asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the total value of the ewe premium payable to Ireland in each of the years (i) 1985 (ii) 1986 (iii) 1987 and (iv) 1988; and the number of producers in each year.

36.

asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if the European Commission has agreed to accept revised statistics for the number of ewes eligible for premium in this country; the way in which this affects the total payments to Ireland; the estimated value of the total ewe premium payments to Ireland in 1989; and the way in which the rate of premium payable in Ireland compares with that in other member states.

I propose to take Questions Nos. 12 and 36 together.

The ewe premium payable in Ireland for each of the years 1985 to 1988 is as follows: 1985, IR£42.39 million to 38,300 producers; 1986, IR£55.96 million to 39,700 producers; 1987, IR£63.89 million to 43,200 producers; 1988, IR£64.38 million to 47,000 producers.

I welcome these increases which have given a significant boost to sheep farmers' incomes and have also been of major benefit to our processing industry.

The revised statistics for ewe numbers in Ireland have been approved by the EC Statistics Bureau — Eurostat — and have been accepted at my request by the Commission of the European Community.

It is expected that total payments under the ewe premium scheme in 1989 in Ireland will amount to some IR£65 million.

The amount of ewe premium fixed for Ireland for 1988 and payable this year is 20.966 ECUs or IR£17.40 per ewe which is the highest rate of ewe premium in the Community.

Deputy Hyland.

A Cheann Comhairle——

I must call the Deputy who tabled the question.