REPS 4 payment delay hit Mayo farmers in pocket

CASH-FLOW difficulties have been compounded for farmers in Co Mayo, due to only 212 from a possible total of 1,353 applicants having received their REPS 4 payments so far.

Nationally, up to last week, REPS 4 payments had been made to 6,194 applicants, or just over 50% of the applicants.

Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith told the Dail: “From the administrative checks carried out on REPS 4 plans, it was apparent the specification requirements were being misinterpreted in some instances.

“A circular issued to all planners and local AES offices on 10 February 2009 clarifying where a mandatory environmental undertaking under measure 1 is required, and the minimum habitat area requirement under measure 4, and how these habitat areas are calculated.”