Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 8 October 2015
75. Deputy Charlie McConalogue asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when a payment of headage for 2015 will issue to a person (details supplied) in County Donegal; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34972/15]
View answerAn application under the 2015 Basic Payments/Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Schemes was received from the person named on 25 May 2015. Processing of the ANC application is currently in progress. On completion of this process, the application will be further reviewed with a view to payment issuing directly to the nominated bank account of the person named at the earliest possible date.
In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments will commence in Ireland on 16 October 2015, which is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations. In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment is set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%. The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors. Payments under the Basic Payment Scheme will commence in respect of all applicants whose applications are fully processed and who have no outstanding errors from 16 October 2015.
