Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 1

• Díospóireachtaí
• Aimsigh díospóireacht
  • Díospóireachtaí na Dála
  • Díospóireachtaí an tSeanaid
  • Díospóireachtaí Coiste
• Aimsigh vótáil
  • Vótálacha na Dála
  • Vótálacha an tSeanaid
  • Vótálacha Coiste
• Ceisteanna Parlaiminte
  • Ceisteanna scríofa
  • Ceisteanna ó bhéal
• Leideanna cuardaigh

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

152 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the amount of finance received from the EU in the year 1993 for livestock grants under the various headings; when the finance was actually paid by the EU to his Department; and the amount of matching finance provided by his Department under the various grant schemes.

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

The system of financing EU premia schemes' payments in Ireland (EAGGF Guarantee) is as follows: My Department borrows the money required to cover the payments to be made in any particular month, makes the payments out of these borrowed funds and recoups the amounts paid from the EU after the payments have been made.

The system of financing EU disadvantaged areas schemes' payments in Ireland (EAGGF Guidance) differs slightly from the foregoing in that recoupment is received on a yearly or twice yearly basis rather than a monthly basis and only 65 per cent of expenditure is recouped — the other 35 per cent has to be borne by the Irish Exchequer. Notwithstanding these differences, EU recoupment is received under these schemes also only after the payments have been made.

Given this system, the amount recouped to my Department in any year by the EU in respect of these schemes will equal the expenditure made in an earlier period. In 1993 that amount came to £311.1 million consisting of £247.6 million for livestock premia and £63.6 million for compensatory allowances.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

153 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who applied for livestock grants under the various grant schemes in 1993; the number of farmers who have been paid in full under each heading; the number of farmers who have received part payment; and the number of farmers who have received no payments to date.

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

Payment made to date on foot of 1993 schemes are as follows:—

Scheme	Number of Payments	Amount Paid
		(£m)
Cattle Headage	123,315	62.881
Beef Cow Headage	18,664	9.918
Equine Headage	3,814	0.548
Sheep Headage	30,095	19.116
Suckler Cow Premium (June/July)	63,936	34.220
Small Scale Suckler Cow (June/July)	5,652	1.460
Deseasonalisation Slaughter Premium	21,010	11.918
Special Beef Premium (Jan/Feb.)	51,467	20.866
Special Beef Premium (June/July)	54,012	10.643
Ewe Premium	97,777	111,970

Of these payments, 74,479 under cattle headage and 11,690 under beef cow headage are in respect of advances only whilst the remainder are in respect of final payments. Payment of the balances in respect of the cattle headage and beef cow commenced on 18 February and are continuing at present. Payments under the ewe premium scheme represent first and second instalments which were paid in July 1993 and final instalments which commenced on 30 March 1994.

Payment of the balances in respect of the special beef and suckler cow premium schemes cannot be made to a particular applicant until all applications received from him/her in the course of 1993, including those submitted last November, have been processed. This is necessary to ensure compliance with EU regulations covering in particular the ceiling on eligible animals and stocking density. I expect that payment of the final 40 per cent will commence within the next week. Payment of the extensification premium is expected to commence before the end of April.

Delays by farmers in responding to queries are the principal factor holding up payments particularly in so far as January-February and June 1993 special beef premium cases are concerned. The main problems involve invalid tags or the absence of identity cards; failure to submit area aid applications or the submission of incomplete forms are other impediments to payments. Close to half of the June, 1993 special beef premium applicants were the subject of query by my Department and responses are generally very slow. I am anxious to facilitate timely payments but farmers who do not respond to necessary inquiries from my Department cannot expect their applications to be cleared. Payments in respect of the November 1993 special beef premium scheme have now commenced.

Jim Higgins

Ceist:

154 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo has not received his 1993 headage payment to date.

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

The application of the person named for grants under the 1993 cattle headage scheme is being processed at present and any payment due will be made shortly.

He cannot be paid any 1993 suckler cow premium as he has no quota at present. If he succeeds in obtaining a quota from the national reserve, his 1993 suckler cow application will then be considered.

He was paid an advance under the January-February 1993 special beef premium scheme on 8 February 1994. Payment of the balance due cannot be paid until all applications received from him in the course of 1993, including his area aid application have been processed. This is necessary to ensure compliance with EU regulations covering in particular the ceiling on eligible animals and stocking density.

• Written Answers. - Bovine TB.
• Ar ais chuig clár ábhair
• Written Answers. - Area Aid Applications.