Ministerial move paves way to end delays in Kerry payments

STEPS are being taken by the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to resolve delays in the processing and payment of Rural Environment Protection Scheme claims by farmers in Kerry.

Labour spokesperson Sean Sherlock asked Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith in the Dáil why 50% of REPS 4 farmers in Kerry remained unpaid.

Mr Smith explained in a written reply that the processing of REPS 4 payments is governed by EU Regulations which require exhaustive administrative checks and on-the-spot inspections.

In most parts of the country the processing of payments is well advanced and the majority of participants have received their full payments for 2009.

In a significant number of cases, however, the administrative checks raised issues and queries which required further detailed examination.

“My department’s staff has been working to resolve these as quickly as possible. Many of these cases require the applicants’ planners to amend the farm plans that were submitted originally.

“The applicants concerned have been made aware of the position and the applications will be further processed without delay on receipt of amended plans,” he said.

Mr Smith said that he is aware of the situation in the department’s local offices in Kerry.

Because of the Government’s moratorium on recruitment and promotion two supervisory posts have been vacant and the processing of claims has been delayed.

“I am pleased to announce that my department is now putting arrangements in place to resolve the situation.”

“This will enable the processing of claims to proceed and for payments to issue without further delay,” he said.