Bernard J. Durkan
Question:101 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the extent to which all grant and other support aid payable by his Department are up to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4208/03]
Written Answers. - Grant Payments.
My Department has put in place one of the most efficient systems in the EU for payment of direct income payments to farmers with the vast bulk of cheques now issuing on the first day allowed under EU regulations.
My Department operates on the basis of an agreed protocol on direct payments with the farming organisations which contains delivery targets that are monitored on an on-going and regular basis by a monitoring committee that includes the social partner farm organisations and has an independent chairman. These targets are, subject to the relevant EU rules and the terms and conditions of the schemes, being routinely met by my Department in respect of valid applications for which full and correct information is supplied.