Deal will see 50% of single farm payment distributed six weeks earl
Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney said commissioner Dacian Ciolos accepted that early payment was necessary given protracted unseasonable weather this year, culminating in a national fodder shortage.
Mr Coveney said: “This will now allow us to make advance payments, at a rate of 50%, to those applicants whose applications are confirmed fully clear, with effect from Oct 16, with balancing payments being made with effect from Dec 1.
“Being acutely aware of the significance to farmers and the wider rural economy of the single payment, and mindful of the ongoing financial crisis, I have been particularly concerned at the difficulties caused for farmers by the adverse weather conditions during the first half of the year.”
Payments worth a total €600m will begin issuing on Oct 16, the first day of the new EU financial year.
“The benefit in making these payments six weeks earlier than otherwise provided for under the existing rules of the scheme will be particularly beneficial at this time,” Mr Coveney said.
The proposal to opt for the advance payment, as proposed by the European Commission at yesterday’s meeting of the direct payments management committee, received unanimous support from all member states.
Mr Coveney said: “I wish to record my thanks to the commissioner for the immediate and positive response to the request of Ireland and other member states that the provision be made for this advance payment.
“I can assure all concerned that my officials will do all that’s needed to ensure the maximum number of applicants receive their advance payment at the earliest possible date.”
Irish farm organisations had been anticipating yesterday’s announcement. While the early payments are broadly welcomed, a growing number of farmers are also expressing concerns about payments being partly withheld due to issues with applications.
ICSA president Gabriel Gilmartin said: “There is an emerging problem with many farmers getting letters from the department in recent weeks suggesting that the area on which they are claiming their single payment is inaccurate.
“They are facing hundreds and, in many instances, thousands of euros of retrospective fines if they accept the department’s accusatory letter. If they appeal — which many will do — then they are faced with the prospect of having their payments held up, perhaps until 2014 in some cases.”
Mr Gilmartin described these fines and delays as an outrageous assault on farmers who in most cases have relied on professional advisers to ensure their applications were correct over the years.
The IFA had sought a 70% advance on farmers’ single farm payments. In July, IFA members hosted a demonstration outside the Department of Agriculture offices in Portlaoise against a surge in farm inspection fines from €780,000 in 2009 to €4.7m in 2012.
