Kilkenny Fianna Fáil TD and member of the Oireachtas Agriculture Committee, Bobby Aylward, has welcomed the news that following the commencement of payments under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme and the Grassland Sheep Scheme on September 22, the payments will all be made before the end of the year.
Payments under the Disadvantaged Area Scheme and the Grassland Sheep Scheme will continue on an on-going basis to farmers whose applications have been processed and with all errors cleared. It is expected that all payments will be made by October 20, Deputy Bobby Aylward, said.
“It was great to hear from the Minister for Agriculture, Brendan Smith, that extra staffing resources have been put in place to process payments speedily within the Department and to ensure that farmers get their funds as efficiently as possible and without delay.
“In excess of 67,000 farmers around the country have submitted maps identifying areas to be excluded from their eligible land parcels, three times as many as had done so in 2009,” Dep Aylward pointed out.
“I am pleased to see that these grants will come to farmers before Christmas. While farmers have had a better year this year, it is essential that the Government give every practical assistance to them. I am confident that ensuring a ready cashflow will be of great assistance to qualifying farmers in Kilkenny.”
