Vol. 485 No. 4
28 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the £17 million agrimonetary package approved by the EU Commission will be paid to hard pressed beef producers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23334/97]
63 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason the £50 per animal promised to farmers under the agrimonetary compensation proposal was reduced to £41 per animal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23331/97]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 28 and 63 together.
In accordance with EU Regulations it is necessary to obtain the Commission's prior approval for all schemes for agrimonetary compensation whether the funding comes from the EU budget or the national Exchequer. The figures of £50 per head for eligible cattle and £17 million for the beef sector were announced by my predecessor despite the fact that such approval had not been obtained by him.
The compensation to be paid for cattle must, under EU regulations, relate to actual losses to producers resulting directly from the revaluations of the Irish green £ alone and not from any other factor. On this basis the Commission has given approval for payment of approximately IR£41 per head on eligible steers, young bulls and heifers disposed of between 1 April and 10 June 1997. A top-up of £2 per head of the special beef premium in respect of animals which qualified for the 22-month premium in 1996 has also been approved. Payments have now commenced and will be completed by the end of this month.
