Michael Finucane
Ceist:192 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when headage and suckler cow grants will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick. [24898/99]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The person named is a new applicant under the 1999 cattle headage scheme. This scheme is open to registered herdowners who occupy and farm at least 7.5 acres of utilised agricultural land. In accordance with the terms and conditions of the scheme, applicants must undertake to continue their farming activities in the disadvantaged areas for at least five years from the first payment under any headage scheme, and my Department must be satisfied that they are in a position to honour this undertaking.
The holding of the person named was inspected on 30 July 1999 and he stated at the inspection that he owned 5.5 acres and that the remainder of his holding was rented. He was requested to supply a five year lease for the rented land at the time of the inspection. He was requested again on 15 October 1999 to furnish the lease. As no reply was received my Department wrote to him on 24 November 1999 on this matter. His application for cattle headage grants cannot be considered further until a five year lease is supplied.
His entitlement under the 1999 suckler cow premium scheme will be paid to him within the next seven days.
Cecilia Keaveney
Ceist:193 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the position in relation to a 1999 headage grant payment for sheep for a person (details supplied) in County Donegal. [24902/99]
The 1999 area aid application for the person named has now been fully processed and any payments due will issue as soon as possible.