Extended date for Payment Scheme

THE closing date for the receipt of applications under the 2007 Single Payment Scheme and Disadvantaged Areas Scheme has been extended to Tuesday, May 15.

Agriculture and Food Minister Mary Coughlan said she had decided to extend the closing date because farmers that are taking full advantage of the good weather to progress their work have less time to deal with their scheme applications.

Despite the deadline extension, she said the processing of applications under both of the schemes, which are worth over €1.6 billion every year to Irish farmers, was a process that is already well under way in her Department.