Vol. 482 No. 8
124 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when sheep headage payments will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare whose payments appear to have been delayed due to the fact that he has had to relinquish 12.5 hectares and replace these with a similar land portion; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19487/97]
As 1997 is the first year in which the land parcel identification system required by the EU has to be fully operational, all digitising must be completed before 1997 cattle and sheep headage can be paid.
Every effort is being made to clear the maximum number of area aid applications by the end of this month so that payment can be made in this and other cases during the next two to three weeks.
126 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be paid their 1997 cattle and sheep headage in view of the fact that the delay is causing severe financial hardship. [19490/97]
As 1997 is the first year in which the land parcel identification system required by the EU has to be fully operational, all digitising must be completed before 1997 cattle headage can be paid.
127 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will give details of each Development Partnership company set up under the Leader programme; the number of grant applications received in this regard; and the number of applications that have been sanctioned in each case. [19491/97]
Under the Leader II programme my Department invited interested groups in June 1994 to submit business plans for the development of their areas. A total of 48 applicant groups submitted plans and of these 36 groups were selected for funding under the Leader II programme. In addition nine of the groups selected under Leader have been selected by ADM Ltd as Area Partnerships under the Operational Programme for Local, Urban and Rural Development 1994-99. The operation of this programme is a matter for ADM Ltd.
