40,000 farmers still await payments held up by mapping difficulties

UP to 40,000 farmers are still awaiting payments which have been either fully or partially held up by the mapping difficulties in the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

Farmers have been consistently phoning the regional and national offices of the Irish Farmers Association (IFA), complaining that the long-delayed payments which were due to arrive on Monday have still not reached their bank accounts.

The IFA estimates that the department is holding back more than €100m in single farm payment and disadvantage area payments. This delay is having a devastating impact upon people’s lives, claim farmers who are calling the IFA offices.