Arthur Morgan
Ceist:71 Deputy Arthur Morgan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the delay in paying REPS 4. [16700/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThursday, 29 April 2010
Ceisteanna (77, 78)
Freagraí scríofa
Out of 29, 376 farmers due payments in REPS 4, 100% payments have issued to over 21,000 as of 23rd April 2010, with a further 1,342 payments issuing this week. The processing of REPS 4 payments is governed by EU Regulations which require exhaustive administrative checks and on-the-spot inspections. In most parts of the country, the processing of payments is well advanced and the majority of participants have received their full payments for 2009. In a significant number of cases, however, the administrative checks raised issues and queries which required further detailed examination. My Department's staff have been working to resolve these as quickly as possible. Many of these cases require the applicants' planners to amend the farm plans that were submitted originally. The applicants concerned have been made aware of the position and the applications will be further processed without delay on receipt of amended plans. My Department is working to resolve all outstanding issues and queries and my objective is to ensure that all outstanding payments issue as quickly as possible.
Question No. 72 answered with Question No. 38.
Thomas P. Broughan
Ceist:73 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the reason 50% of Kerry REPS 4 farmers remain unpaid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16896/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe processing of REPS 4 payments is governed by EU Regulations which require exhaustive administrative checks and on-the-spot inspections. In most parts of the country, the processing of payments is well advanced and the majority of participants have received their full payments for 2009. In a significant number of cases, however, the administrative checks raised issues and queries which required further detailed examination. My Department's staff have been working to resolve these as quickly as possible. Many of these cases require the applicants' planners to amend the farm plans that were submitted originally. The applicants concerned have been made aware of the position and the applications will be further processed without delay on receipt of amended plans.
I am acutely aware of the situation in the Department's local offices in Kerry where, because of the Government's moratorium on recruitment and promotion in the civil service, two supervisory posts have been vacant and where, as a result, the processing of claims has been delayed. I am pleased to announce that my Department is now putting arrangements in place to resolve the situation. This will enable the processing of claims to proceed and for payments to issue without further delay.
Question No. 74 answered with Question No. 43.