Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:291 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the maximum stocking density allowed for payment of the maximum grant under the suckler cow scheme. [10315/96]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:292 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the maximum stocking grant allowed for payment of the maximum grant under the ewe premium scheme. [10316/96]
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:293 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the maximum stocking density allowed for payment of the maximum grant under the cattle and sheep headage schemes. [10317/96]
Éamon Ó Cuív
Ceist:294 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the maximum stocking density allowed for eligibility for the extensification grant. [10318/96]
I propose taking Questions Nos. 291, 292, 293 and 294 together.
Under the suckler cow and special beef premium schemes an applicant may not be paid premium on any animals in excess of 2 LUs per hectare on his or her holding. Where the combined total of suckler cows and male cattle applied on under these schemes exceeds 2 LUs per hectare, therefore, no premium is payable on the excess animals.
There is no maximum stocking density requirement under the EU ewe premium scheme. An applicant under this scheme may be paid in respect of eligible ewes up to his/her quota. However, in calculating stocking density requirements under the EU extensification premium scheme, account is taken of the number of ewes applied on under the ewe premium scheme or the applicant's quota whichever is lesser.
|
Scheme |
Eligible Animals and Payment Rates |
|
Cattle headage in more severely handicapped areas |
First 8 livestock units — £84 each if beef cows, £40 each if other cattle livestock units. |
|
Next 22 livestock units £84 each if beef cows, £33 each if other cattle livestock units. |
|
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Next 10 livestock units — £84 each if beef cows, nil if other cattle livestock units. |
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Maximum payable is £3,360 on 40 beef cows. Only 10 dairy cows may qualify for grants in a herd. |
|
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Beef cow headage in less severely handicapped areas and coastal areas with specific handicaps |
£75 for each of the first 30 beef cows. Maximum payable £2,250. |
|
Equine headage in all disadvantaged areas |
£70 each on first 8 mares. £66 each on next 22 mares. Limit of 30 mares. Maximum payable £2,012. |
|
Sheep/goat headage in all disadvantaged areas |
£10 per ewe*/goat up to a combined limit of 200 sheep/goats. Maximum payable £2,000. |
*Hogget ewes in all areas and mountain breeding ewes substantially maintained on mountain grazings.
Under disadvantaged areas' headage schemes a forage area restriction applies whereby a farmer with beef-type suckler cows and/or goats and/or equines can qualify for maximum grants of £89.62 per hectare. The maximum payable per hectare in the case of cattle other than beef-type cows is £55.99.
To qualify for the maximum headage grant £6,046, an applicant would require 67.46 hectares of forage area.
To be eligible for extensification premium an applicant must have a stocking density of less than 1.4 LUs per hectare.