Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 29 Mar 1994

Vol. 440 No. 7

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Ned O'Keeffe

Ceist:

194 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the position regarding payment of a headage grant to a person (details supplied) in County Cork; if he has satisfied himself that the letter provided in this case is sufficient proof that the animals died; his views on whether a number of other cases, including payments of beef premium, were not granted due to the deaths of animals not having been reported; and if he will review all similar cases in view of the sanctioning of payment to this person.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

The person named applied under the December 1992 suckler cow premium scheme on 18 December 1992 on 23 animals. A condition of the scheme obliged applicants to keep the animals applied on for a minimum period of six months. At an inspection of his herd on 23 July 1993, four animals were absent. He was asked to provide satisfactory documentary evidence that the missing animals were in his possession at the end of the sixmonth retention period. He has now provided such evidence, and payment will be made in due course.

Applicants under the EU premium schemes are obliged to report deaths of animals within ten days, only where they occur within the relevant retention period. Deaths occurring outside the retention period need not be reported but if an on-farm inspection is carried out, the applicant is required to furnish satisfactory documentary evidence that he had the animals and payment would be made in that situation.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

195 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of his 22 month beef premium which he applied for in January 1993 and his ten month beef premium which he applied for in June 1993.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

The applications of the persons named for grants under 1993 special beef premium schemes are being processed at present and 60 per cent advances as provided in EU regulations will be paid shortly.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

196 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of his 22 month beef premium which he applied for in December 1992.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

My Department is unable to trace any applications from the person named for grants under the December 1992 and January-February 1993 special beef premium schemes.

His application for grants under the June 1993 special beef premium scheme was rejected at a computer validation check because of invalid tag numbers. When this problem is resolved his application will be processed further and any advance due to him will then be paid.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

197 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive the final payment of his ten month and 22 month beef premia.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

Payment of the balance of the special beef premium scheme cannot be made to the person named 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. Payment of balances will commence in April 1994.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

198 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive final payment of his cattle headage grant and sheep premium.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

The final instalment of the 1993 ewe premium scheme will be paid to the person named in the very near future. He was paid an advance of his 1993 cattle headage grant on 27 November 1993. His application is being processed further at present and any balance due will be paid shortly.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

199 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of his suckler cow grant for small milk producers and his equine grant for four mares.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

The person named applied for grants on seven animals under the 1993 suckler cow scheme for small-scale milk producers. Since he was not an applicant in 1992 under the suckler cow premium scheme he did not have automatic rights to quota. However, he has now been alloted a quota of seven premium rights from the special reserve. His application for grants under the 1993 scheme can now be processed and any payment due will issue in due course. His application for grants under the 1993 equine headage scheme is being processed and any payment due will be made shortly.

P. J. Sheehan

Ceist:

200 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Cork will receive payment of his 1993 suckler cow grant.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh)

The person named was paid a 60 per cent advance under the 1993 suckler cow premium scheme on 11 December 1993.

Payment of the balance of the suckler cow premium cannot be made to a particular applicant until all applications received from him/her 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.