Concern over REPS payment delay

THE IFA has voiced serious concerns about the delays in making REPS 3 payments to farmers who have joined the scheme since June.

Rural Development chairman Padraic Divilly has also expressed concern regarding farmers moving from REPS 2 to REPS 3 who are not being paid the top-up until later in the year.

Mr Divilly said the Department of Agriculture must resolve the problem immediately as many farmers have financial commitments on foot of compliance costs with the new scheme.

He said the delays, if not sorted out immediately, will lead to an underspend of funding allocated to the scheme in 2004.