Westmeath TD Nicky McFadden has welcomed the announcement from the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney, that the first payments to farmers in AEOS 1 have been issued.
“AEOS payments have now commenced and over €1.25 million has now been issued. Some 8,400 farmers who applied for AEOS by the closing date of May 17 last year have been approved into the scheme. Minister Coveney has said the first round of payments have issued and the remainder will be paid on an ongoing basis,” Deputy McFadden said.
“I know that farmers in Westmeath and Longford have had to endure delays but under EU rules administrative checks for all applicants had to be completed before the first payments could be issued and these administrative requirements are time-consuming for both the applicants and the staff in the Department of Agriculture. The main priority is to ensure payments are made as quickly as possible,” Deputy McFadden said.
The Minister explained that advance AEOS payments are being made to those farmers whose applications are fully processed and clear and that payments will continue to be made on an ongoing basis. “Payment of the initial 75 per cent will continue as outstanding queries are resolved, while the second stage payment of 25 per cent will also issue shortly,” said Minister Coveney.
