Vol. 480 No. 2
111 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason for the delay in having a decision made on the appeal by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny against his Department's refusal of this person's 1996 and 1997 sheep subsidy. [13598/97]
The headage and premia appeals unit receives a large number of appeals and they are dealt with in the order in which they are received. Each appeal must be considered very carefully and this can take some time.
It is expected that this appeal will be concluded in the next three weeks. The herdowner will be notified of the outcome as soon as the matter is concluded.
112 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid his equine headage, cattle headage and suckler cow premia for 1996 in view of the fact that the delay is causing hardship. [13601/97]
The person named applied on two equines under the 1996 equine headage scheme. However, as he failed to comply with clause 20 of the terms and conditions governing this scheme which requires that each producer must have submitted a 1996 area aid application he is not entitled to any headage grant under this scheme.
He applied on 21 animals under the 1996 cattle headage scheme. When an inspection was carried out on 20 September 1996, nine animals were absent. Consequently, a 100 per cent penalty was incurred. In any event, the person named would not have been entitled to any headage grants under this scheme since he failed to submit a 1996 area aid application as required.
113 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when payment of a 1996 ewe premium will reissue to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo in the correct name, in view of the fact that the delay is causing financial hardship. [13602/97]
The correct herd number in this case is P2350783. An application under the 1996 ewe premium and sheep headage schemes was submitted by the mother of the person named who was the registered herdowner at that time and all payments due under this application were issued in her name in various instalments between July 1996 and February 1997.
The person named has since become the registered herdowner and he has submitted an application under the 1997 sheep schemes. The first instalment of the 1997 ewe premium issued to him on 4 July last and remaining payments under the 1997 schemes will be issued to him as and when they fall due.
114 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid his first instalment of the REP scheme in view of the fact that he was inspected in October 1996 and February 1997. [13742/97]
There is no record in the Department of a REPS application by the person concerned.
115 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive grant aid for farm installation for which he applied in January 1997. [13746/97]
The application is being processed at present. If everything is deemed to be in order, the file will be sent for payment, which normally issues within three to six weeks. If there is any problem with the application, the applicant will be contacted directly by the Department's local office.
116 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the reason only a reduced amount of hardship grant has been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny who submitted his application by hand to the Kilkenny office on 29 April 1997 in respect of two animals which failed a tuberculosis test in January 1997; and if he will have arrangements made to have the full amount of grant paid. [13749/97]
The eligibility period for hardship grant is from 1 November to 30 April. The onus is on the herdowner to apply for a hardship grant. Under the conditions governing payment, any period prior to receipt of a completed application in the local district veterinary office cannot be considered for hardship grant.
An application for hardship grant from the person in question was received in the district veterinary office on 29 April 1997. Payment will be made from date of receipt of the application (i.e. 29 April 1997) until the expiry of the hardship grant eligibility period (i.e. 30 April 1997).
119 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry when special beef premium payments and a BSE top-up payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [13752/97]
The person named will be paid 1996 special beef premium on 26 animals and 1997 BSE-agrimonetary grants on those 26 beef premium animals and also on 14 suckler cows shortly.
The regulations governing payment of the 1996 BSE compensation package, which was paid out in October 1996, provide for payment of a top-up of £22.40 per head in respect of suckler cows qualifying for payments under the 1995 suckler cow scheme and £19.08 per head in respect of steers qualifying for payment under the 1995 special beef premium scheme.
These regulations provide for adjustments, upwards and downwards, later on to take account of the number of animals qualifying for payment under the 1996 EU suckler cow premium and special beef premium schemes. The EU Commission insisted that the initial top-ups should be based on the 1995 schemes in order to ensure that the payments could be made before 15 October 1996.
