Bernard J. Durkan
Ceist:117 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the degree to which headage payments have been completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5502/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The payment position with regard to headage and premium schemes is outlined in the following table, which indicates in overall terms a very satisfactory level of service delivery.
Any outstanding cases which have not been fully paid under the headage and suckler cow premium schemes are problem cases of one kind or another. For example some 1,400 cases under both the cattle headage/beef cow scheme and the May 1998 suckler cow premium scheme have not been cleared for payment because they are under query with the farmer concerned. Over 1,000 suckler cow applicants will not qualify for payment because they do not have suckler cow quota. Almost 750 applicants under the sheep headage scheme did not submit an area aid form or have sufficient area to qualify for payment and a further 370 cases are under query at local office level. Likewise under the equine and goat headage schemes, over 420 cases in total are under query while a further 175 cases have area aid related queries including failure to submit an area aid application. Payment under the October 1998 suckler cow scheme cannot be made until after the six month retention period expires at the end of April 1999. The fact that Ireland has exceeded its national quota under the 1998 special beef premium scheme means that 20 per cent balancing payments cannot commence until all ten month applications submitted under the scheme, have been examined and processed. In the meantime however, 80 per cent advances have been paid to November applicants and similar advances will be paid to December applicants in early March when their two month retention period has expired. Payment of the third and final instalment under the 1998 ewe premium scheme will commence this week following publication of the EU regulation giving effect to the rate of premium. With regard to the 1998 extensification premium, payment is due to be made in the period May-June 1999.
Not all applicants will ultimately qualify for payment as a certain percentage are deemed to be ineligible each year under the various headage and premium schemes. Under EU Regulations and in line with Charter commitments, full payments under the cattle premium schemes must be completed by 30 June in the year following the year of application.
Amounts Paid and Percentage Paid under the 1998 Headage and Premium Schemes
|
Scheme |
AmountPaid |
PercentagePaid |
|
£m |
% |
|
|
Cattle Headage/Beef Cow |
95.456 |
96 |
|
Sheep Headage |
22.749 |
92 |
|
Equine Headage |
0.553 |
83 |
|
Goat Headage |
0.019 |
68 |
|
Suckler Cow Premium |
||
|
80% Advances20% Balances |
109.28928.886 |
9594 |
|
Special Beef Premium |
||
|
80% Advances |
113.412 |
95 |
|
Slaughter Premium |
25.857 |
99 |
|
Ewe Premium |
||
|
1st Instalment2nd Instalment |
45.29925.183 |
9898 |
|
Arable Aid |
92.721 |
99 |