Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)

I expect to be able shortly to confirm the position regarding payments under the suckler welfare scheme. More than 53,000 farmers applied for the scheme in 2008 and the estimated cost, at a rate of €80 per cow, will be some €77 million for 2008. By the end of 2008, €33 million was spent on the scheme. A further €44 million has been provided in my Department's Estimate for 2009 to pay for the remaining 2008 born calves. Of this €44 million, more than €12 million has been paid out to farmers already in January and payments are continuing on a weekly basis as additional animals become eligible. It must be borne in mind that the money paid to farmers under this scheme is an additional income stream that was not there before last year and that all of this money is coming from the Exchequer.

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