Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2011
464 Deputy Michelle Mulherin asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason for the delay in processing of an application for the single payment for 2011 in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Mayo; the date by which the payment will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30814/11]
View answerThere are no delays in payments to farmers under the Single Farm Payment Scheme, the earliest payment date provided for under EU rules being 1 December. However, mindful of the significance to the wider rural economy of the Single Payment, earlier this year I successfully sought the approval of the Commissioner to have advance payments made as and from 17 October. This is the earliest possible legal date for making payments, being the start of the new EU financial year.
Insofar as the person named is concerned, an application under the 2011 Single Payment Scheme was received on 13 April 2011, processing of which has recently been completed, thereby allowing 50% advance payment to issue on 17 October.
