Area Aid closing date extended 10 more days by Minister Walsh

AGRICULTURE and Food Minister Joe Walsh has extended the Area Aid closing date by 10 further days to Monday next.

He said this was a very exceptional arrangement to facilitate farmers who had encountered difficulties with the postal system.

The penalty procedure for the late submission of applications will not now apply until after the new April 26 deadline. He was particularly anxious to ensure that farmers who had never before submitted an Area Aid application would do so in 2004.