129 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of people throughout the country who have been disqualified, fined or otherwise penalised in relation to their applications under the ewe premium scheme for each of the years from 1995 to 1997. [6991/98]

130 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the policy of his Department in relation to taking prosecutions under the ewe premium scheme; the number of prosecutions taken throughout the country; the number of prosecutions taken on a county by county basis; and the extent to which those prosecutions have been successful for each of the years from 1995 to 1997 under the scheme. [6992/98]

131 Mr. Doherty asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food whether the sheep premium scheme is on a statutory basis; and the regulations and sanctions, if any, which apply in relation to errors made in making the application. [6993/98]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 129, 130 and 131 together.

The legal basis for the ewe premium scheme is set out in EU Council Regulations 3013/89, 1323/90, 3493/90 and 3508/92 and EU Commission Regulations 2385/91, 3567/92, 2887/92 and 2700/93. The sanctions which apply in respect of applications are as follows.

132 Mr. Browne (Wexford) asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food when area aid will be paid to a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [6995/98]

Payments have issued to the person concerned in respect of cattle headage amounting to £1,050.00, special beef premium, £4,672.30, suckler cow premium £841.38 and ewe premium, £1,774.37.

The 1997 area aid application for the person concerned has now been fully processed and any outstanding payments should issue shortly.