204 Mr. Finucane asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when a grant under the Irish draught incentive scheme will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick.

My Department have no record of an application for a grant under the Irish draught incentive scheme having been received from the person named.

I have made arrangements to have a copy of the relevant application form sent to this person.

205 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in the payment of 1991 headage and suckler grants to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.

This applicant has already been paid his grants under the 1991 cattle and equines headage, suckler cow and special beef premium schemes. There was no particular delay in making these payments.

206 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in payment of the second half of headage and suckler grants to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.

This applicant has already been paid his grants under the 1991 cattle and equines headage and special beef premium schemes. His application for grants under the 1991 suckler cow premium scheme for small-scale milk producers is being processed at present and payment will be made shortly.

207 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in paying a beef premium to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.

This person's application for grants under the 1992 special beef premium scheme is being processed at present and if found in order payment will be made shortly.

208 Mr. J. Higgins asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the reason for the delay in the payment of a beef premium to a person (details supplied) in County Mayo.

The person named is not the registered owner of herd number quoted. The registered owner has already been paid his grant under the 1991 special beef premium scheme.

210 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will provide details in relation to grants for milking parlours; if he will outline whether changes are to be introduced to this scheme; if so, when they will come into operation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Grant aid is available for the erection of dairy parlours to applicants who satisfy the regulations laid down in EC Regulation 2328/91. The rate of grant is 25 per cent in the disadvantaged areas and 15 per cent in the rest of the country. The EC Commission has also made available, at Ireland's request, funds to assist investments in certain milk handling facilities; this scheme is administered through ICOS.

In accordance with the commitment in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress, a submission to the EC is in preparation seeking EC assistance for farmers who have to invest to meet the standards which will be set out in the EC Regulation on milk hygiene when adopted by the EC Council of Ministers.

211 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will investigate the delay in the payment of a suckler grant to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

This person's application for grants under the 1991 suckler cow premium scheme for small-scale milk producers is being processed at present and payment will issue shortly. There is no particular delay in this case.

212 Mr. Moynihan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will investigate the delay in the payment of a sheep headage grant to a person (details supplied) in County Kerry.

Following withdrawal of the BTE herd number of the person named, payment of the 1991 sheep headage grant was delayed pending the issue of a flock-number.

The grant will be paid within the next three weeks.

213 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that a delay in paying a farm grant to a person (details supplied) in County Cork is costing him £5 a day in interest payments to his bank; whether he will now have arrangements made for immediate payment of the grant; and if not, if he will confirm the date by which the money will be paid.

This grant will be paid inside the next two to three weeks.

214 Mr. Flanagan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food if he will have arrangements made for the payment of a sheep premium in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Offaly.

The first and second instalments of the 1991 ewe premium were paid to the person named in August and November 1991.

The final instalment will be paid as soon as the EC Regulation fixing the amount is formally adopted.

215 Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when payment of a beef premium and suckler cow grants will be made to a person (details supplied) in County Tipperary.

This person's applications for grants under the 1991 special beef premium and suckler cow premium schemes are being processed at present and if found in order payments will issue shortly.