An internal dispute in the Department of Agriculture is being cited as the reason why farmers throughout Carlow and Kilkenny as well as a number of surrounding counties are not receiving their REPS 4 payments.
John Bryan the Kilkenny IFA chairman told the Kilkenny Advertiser/Carlow First on Tuesday that "the payment delay is totally unacceptable, and I am calling on the Department of Agriculture to pay out without delay the REPS 4 payments particularly to the farmers who have already been processed for payment."
He also stated that up to €55 million in REPS 4 payments are due to about 11,000 farmers under new payment arrangements for the scheme. "Already payments have been delayed, and as a result, cash-flow difficulties are emerging on many farms as a result of the payment delays. It is just not good enough," said John.
While criticising the Department of Agriculture for allowing a dispute in a local office to hold up payments, the Kilkenny IFA chairman concluded by saying that he wants the Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith to step in as soon as possible to solve the issue. We farmers seems to be always at the receiving end of bad news."
