Vol. 483 No. 3
164 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the full REP scheme entitlement for second year payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford, leaving aside his additional land recently acquired; and when his NHA supplement will be paid. [20394/97]
A payment of £4,045.89 was made to the applicant on 21 May 1997, and a further sum of £697.08 was paid on 19 September 1997. This is the full amount due to him in respect of his second year REPS claim, incorporating both the basic payment and the NHA supplement.
166 Mr. McCormack asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the percentage of headage payments which have been made to farmers in 1997; and when payments will be completed in 1997 in view of the severe financial pressure on many farmers in the west of Ireland. [20396/97]
Payments under the disadvantaged areas schemes commenced on 28 September 1997 and almost £71 million representing 60 per cent of all applications has been paid to date.
It should be noted that this year priority was accorded to making payments under the 1997 arable aid scheme in view of the very severe harvest conditions which affected some parts of the country. Over 99 per cent of arable applicants have been paid almost £90 million under the arable aid scheme and the prioritising of these payments has had some impact on the delivery of payments under the 1997 disadvantaged areas headage schemes.
It should also be noted that almost 7 per cent of 1997 cattle headage beef cow applications cannot be processed at local office level because they are under query with the farmers concerned.
Payments are continuing to issue to farmers under all premium and headage schemes.
167 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment will be made for a grant for tuberculosis reactors removed from a herd (details supplied) in County Limerick. [20397/97]
TB reactor grants due to the person named will issue shortly.
168 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim will receive payment of his 1996 suckler cow grant. [20429/97]
Payments are continuing to issue to farmers under all premium and headage schemes.
While the requirements of the land parcel identification system which is fully operational in 1997 under EU rules have been a complicating factor in processing the various premium and headage applications this year, it is expected that most remaining payments will be made in the very near future.
169 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a person (details supplied) in County Sligo will be paid a suckler cow grant. [20430/97]
One of the cows applied on by the person named under the 1997 suckler cow premium scheme was tagged with the new yellow tag used for animals born since 1 January 1996. However, this animal was not, as required, registered on the Bandon database. This has now been rectified and a 60 per cent advance payment of 1997 suckler cow premium will issue to the person named shortly.
171 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his Department will make REP scheme payment to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [20435/97]
Payment issued to the person concerned on 20 November 1997.
172 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if his Department will pay REP scheme payment due to a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim. [20436/97]
This case has been the subject of a random inspection which included an on-farm visit. Deficiencies have been found in the applicant's plan which will have to be amended and re-submitted. The application will be processed as soon as that is done.
