Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 373: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food if all payments to farmers under the various aid and headage payment schemes are up to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14583/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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Payments under the 2004 arable aid scheme commenced on 16 November in line with the protocol commitments. Up to 99.4% of applicants have received their payments amounting to more than €130 million. Payments under the four on-farm investment schemes, the farm waste management scheme, dairy hygiene scheme, installation aid scheme and alternative enterprises scheme, are up to date and in compliance with the protocol on direct payments to farmers.

Payments to farmers in the rural environment protection scheme and to retired farmers in the scheme of early retirement from farming are processed in accordance with the targets set out in the protocol on direct payments to farmers. The main forestry premium run took place successfully over the third week of April, making some 22,000 payments to the value of €43 million. Payments under the 2004 disadvantaged areas compensatory allowances scheme commenced, as agreed with the farming bodies, on 19 September 2004. To date more than 98% of applicants have been paid their full entitlements amounting to more than €234 million. Payments under the 2004 ewe supplementary premium scheme and ewe premium national envelope commenced on 16 October 2004 and 28 February 2005, respectively. To date 98.5% of applicants have received their full entitlements amounting to €108 million. Payments under the 2004 extensification premium scheme normally commence in June. The advance payments under the slaughter premium scheme commenced on 16 October 2004. Balancing payments commenced on 20 April 2005 following the establishment of the quota position, as provided for under the protocol for direct payments. The advance payments under the special beef premium scheme commenced on 16 October 2004. Balancing payments commenced in early April to those applicants with up to 25 animals. Interim balancing payments, based on an estimate of the quota overshoot, began on 19 April 2005 to other applicants. These payments were made mindful of the position in which farmers found themselves, notwithstanding that the protocol for direct payments provides for the position regarding the quota to be established before the balancing payments are issued.

The advance payments under the 2004 suckler cow premium scheme commenced on 16 October 2004. Currently 98.8% of applicants have received advance payments amounting in total to €143.8 million. Balancing payments commenced on 31 March 2005. To date a further €84 million has been paid showing 91% of applicants fully paid at this time. Payments are still ongoing on a regular basis in line with targets set out under the protocol for direct payments to farmers.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 375: To ask the Minister for Agriculture and Food the position on farm retirement grants; the number on hand; the number in respect of which a decision has been made in the past 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14586/05]

Mary Coughlan (Donegal South West, Fianna Fail)
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A total of 2,635 applications have been received under the current early retirement scheme since its introduction in November 2000. Of these 81 are being processed. In the 12 months from 1 May 2004 to 30 April 2005, a total of 309 applications were approved and eight rejected.