Mayo Deputy Michael Ring, Fine Gael Spokesperson on Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, has questioned the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in the Dáil this week in relation to second-year payments in REPS 4.
Minister Brendan Smith confirmed that Mayo has the second highest number of participants waiting for the second-year payment in REPS 4.
There are currently a total of 12,145 people waiting for a second-year REPS 4 payment, of whom 1,296 people are in Mayo. The county with the highest number of people waiting on this payment is Galway at 1,305.
“This is truly appalling when you consider the amount of people that are waiting for their payment and how vital this payment is for them to continue farming.”
Deputy Ring also questioned Minister Smith to find out when the administrative checks will be completed and the Minister stated that he envisaged that the 75 per cent payments will start to be made in late November or early December.
“I am calling on the Minister to expedite the administrative checks so that second year REPS 4 payment can issue to the farmers who urgently require it,” concluded Dep Ring.
