Michael Ring
Ceist:189 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will receive payment for the remaining two animals on his 1997 suckler cow premium application. [14816/97]
Written Answers - Grant Payments.
The person named applied for premium in respect of eight animals under the June 1997 suckler cow premium scheme. His quota has been increased from seven to eight quota rights for 1997. His premium application is being processed at present and if found to be in order, he will be paid as soon as possible after payments commence on 1 November 1997.
The terms and conditions of the cattle headage scheme specify that a cow or heifer must calve within the calendar year of application i.e. by 31 December, in order to attract the higher grant rate of £84 per animal. Otherwise the cow or heifer qualifies for the lower grant of £40 per animal. In his application for grants under the 1997 cattle headage scheme, he declared that two of his cows would be calving after 31 December 1997 and as a result these two cows will qualify for payment at the lower rate of £40 per animal when payments issue.
Michael Ring
Ceist:191 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will expedite the reduced headage payment promised to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo on his remaining ten sheep. [14818/97]
The person named was paid £447.60 under the 1996 cattle headage scheme on 27 November 1996.
As the combined total of sheep and cattle grants exceed £500 the person named is required to submit an R.S.I. number. This information was requested by letters of 27 November 1996 and 13 January 1997 but to date no reply has been received.
On receipt of the R.S.I. number the application under the 1996 sheep headage scheme will be processed.
Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:192 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare will be paid his 1996 suckler cow premium; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14820/97]
The herdowner was excluded from the 1996 suckler cow premium scheme because he was deemed to have made a false declaration. He appealed this decision to the headage and premia appeals unit. The appeal is now being considered.
The herdowner will be notified of the outcome as soon as his case has been fully examined.