Local TD Denis Naughten has described the fact that Roscommon and Leitrim farmers are awaiting over €4.6m in outstanding grant payments from the Department of Agriculture as “unacceptable”.
“At present there are 2049 applications for Single Farm and Disadvantaged Area Payments from Leitrim and Roscommon farmers which remain unpaid and this is putting significant financial pressure on many farm families locally,” stated Denis Naughten.
The vast majority of applications are being delayed due to the significant backlog in the mapping section of the Department.
However, Denis Naughten stated: “There is no justification for such delays with mapping as the Department of Agriculture claimed that they would have these delays addressed following the mess in 2010 when some farmers had to wait up to five months to receive payments.
“This delay is causing severe financial hardship for many farmers awaiting payments. Families had relied on the money coming in to pay bills and bank loans but nothing seems to be happening to address this issue, either now and in the future.
“This also has an impact on the local economy with many businesses relying on farm payments to boost cash flow at this time of the year. At a very minimum the Department of Agriculture should pay 75% of the monies due to farmers pending the completion of the mapping process,” concluded Denis Naughten.
ENDS.
Editor’s Note: Please see attached Dail replies.
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine: (Simon Coveney)
I propose to reply to PQ’s 31896/11 and 31898/11 together.
The following tabular statement shows the position regarding applications and payments to County Leitrim and County Roscommon herd-owners under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme:
Leitrim
Applications received 3,498
Applications paid 2,850
Value of payments €6,268,479
Roscommon
Applicaions received 5,705
Applations paid 4,730
Value of payments €10,187,542
As the Deputy is aware, there are no delays in payments to farmers under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, payments having commenced, on target, on 22 September, with payments issuing to those farmers whose applications had been confirmed eligible for payment at that time. I can confirm that my Department has, in the interim, continued to pay individuals, as their cases became clear, with payment runs taking place twice a week. This is normal practise and will continue on an ongoing basis, as necessary. In this regard, while I am pleased to note that payments worth €191.7 million have issued to date, representing over 85% of applicants, I remain confident that the full budget for the Scheme will have been exhausted by year-end.
It is not intended to resort to the exceptional, once-off, measures adopted in the latter part of 2010, when the decision was taken to make payments at a rate of 75%. It should be recalled that these payments were made on the basis of land confirmed eligible at the time of payment, whereas payments under the 2011 Scheme, in addition to being at a rate of 100%, are made on applicants’ entire eligible areas following the completion of the validation process for each application.
Parliamentary Question No.379/381
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and value of 2011 single farm payments which have been made to applicants in County Roscommon; the number and value yet to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Denis Naughten.
For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 2nd November, 2011.
Ref No: 31897/11 Proof: 140
To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number and value of 2011 single farm payments which have been made to applicants in County Leitrim; the number and value yet to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. – Denis Naughten.
For WRITTEN answer on Wednesday, 2nd November, 2011.
Ref No: 31899/11 Proof: 142
REPLY
The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine: (Simon Coveney)
I propose to reply to PQs 31897/11 and 31899/11 together.
The following tabular statement shows the position regarding applications and payments (95% of applications are paid) to County Leitrim and County Roscommon herd-owners under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme, for the year specified:
Leitrim
Applications received 3,526
Applications paid 3,341
Value of payments €7,114,661
Roscommon
Applications received 5,846
Applications paid 5,605
Value of payments €17,036,065
As is clear, while the timing of all direct aid payments to farmers is crucial, it is the Single Farm Payment that is of most importance to farmers, given that it represents in excess of €1.2 billion of the €1.7 billion that is paid out annually in direct aid. The SFP forms a significant part of the annual income of all farmers in Ireland, in many cases is used to subsidise the running costs of the farming enterprise and is, therefore, greater than the net farm income.
Earlier this year, mindful of the significance to the wider rural economy of the Single Payment, I successfully sought the approval of the Commissioner to have advance payments made. I am pleased to say that these payments commenced issuing on 17 October, with payments continuing to be made, twice weekly, on an on-going basis.