Dinny McGinley
Ceist:150 Mr. McGinley asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when the balance of headage payment will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [10746/98]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
Arrangements have been put in place in the area aid unit for the examination of all outstanding cases within the next few weeks. Within this process, priority is being given to applicants for whom payments are outstanding.
Michael Moynihan
Ceist:151 Mr. M. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in processing the payments for a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [10747/98]
The person named applied for four animals under the December 1997 22 month special beef premium scheme. This application was one of those randomly selected for field inspection at which matters were confirmed in order and entitlement to payment established. Accordingly, payment will issue within the coming days.
Liam Aylward
Ceist:152 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will review the application under the finished heifers scheme by a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny under the charter of rights as announced by him some time ago on the grounds that the applicant was misled by an official in the local office when she was informed that it was not necessary for her to make application prior to her selling the animals. [10750/98]
To qualify for agrimonetary compensation in 1997, eligible animals must have been disposed of within the period 1 April 1997 to 10 June 1997. The person named had two male animals slaughtered within this period. On 16 December 1997, agrimonetary compensation amounting to £82.02 was automatically paid to the person named in the form of a top-up payment to the deseasonalisation slaughter premium payment. In addition, the person named was also due 1997 deseasonalisation slaughter premium payment of £30.04 and an additional EU funded agrimonetary top-up of £20 on the two male animals in question. These payments were, however, offset against an overpayment due to the Department under BSE compensation paid to the person named previously.
Herdowners wishing to qualify for agrimonetary compensation on finished heifers sold or slaughtered at approved outlets within the 1 April 1997 to 10 June 1997 period had to actually apply for such compensation on application forms made available for that purpose. The arrangements for applying, availability of application forms, closing date for receipt and so forth was widely advertised in local, national and farming press.
The apparent confusion in this case may have arisen from the fact that the agrimonetary compensation was automatically paid to producers who qualified for deseasonalisation slaughter premium on male animals. No such arrangements applied to heifers disposed of, however, and producers were obliged to submit an application form for agrimonetary payments.