Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 445: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of payments made under the disadvantaged areas payment scheme to date in 2009; the number of applications which remain unprocessed; the level of expenditure in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41817/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Payments under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme commenced on 22 September, with payments issuing in respect of those cases cleared for payment at that stage. Payments have continued to issue, as outstanding issues are resolved. To date, payments worth in excess of €216.5 million have issued to some 96,334 applicants, leaving in the region of 4,000 applicants yet to be paid. Any applicant who has yet to receive payment has been written to by my Department in relation to the specific issue which is preventing payment.

The bulk of this number is accounted for by those for whom the Department has not been in a position to confirm their compliance with the required minimum stocking density requirement. For the bulk of applicants, this is confirmed automatically via the Department's computerised records, but for a minority of applicants, for example, those who possess ponies/donkeys, it is necessary that they submit necessary evidence to my Department for noting. A smaller group who have yet to receive payment have been notified of issues relating to the land parcels declared on their applications. Cases continue to be cleared on a daily basis, as outstanding issues are resolved.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 446: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number of payments made under the suckler cow welfare scheme to date in 2009; the number of applications that remain unprocessed; the level of expenditure in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41818/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Since January 2009, €28.186 million has been paid to farmers under the Suckler Welfare Scheme in respect of calves born in 2008. A further €31.749 million was paid out in 2008 bringing the total paid to €59.935 million in respect of 749,000 calves born in 2008. Payment on the remaining 2008 born animals is continuing an on-going basis as the animal event information is being returned. Payment in respect of 2009 born calves will commence in January 2010.

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Question 447: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the level of funding that will be paid out to the sheep sector in 2009 as per his announcement in June 2009; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41819/09]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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I accept that the Irish sheep sector is in need of assistance and, mindful of the particular difficulties being experienced, I have decided on a two-fold approach to help address the situation. In the first instance and as I announced in March, I have decided to allocate approximately €7 million from the Single Farm Payment National Reserve to 14,000 hill sheep farmers for this year, these being the only additional funds to which I have access in 2009.

Secondly, from 2010, there will be €25 million in additional funding available in unused CAP funds, designed to target specific sectors and regions in need of assistance. I have decided that €18 million of these funds will be targeted at sheep farmers, both hill and lowland sheep producers. My main priority in allocating these funds, is to ensure that they are used in the most efficient and effective manner for the development of Irish agriculture.

The 2009 Upland Sheep Payment will be payable to farmers who: declared their sheep under the 2007 and the 2008 Sheep Census; declared Mountain Type Grazing under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme; and were eligible for and were in receipt of payment under the 2009 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme. The maximum area payable is 15 hectares of mountain type grazing. Arrangements in respect of the Upland Sheep Payment will be announced shortly.