Two assaulted as IFA occupies Department office

AT least 94,000 farmers will be paid €444m of single farm payments in the week starting October 17 — €46m more than was paid at the same time last year, according to Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney. (The payment window allowed under EU rules is October 16, 2011 to June, 2012).

He said even more farmers can be paid quickly if they reply to all Department correspondence as quickly as possible on issues such as over-claims, and provide evidence of stocking density to help speed up the payments process.

Mr Coveney said last week that 78,000 farmers had already got €169m of disadvantaged area payments, €45m ahead of the 2010 position.