Jimmy Deenihan
Ceist:133 Mr. Deenihan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development when headage grant payments will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25417/01]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
The cattle headage scheme has been replaced in 2001 by the area-based compensatory allowance scheme. A condition of the new scheme is that applicants must meet a minimum stocking level of 0.15 livestock units per forage hectare in the year preceding application. However, farmers who are unable to meet that minimum stocking density but who traditionally qualified for headage grants in respect of cattle and-or sheep may continue to qualify for payment, provided their land is being utilised and is not in danger of undergrazing.
The person named was not a headage recipient in 2000 and according to my Department's records, the stocking density of the holding does not meet the minimum stocking density. My Department will be in contact with the person named shortly with a view to establishing the type of farming activity being pursued. A decision on entitlement to area-based compensatory allowance will then be made.
John Bruton
Ceist:134 Mr. J. Bruton asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the grant assistance which will be given to a company (details supplied); if he will increase the core funding to this company; and the further grant assistance he will give to the company; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25418/01]
The company named received grant in aid from my Department of £3,420 in March 2001. The organisation was advised by my Department in February 2001 to apply for grant assistance under the national Leader programme.