Delays in basic farm payments unacceptable, says IFA deputy president Tim O’Leary
Mr O’Leary said the backlog on farm payments under the basic payment scheme is unacceptable.
He said Agriculture Minister Simon Coveney must intervene with the department to remove the barriers preventing an advance payment to all farmers.
“We are demanding that the department makes an advance to all farmers without delay and a clear schedule is put forward by the department as to when the issues holding back payments will be resolved,” said the Cork-based dairy farmer.
He said there is growing anger and frustration among farmers who have not received their advance payment.
He said what is even more annoying is that they are often unable to make contact with the department and if and when they do they are not being told when their issues will be resolved.
Mr O’Leary said issues holding back payments such as private contract clauses, digitisation, dual claims and overclaims must not continue to hold up payments.
He said an advance for all farmers not paid at this stage, with the payments being balanced out at a later stage, is urgently required.
Mr O’Leary also expressed concern that the Department of Agriculture has changed the rules governing the educational requirements for the Young Farmer Top Up payment and the National Reserve.
Young farmers applying for supports for third-level agri courses during 2016 had been told they had until September 30 of next year to first complete a Green Cert. That deadline has been brought forward to December 31, 2015.
“Changing the date now is a problem for many young farmers and it is important that flexibility is shown that will accommodate young farmers who participate in some minimum level of educational course before the end of the year,” said Mr O’Leary.
Meanwhile, IFA national dairy committee chairman, Sean O’Leary, said that European farming colleagues at a COPA milk meeting in Brussels this week have confirmed that some other member states have already paid, and some opted to match, the EU targeted aid for dairy and pig farmers. He urged Minister Simon Coveney to do the same urgently.
“Our colleagues have made it very clear that Portugal has already paid the targeted aids to farmers at the end of October. The UK government has promised payment by the end of this month,” said Mr O’Leary who, like IFA’s deputy president and his namesake, is also a Cork dairy farmer.
“Lithuania, Finland, Spain and Sweden have topped up those payments from national funds, and in most cases have actually matched them euro for euro, and the Austrian government have indicated they plan to do the same.
“Minister Simon Coveney must come forward urgently with matching funds, and pay out the targeted aid meant to assist with the cash flow pressure faced right now by dairy and pig farmers as a matter of urgency,” Mr O’Leary added.
