Proposal to delay part of disadvantaged area payment a ‘body blow’ to farmers

A PROPOSAL to make an advanced payment as opposed to a full payment for disadvantaged areas from next week was described by the Irish Farmers’ Association as a body blow to low-income farmers anxiously awaiting the full amount.

Its president John Bryan said this move is unprecedented and unacceptable as farmers expected that they would receive their full payment in the normal way from next week.

He was also critical of the fact that over 20,000 farmers are facing delays with the advanced payment as a result of mapping and processing problems.

Mr Bryan called on Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith to pay out 100% of the disadvantaged area payment to all farmers without delay.

Delaying the second tranche of disadvantaged area payments until early November will lead to cash-flow problems on farms as these are the first direct payment many farmers will receive this year, he said.

Mr Bryan said the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food cannot hide behind mapping problems as farmers had applied for the single farm payment and disadvantaged area payments over four months ago.

He said the department should be in a position to make the full disadvantaged area payment and the advance of the single payment with adjustments at a later stage.

Mr Bryan said the 50% advance on the single farm payment from October 18 is a positive move and will help cash-flow on many farms.

However, the payments should be made to all farmers and it is unacceptable that the advance may be delayed in up to 20,000 cases.

He said the mapping and administrative problems that are holding back payments must be sorted out immediately as farmers cannot afford any delay in direct payments.

Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers Association president Gabriel Gilmartin criticised the delay in the disadvantaged area payment. “Farmers are under enough pressure as it is, without having to deal now with a delayed payment,” he said.