John Ellis
Ceist:136 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason payment of 1993 suckler cow grant was not made to a person (details supplied) in County Laois.
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named applied for premium on 11 cows under the 1993 suckler cow premium scheme. He was paid a 60 per cent advance on 27 November 1993 in respect of 11 animals. However, at an inspection of his herd it transpired that he had included two in-calf heifers on his application which he had shown as having calved prior to application. Under the terms and conditions of this scheme as laid down by the EU, applicants could only apply for premium in respect of genuine suckler cows and they should not include in-calf heifers.
As a result of this false declaration the person named is not entitled in accordance with the EU regulations to any payment under the 1993 and 1994 suckler cow scheme. As he has already been paid an advance of £521.99, this amount will have to be recouped from future grants due to him. His application for grants under the 1993 beef cow scheme is being processed at present and any payment due will be made shortly.
John Ellis
Ceist:137 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason payment of 1992 suckler cow grant was not made to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
The person named applied for the December 1992 suckler cow premium scheme in respect of 60 cows. At an inspection on 17 February 1993, it was discovered that seven of these cows had been sold before lodgment of the application and in accordance with the EU regulations governing the scheme, he was, therefore, disqualified from the 1992 and 1993 suckler cow schemes.
John Ellis
Ceist:138 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of forest premium will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny.
There is no trace in my Department of an application for a forest premium from the person concerned. The relevant application form has now issued for completion.
Jim Higgins
Ceist:139 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason the balance of headage has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.
The person named was paid advances of his 1993 cattle headage grant and his 1993 suckler cow premium on 14 December 1993. His applications are being processed further at present and any balance of the headage grant due will be paid in the near future.
Payment of balances under the suckler cow premium scheme has now commenced. Payment cannot be made to a particular applicant, however, 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.