Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 15 Feb 2001

Vol. 530 No. 5

Written Answers. - Grant Payments.

Jan O'Sullivan

Question:

15 Ms O'Sullivan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the reason the deadline for area aid applications has been brought forward to 30 March 2001; if farmers have been properly informed of this deadline; if leeway will be given to farmers who missed the deadline in view of the change; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4247/01]

Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development (Mr. Walsh)

Under the protocol on direct payments to farmers there are commitments to pay arable aid and other area based payments to farmers by specified deadlines for the different schemes. There is also a commitment to notify farmers of problems with their area aid applications by the end of September. My Department is conscious of the need to adhere to these deadlines. At the same time the move from a headage to an area-based compensatory allowance payments system for farmers in less favoured areas will result in an additional administrative workload in the area aid unit. In these circumstances in order to continue to meet the various commitments it is necessary to bring forward the closing date for receipt of area aid applications to 30 March 2001.

It should be noted that area aid application closing dates at the end of March have been applied in some past years with no apparent difficulties for farmers. I intend to ensure the widest publicity for the new closing date when application forms are being sent out and in the run up to the end of March so that all farmers are fully aware of the requirements. There will be no extension to the closing date this year and normal regulatory provisions will apply to late applications.