Advance Farm Payments To Commence Next Week

Business & Finance - Farming & Fisheries

Wednesday, 13 October 2010 14:47

Written by Mike Fanning

The Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD, today announced the commencement of advance payments under the 2010 Single Payments Scheme and the payment of the balancing payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

“I am particularly pleased that these payments, worth in excess of €500 million, will begin to issue on 18 October in the case of the 50% advance payment of the Single Payment Scheme and on 20 October in the case of the 25% balancing payment under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme” the Minister said.

“It will be recalled that, earlier this year, mindful of farmers’ cash flow and particularly the very adverse weather endured, I approached the EU farm Commissioner, seeking approval to make these payments earlier than provided for under the regulations. As a result of the case put forward, agreement was forthcoming, as a result of which, these payments are being made six weeks earlier than would otherwise be the case” he added.

The Minister said that he was particularly pleased that payments were issuing in line with the schedule he had decided on in September with the sole aim of making the maximum permissible payments to farmers under each of the relevant Direct Payment Schemes.

The schedule of payments announced was as follows:
-     22 September      -       75 per cent under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme
-     18 October          -       50 per cent Advance SPS Payment
-      20 October       -        25 per cent balancing DAS payment
-      1 December       -        50 per cent balancing SPS payment.
-      8 December       -        Grassland Sheep Payment.