Vol. 556 No. 5
9 Mr. Crawford asked the Minister for Agriculture and Food the number of farmers in each county who have not received suckler cow premium for 2002; if he has satisfied himself that it is fair to farmers to be told that they will be paid in the next few weeks only to find that some block has been put on the payment without the farmer being notified as to the reason; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20843/02]
Some 53,146 farmers, representing 83% of applicants, have received their 80% advance payment totalling €150 million. This figure compares favourably with the position at this time last year when 56% of applicants had received their advance payments amounting to €75 million. Of the cases which remain unpaid, a small number are awaiting an on-farm inspection while most of the others are under query with the farmers. Cases are being cleared for payment on a daily basis as queries are resolved. I will arrange to let the Deputy have a county breakdown of paid and unpaid cases. Since 1 January, some €1.3 billion has been paid to farmers under the various premia and compensatory allowance schemes of which some €694 million relates to payments made under the 2002 schemes.
