asked the Minister for Agriculture if he has the authority to stop payment under the ewe premium scheme to a farmer because his Department claim that they mistakenly paid sheep headage grants to the same farmer some years earlier.

The terms and conditions of both the EC ewe premium scheme and the sheep headage scheme in the disadvantaged areas by which applicants agree to be bound, state that: "The Minister's decision in all matters relating to this scheme shall be final". While the exercise of my authority in this regard takes account of the particular circumstances of each case, this does not mean that my Department can forego its responsibility to the Exchequer or the EC to recover money to which an applicant is clearly not entitled.

75.

asked the Minister for Agriculture if it is necessary for a farmer to have a herd number under the disease eradication scheme in order to qualify for headage payments under the severely disadvantaged areas.

To meet EC requirements and for purposes of control and prevention of fraud, it is necessary for a farmer to have a registered herd number in order to qualify for payments under the disadvantaged areas scheme.