Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 28 Nov 2000

Vol. 526 No. 6

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Liam Aylward

Ceist:

213 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development if he will reinvestigate the amount of reactor grant paid to persons (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the circumstances outlined. [27703/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

The reactor animal concerned was described as a heifer by the testing veterinary practitioner at the TB test of 18 August 2000. The reactor permit subsequently prepared by the district veterinary office consequently inserted the letter "F" to denote a female non-pregnant animal.

The reactor permit, which only had the one animal on it, was presented to the herdowner for signature on the day the reactor was removed. The herdowner signed the permit and did not query the description of the animal. The animal was subsequently slaughtered. The post mortem check which would be necessary to determine pregnancy was not carried out as the required indication – PH – to denote the possibility of pregnancy was not entered on the permit. Without a post mortem confirmation of pregnancy, my Department had no option but to pay the maiden heifer reactor grant which is the appropriate rate of grant payable.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

214 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway has not received payment from the REP scheme for the past two years. [27704/00]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

My Department will be in touch with the person named within the next ten working days to notify him of the outcome of an examination of his REP scheme application.