Mary Coughlan
Ceist:158 Miss Coughlan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the amount of money paid to farmers in County Donegal under headage and premium schemes in 1995. [18735/95]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The total amount of money paid to date in 1995 to farmers in County Donegal under headage and premium schemes is £32.356 million.
Joe Walsh
Ceist:159 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry if he will confirm that almost 4,000 farmers are being denied headage and premium payments in view of difficulties regarding area aid submissions; and the plans, if any, he has to resolve this large-scale problem. [18736/95]
A number of farmers submitted area aid applications too late in 1995 or have not submitted any 1995 area aid applications at all — as a result they cannot be paid headage and premium claimed by them.
It is difficult to know exactly how many farmers are affected by this problem as some of those who did not submit 1995 area aid applications or who submitted them late may have applied for suckler cow or special beef premium only within the 15 livestock units limit up to which they can be paid such premium. It looks as if the 4,000 estimate put forward by the Deputy may be reasonably accurate, however.
At my request, my Department has written to the EU Commissioners and put forward a possible solution to the problems encountered by these 4,000 farmers. I cannot guarantee a successful outcome to the discussions we will have with the Commission to resolve those problems — but I can promise that every effort possible will be made.
Ivor Callely
Ceist:160 Mr. Callely asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the amount of headage paid to farmers from 1 January 1995 to 1 December 1995; and the comparative figures for the corresponding period in 1994. [18737/95]
The total amount paid to farmers under the 1994 and 1995 headage and premia schemes in the period 1 January 1995 to 1 December 1995 is £637.346 million and the comparative figures for the corresponding period in 1994 was £561.007 million.