Vol. 435 No. 1
3 Mr. Dukes asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and Forestry the date by which the payment to farmers of areas aid payment, which was due to begin on 16 October 1993 will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The relevant EC Regulation provides that the area aid compensatory payments shall be made between 16 October and 31 December following the harvest.
Out of a total of approximately 17,000 applications some 10,400 have already been paid. A further 1,750 will be paid within the next week.
The remaining applications will be paid as soon as outstanding queries relating to them have been cleared up.
Can the Minister say in how many cases there are difficulties about the payments because of a difference between the areas declared on the area aid forms and the areas determined by his Department? How long does he think it will take to sort out these differences?
Approximately 1,750 are to be paid next week and I expect the remaining applicants to be paid and compensated within the next few weeks.
The Minister does not seem to have understood the question. I asked him in how many cases there is a delay because of a difference in the area claimed by the applicant in the area aid form and the area observed by the Department through its satellite monitoring or whatever system it is using. In cases where there is a difference that is giving rise to a delay in payments, how long does the Minister expect it will take to resolve the matter?
I do not have the precise number here but from the figures I have given, the outstanding payments due to applicants are because of queries based on inquiries and inspections following administrative checks. I expect all of those to be cleared up in the next few weeks.
On the figures the Minister has given, am I to understand that there are 17,000 applicants, 10,400 have been paid and a further 1,750 will be paid by the end of next week, giving a total of 12,150? Are there 4,850 cases where there is this difference?
This is Question Time Deputy Dukes and you seem to be imparting information rather than eliciting it.
I am asking a question, and I want an answer.
It is a specific question. The Minister should have the answer to it.
The reason for nonpayment of those claims outstanding is the number of queries to be dealt with. I hope all those queries will be sorted out within the next few weeks.
Are there 4,850 queries?
Question No. 4.
