Delivery of €476m in single farm payments by state ‘a good start’

THE IFA has described as a good start yesterday’s move by the state to deliver €476 million in single farm payments to 100,000 farmers.

IFA president John Bryan said he hoped the remaining 20,000 farmers would now be cleared and paid without undue delay, citing December 1 as the deadline by which farmers should receive any outstanding Disadvantaged Area payments.

Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said these payments were being issued six weeks ahead of the date laid down in EU regulations, directly as a result of the case he made to the EU commissioner.

He added that additional payments would be made up to December 1, when the 50% balancing payments are scheduled to commence issuing.

Mr Coveney said: “I am confident that, by year-end, the vast bulk of the SFP will have been paid, the total value of which will be in excess of €1.2bn. The Disadvantaged Areas Scheme also continues to issue, as cases are confirmed eligible.

“While DAS payments only started issuing three weeks ago, already over €180m has been paid, to over 82,500 farmers.

“However, mindful of farmers’ cash-flow situations, I have put the necessary arrangements in place to ensure that the remaining payments issue as soon as possible.”

Mr Bryan said: “Any outstanding digitised mapping problems must be resolved immediately so that no individual payments are held up. It is unacceptable that cases selected for inspection are being delayed.”

On REPS4 and AEOS1, Mr Bryan expressed concern about delays in making payment for last years’ scheme. “It vital that these payments are now made. The Department must then move to pay 30,000 REPS 4 payments and AEOS 2 payments due for this year.”