May I suggest, Sir, that you arrange to provide Senators with accommodation closer to the Chamber so that they are not impeded by traffic as they cross Kildare Street? I put my life at risk on behalf of the constituents of County Clare, who are currently experiencing difficulty because headage payments have not been paid before Christmas.
I thank the Minister of State, Deputy Hyland, for coming to the Chamber to respond to the issue. In my previous dealings with the Minister of State, I have found him exceptionally helpful and cooperative. I wish him well for Christmas and a happy 1994. I understand that he has a number of political plans in mind.
The major part of County Clare is classified as a severely handicapped area. Most farms are small or medium and the farmers qualify for headage grants and most types of premia. Many of them are small dairy farmers who no longer go to the creamery and they rely heavily on these payments as a major source of income. It is particularly important to them that the payments be made before Christmas. Unfortunately, to date there is quite a substantial number of farmers in County Clare who have not received any portion of their headage grant. I appreciate that there can be difficulties in relation to the administration of this but I ask the Minister of State and his Department to examine and recognise the serious position that many of these people find themselves in. Many of them are facing personal difficulties coming up to Christmas. If the Minister bears this in mind, I know he will do everything possible to ensure that cheques are received prior to Christmas, thus making it that much easier for them.
There is another difficulty in County Clare in so far as some owners have split herds. This means that part of their land is in a severely handicapped area while the other is in a mildly handicapped area. In those circumstances, I understand, it is the Department's policy not to make any advance payment prior to Christmas. That is extremely unfortunate because these people are experiencing similar difficulties to people in full severely disadvantaged areas. The situation cannot continue. A number of years ago practically 90 per cent of headage grants were paid prior to Christmas, but in recent years that system has dramatically changed. Some instalments are paid before Christmas while others are paid after Christmas. Last Monday a constituent complained to me that they had received no headage payment yet and that last year they did not get any portion of their headage until March. They made special representations to try to get an advance.
The Minister is fully familiar with the details. I appeal to him to make a special plea, given that there are only ten days to Christmas, to ensure that every farmer, whether they are in a severely disadvantaged area or have a split herd, gets a cheque in the post before Christmas to alleviate some of the financial difficulties that many of them are facing. One must recognise that this summer was bad and that many farmers are reaping the conequences of these difficulties, particularly in western counties. There are special circumstances because the rainfall there is much higher, double that in the east. The Minister is aware of the quality of the land and the particular difficulties that arise, such as the far greater length of time that cattle must be housed and the amount of feeding they must receive, as opposed to other areas where the land is much drier. Overall there is greater expense for the farmers concerned and much narrower margins in relation to profit, if profit arises at all for many. I am familiar with that through processing unemployment assistance applications for smallholders. The overheads and margins are extraordinary.
I appeal to the Minister of State and I recognise that he fully understands the position. As a junior Minister, he has been extremely helpful and I make a special appeal to him to try to respond positively to the situation.
