Frank Crowley
Ceist:66 Mr. Crowley asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if his attention has been drawn to delays, in some cases up to six weeks in issuing of blue cards to farmers in County Cork.
Written Answers. - Return of Cattle Identity Cards.
I take it that the Deputy is referring to the return of cards submitted for special beef premium.
It is a requirement of the special beef premium scheme that the cattle identity cards for the animals applied on have to accompany the application. As there is a two month retention period from the date of lodgement of the application, the cattle identity cards are not normally returned before the end of the seventh week or early in the eighth week of the retention period. I am satisfied that the vast majority of cattle identity cards in respect of one million animals submitted with January/February 1994 special beef premium scheme applications were returned to farmers before the end of the retention period.