Phil Hogan
Ceist:125 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if the two month retention time in respect of EU funded livestock headage schemes is required under EC regulations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Retention periods are defined by EU regulation and vary for different schemes. In so far as disadvantaged areas, sheep headage, goat headage, cattle headage, beef cow and equines headage schemes are concerned, a minimum two months retention period for all animals applied on is prescribed in Article 6.9 of Commission Regulation (EEC) No. 3887/92.
Frank Crowley
Ceist:126 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a suckler cow and beef premium grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Cork.
The person named applied for the January-February 1993 special beef premium on nine animals. As his herd was not inspected he was asked to forward the relevant cattle identity cards. In reply he indicated that the animals had been sold and he was then asked on 6 December 1993 to forward the relevant sales dockets. When these are received his application will be processed further.
He also applied for the June 1993 special beef premium on two animals. However as his application was incomplete, my Department wrote to him on 22 November 1993 seeking further information and when this is received, his application will be processed.
While my Department has a record of having received an application for the 1993 suckler cow scheme, I regret to say that it has been mislaid. I am however arranging for a 60 per cent advance to be paid to him based on the numbers that he had in the 1992 suckler cow scheme and also for an officer of my Department to call on him with a view to getting a duplicate application completed.
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:127 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of the 1993 sheep headage grant will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Galway.
Processing of the application under the 1993 sheep headage scheme from the person named was unfortunately overlooked. I have arranged to have his application processed immediately following which any payment due will be made without delay.
Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:128 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when beef premium will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named applied for special beef premium in January-February 1993. He was paid an advance of 60 per cent on 8 February 1994 in accordance with EU regulations on foot of this application. He also applied for special beef premium in June 1993. This application is being processed at present and any advance payment due will be made shortly.
Payment of the balance of the special beef premium cannot be made until all applications received from him in the course of 1993 have been processed. This is necessary to ensure compliance with EU regulations covering in particular the ceiling on eligible animals and stocking density.
Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:129 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of headage, suckler cow and beef cow premia will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The application of the person named for grants under the 1993 cattle and equines headage scheme is being processed at present and any payment due will be made in the near future. As he was not an applicant under the 1992 suckler cow scheme he has not established a quota and therefore cannot automatically be paid on his 1993 suckler cow scheme application. If his application for a quota from the national reserve is successful, any grants due to him under the suckler cow premium scheme will then be paid.
Theresa Ahearn
Ceist:130 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of suckler cow premium will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The person named applied for grants on 40 animals under the 1993 suckler cow premium scheme for non-suppliers of milk on 20 December 1993. His retention period under the scheme does not expire, therefore, until 20 June 1994. His application will be processed during this period and any payment due less the appropriate penalty for late application, will be made in due course.
John Ellis
Ceist:131 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will pay 1993 slaughter premium to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo.
The person named applied for deseasonalisation slaughter premium on 14 animals in 1993. At a computer validation check it was found that an invalid tag number had been entered for one animal. This tag number has now been corrected by the local livestock office and I have arranged for any payment due to be made within a week.
John Ellis
Ceist:132 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will pay 1993 headage and suckler grants to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim.
The person named is deceased. His application for 1993 cattle headage grants and suckler cow premium are being examined and, if found in order, payment will be made as soon as possible to his beneficiaries on receipt of probate of his will.