Munster Express Online

The Minister for Agriculture Brendan Smith (pictured) has confirmed that advance payments of 70 per cent in the Single Payment Scheme worth over €800 million have commenced to almost 114,000 farmers.

Following on from the payment to date of €200 million to some 92,000 farmers under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the Minister said that this is further welcome news for farmers and for the rural economy as a whole.

Minister Smith said that, during the negotiations in Brussels, he had been “acutely conscious of the difficulties being experienced by farmers and argued for the earlier payment of and a higher level of payment in the advance payment”.

The Minister described the outcome as “very satisfactory, with advance payments being made a full six weeks earlier than provided for under the rules of the Scheme and the level of advance payment set at an unprecedented 70 per cent”.

Minister Smith expressed his appreciation to the EU Commission for acknowledging the reality the financial positions of farmers across the European Union at this time.