Farmer Red tape is holding up payments to farmers
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LESS than a quarter of Kerry farmers who have applied for REPS 4 payments have received the money due to them from the government.
North Kerry Sinn Féin TD Martin Ferris, who raised the question of delayed REPS payments to Kerry farmers in the Dáil last week, said that, at present, only 466 of 1,960 applicants in Kerry have been fully paid.
"That is less than 25% of all applicants. For the other 1,494 farmers who have not yet received their payment this represents a considerable setback at a time when farm incomes are already under severe pressure. In most instances farmers in receipt of REPS are on the lower income bracket. However, in my county, Kerry, and in many others that has not been the case. Many farmers borrowed money to carry out farm improvements and other work, but now find themselves unable to meet repayments on time," he told the Dáil.
Junior Minister Tony Killeen said any farmer in REPS 4 whose application has been processed for payment has been paid already, but there are queries relating to many farmers' REPS applications.
" In Kerry there are 2,039 REPS 4 participants, of whom 462 have received payments. A further 143 have been cleared for payment and payment will issue this week. However, the Department has to operate in the context of strict EU regulations. These regulations require that detailed administrative checks be carried out on all applications before any payment can be made," he said.
" The position, in Kerry as elsewhere, is that queries arose in the course of checks on a significant number of applications. The queries arise under a range of issues including area measurement and nutrient management plans. Where queries arise, Department staff are working to resolve the issues as quickly as possible so that payments can be made with the minimum of delay.
"In many cases, it will be necessary for officials to contact farmers directly about their applications and a number of farm plans have already been sent back to applicants to be amended in line with the terms of the scheme. Amended plans will be processed for payment without delay," he said.
