287 Mr. Sheehan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will apply the increased grant rates to all applicants in the recent extension of the disadvantaged areas scheme whose approval for grant aid was issued to them prior to the date of the announcement of the extension, but who had not the work completed until now.

The higher grant rates can only be applied to approvals that issued after the EC Regulation extending the disadvantaged areas came into operation on the 15 July 1991.

288 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in the payment of a sheep grant to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

The 1991 sheep headage grant was paid in this case on 30 January 1992. The 1991 ewe premium was not paid because reduction in ewe numbers between the date of application and the date of inspection were greater than 10 per cent and they were not notified to my Department in writing within ten days of discovery as requried by the EC Regulation governing the scheme.

289 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a suckler grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.

This person's application for grants under the 1991 suckler cow scheme is being processed at present and payment will issue shortly.

290 Mr. Farrelly asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason a beef premium has not been paid to a person (details supplied) in County Meath.

Following a review of the case of the person named, he may now be paid premium at 80 per cent of the normal rate on his eligible animals, assuming his application is found in order at validation by computer.

292 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reasons his Department refused to make payment of a sheep subsidy in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois; and if, having regard to the circumstances of the case, the matter might be reviewed in favour of the applicant.

The person named does not qualify for the 1991 ewe premium because he failed to maintain the number of ewes he applied for on the holding he declared on his application.

293 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will expedite a payment of the EC beef premium scheme in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Laois.

Payment due to this applicant under the 1991 special beef premium scheme is being processed and if in order will issue shortly.

294 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a cattle headage grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and the reason for the long delay in payment in this instance.

This person's application for grants under the 1991 cattle and equines headage scheme is being processed at present and payment will issue shortly.

The applicant in this case was requested to produce proof of acreage owned but has only done so recently and this caused a delay in passing his application for payment.

295 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a sheep headage grant will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and the reason for the long delay in payment in this instance.

Payment of the 1991 sheep headage grant cannot be considered in this case until the person named furnishes local authority dipping certificates showing that the sheep he presented were dipped in accordance with the statutory requirement.

296 Mr. G. Reynolds asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a cattle headage grant will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Sligo; and the reason for the long delay in payment in this instance.

This person's application for grants under the 1991 cattle and equines headage scheme is being processed at present and payment will issue shortly.

The applicant in this case was requested to produce proof of acreage owned but has only done recently and this caused a delay in passing his application for payment.