with the complexity of the new Common Agricultural Policy arrangements while also advising them how to secure optimum income under the various schemes. The extra £1 million which has been provided in the budget to enable Teagasc to extend its small farm development service should contribute significantly to this effort.
The Deputy will be aware that the procedures for claiming the premium and headage grants are largely dictated by EC regulations and audit requirements which are designed to ensure that grants are not improperly paid.
My Department simplified the application procedures in 1992 following consultation with the farm organisations and intends to keep the procedures as simple as possible in the future, while at the same time meeting the control requirements of EC regulations and auditors.