Dáil Éireann - Volume 425 - 10 February, 1993

Written Answers. - South Tipperary Sheep Farmers.

Mrs. T. Ahearn Mrs. T. Ahearn

351. Mrs. T. Ahearn asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the total number of sheep farmers in South Tipperary; the total number of headage payments made to them in the years 1991 and 1992; the percentage of these in disadvantaged areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh) Joe Walsh

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry (Mr. J. Walsh): Records of the total number of sheep farmers in South Tipperary or in County Tipperary as a whole are not maintained in my Department. Since some sheep farmers are ineligible to participate in either the sheep headage or ewe premium schemes, only records of applicants participating in these schemes are kept.

Statistics for payments under the sheep headage and ewe premium schemes are kept for County Tipperary as a whole. Payments under the 1991 and 1992 schemes to flockowners in County Tipperary were as follows:

991

[991] Payments to-date under the 1992 ewe premium scheme involve the first two instalments only. The amount of the third instalment will be decided by the EC by the end of March 1993 and should result in a further £2.5 million approximately being paid to flockowners in County Tipperary. This figure includes the additional premium agreed by the Council of Ministers before Christmas.

Dáil Éireann 425 Written Answers. South Tipperary Sheep Farmers.

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