Initial run of Single Farm Payments worth €538m welcomed by farmers
Making the announcement at the department’s offices in Portlaoise, Co Laois, Mr Coveney said: “Today marks the start of payments under the 2012 SFP, part of a broader payment process which, by year-end, will have delivered in excess of €1.4bn to farmers.
“This €538m to almost 88% of all applicants, when taken with the €173m which has issued since Sept 26 in respect of the 2012 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, represents a significant financial boost for both the individual farmers who will receive these payments and also the wider rural economy.”
Mr Coveney highlighted the use of text messaging, which is being used for the first time in advising farmers of their payments under the 2012 SFP.
“I see this development as further evidence of my department’s commitment to avail of all means to help deliver a better service to farmers,” he said.
“The 65,000 farmers currently signed up to receive text messages are set to be notified individually by text immediately [that] their SFP payment has been made; I would strongly encourage all other farmers to seriously consider signing up for the service.”
Mr Coveney indicated his determination to ensure that payments are maximised, and sought to assure farmers that payments will continue to issue under both schemes, after the initial payments occur, as individual cases are cleared. He said his aim continues to be to maximise payments to farmers at the earliest possible date, subject to the necessary requirements of the schemes being met.
IFA deputy president Eddie Downey welcomed the SFP payout to 107,000 farmers, saying “this will provide a much-needed boost to cashflow in this extremely difficult year with both severe incomes and weather difficulties”.
He said Mr Coveney must insist that all outstanding cases held up because of inspections, digitisation and maps, and other issues are processed and paid out without any further delay.
Mr Downey said farmers should check their bank accounts this week to see if the SFP payment has arrived.
“If the payment has not been made, they should make contact with the Department of Agriculture to ascertain what the problem is and take immediate action to resolve the issues,” he said.
Mr Downey said some 78,000 have received disadvantaged area payments amounting to €171m over the last three weeks. He added that it is vital all outstanding cases are made, including those who have qualified under the stocking rate derogation criteria.
The IFA deputy president also called on Mr Coveney to commence payments of REPS4 and AEOS 1 and 2 payments, which are worth around €170m to 45,000 farmers.
Mr Downey said through its direct payment service, the IFA is available to assist farmers in getting problems resolved and payments made.
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