IFA Demand That the Remaining 30,000 Farmers Due Their Disadvantaged Area Payment Are Paid Immediately

IFA Rural Development Chairman Tom Turley said the delay of Disadvantaged Area payments for up to 30,000 farmers, due to digitisation and stocking issues is totally unacceptable.

Mr Turley said that all Disadvantaged Area payment concerns must be resolved immediately. He called for all mapping problems to be sorted out by the Department of Agriculture so that all of the farmers whose payments are held up, can be paid.

Tom Turley added that 10,000 farmers payments have been held up due to issues surrounding the minimum stocking level of 0.15 lu/ha. He advised those farmers to send back to the Department any evidence of their stocking level which will allow payment to be made.

The IFA Rural Development Chairman said the full €220m must be paid out to 100,000 farmers without delay. This will allow the Department to focus on the 50% pay-out of the Single Farm Payment on October 17th.

He also called for all outstanding 2010 REPS 4 and AEOS payments to be paid out. “In some cases, farmers are waiting for 12 months. This situation is totally unacceptable and Minister Coveney must intervene,” he concluded.