Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)

I thank the Deputies for their best wishes on my ministerial appointment. Our islands are a rich repository of our culture, archaeology and social heritage. Long may that continue. For the past 30 years, I have gone to the islands such as Inisheer and Inishbofin off Connemara for my holidays. I have yet to have the privilege to visit Clare Island and the other Mayo islands but I am sure I will get the opportunity and look forward to it.

There are two islands off the Mayo coast on which farmers are participating in REPS 4. There were five applicants on Clare Island, and eight on Inishturk. Of these 13 applicants, nine have been paid to date; one of the others has regrettably died. Another submitted his application in 2009 after the annual closing date of 15 May, which is fixed by EU regulations. Accordingly, his REPS contract could not start until January this year and he will receive his first payment later in the year.

There are outstanding issues with the other two applications and my officials have been dealing with these. In one case an adjusted plan has been received in the Department. This is being examined and I would hope that payment can issue shortly. In the remaining case, the Department is awaiting a response to a query from the farmer.

There are also 20 participants in REPS 3 and all are paid up to date. I appreciate the particular difficulties experienced by island farmers and I am committed to ensuring the outstanding REPS 4 issues are resolved as quickly as possible. In recognition of the difficulties which island farmers face because of their location, island participants under REPS 4 receive an additional 15% on payment rates towards the costs of carrying out their agri-environment undertakings.

I am aware of the income and cash-flow difficulties which many farm families are experiencing. Every effort has been, and continues to be made, to ensure all payments issuing from the Department are up to date and that farmers do not experience any undue delay in receiving payments. With the exception of specific cases where particular difficulties have arisen, I can confirm that payments under the various schemes administered by my Department, and particularly the main schemes such as the single payment scheme and the disadvantaged areas scheme, are up to date.

Payments for 2009 REPS 4 commenced on 18 December 2009 and continue to issue on a weekly basis. As of 30 March, 20,445 farmers had been paid in full out of 28,842 who are due payments, that is over 70% of participants.

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