Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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I acknowledge that farmers are experiencing cashflow difficulties. We are pursuing, with the Commission, the possibility of facilitating the earliest possible payment of the basic payments scheme. The earliest possible date allowed is 16 October. We have raised the matter with the Commission but have not received an answer.

There is no prospect of the €25 million being paid in 2017. It will be paid in 2018, as per the programme for Government. As Deputy McConalogue will be aware, regardless of how the €25 million is apportioned between less and more severely handicapped areas, it will not make up for the cuts previously introduced. It is a step in the right direction, but it will not take us back to where we were.

Regarding the point that more severely handicapped areas should have the first call, a review of disadvantaged areas is under way on foot of a European Commission decision. It covers criteria in terms of the biophysical composition of lands, the slope, the drainage and so on. The question of how the €25 million is apportioned could fall into the outcome of that reclassification process.