Vol. 495 No. 7
357 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the conditions of the recently announced fodder scheme; the areas that it will apply to; the farmers who will qualify; to whom applications should be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21925/98]
The fodder scheme is directed at all sheep farmers with mountain grazings and suckler cow producers and small dairy farmers with milk quotas of less than 35,000 gallons in district electoral divisions in the worst affected areas based on a Teagasc survey published in September. The counties concerned are Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Leitrim, Limerick, Longford, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo.
Sheep farmers with mountain grazings: Some 15,000 sheep farmers with mountain grazings will benefit under the scheme. Such producers will receive a payment of £4 per ewe or hogget up to 75 sheep. These farmers will also benefit from the sheep headage top-up; Suckler cow farmers: More than 31,000 suckler cow producers located in the selected DEDs will qualify for payment. These farmers will receive a payment of £40 per suckler cow up to a ceiling payment of £300; Small scale dairy farmers: More than 7,000 dairy farmers located in the selected DEDs and with milk quotas less than 35,000 gallons will qualify for support. A payment of £30 per 1000 gallons of quota up to a ceiling payment of £300 will be made. Farmers who stand to benefit from a combination of the elements of the fodder scheme will receive a maximum payment of £300.
Sheep and suckler cow farmers do not have to apply for the payment. Payment will be made automatically by reference to the details on 1998 sheep headage and suckler cow application forms. These payments will be made as soon as possible. Arrangements for dairy farmers will be announced shortly.
