Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 21 Mar 2002

Vol. 550 No. 5

Written Answers. - Internet Mapping and Area Payments System.

Enda Kenny

Question:

96 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Rural Development the position regarding the installation and completion of the IMAP system being installed in the area aid unit of his Department, if his attention has been drawn to the fact that claims will not be completed until this system is in operation and that farmers are awaiting payments and are not being paid until this system is installed; if there are problems with this new system; when it is expected that this system will be successfully completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9653/02]

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

The first and main phase of the new internet mapping and area payments system, IMAP, has been installed by my Department. While there are still a number of issues associated with this installation yet to be finalised, it is not true to say that claims are not being processed for payment. Some 80,000 payments totalling more than €67 million have been made to farmers in the past month alone. There have been some delays in processing a relatively small amount of outstanding 2001 cases. However, these are now being finalised and any payments due will issue shortly.