Vol. 459 No. 8
149 Mr. Killeen asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the number of farmers who applied in 1994 who are encountering difficulty with 1995 area aid applications; and the action, if any, he is proposing to facilitate those farmers whose 1995 applications were late or not submitted. [19057/95]
There are around 6,500 applicants for suckler cow and special beef premia and disadvantaged areas grants who either submitted their 1995 area aid applications too late or did not submit any 1995 area aid applications.
Some of those applicants may not have submitted 1995 area aid applications because they did not need to — i.e. because they were not applying for Disadvantaged Areas grants or interested in qualifying for Extensification Premium and because they were not eligible for any Suckler Cow and Special Beef premia in excess of 15 livestock units. It is not yet clear, therefore, how many of the 6,500 cases mentioned might lose payment of premium or headage because they did not submit a 1995 Area Aid application.
What is certain, however, is that a very substantial number of farmers is affected by this problem. That is why I directed my Department to take it up with the European Commission and why I shall ensure every effort is made to convince the Commission of the need for an equitable solution to the problem at the earliest possible date.
