Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I am slow to give guarantees that I cannot stand over, but it is the ambition in the Department to pay every farmer who has entitlement and we have made adequate budgetary provision in that regard. Some of the remainder of my reply dealt with payments under REPS, which is a previous rural development plan, which shows that these schemes do not fit neatly into five-year boxes. Some spill over into the new Rural Development Programme 2015-2020. For example, later in December, it is anticipated that €142 million will be paid out in respect of 37,400 GLAS applicants.

One specific area we have flagged where we have provided substantial funding for approved applicants is under TAMS. The Department recognises, however, that 2016 was a difficult year in respect of on-farm investment and many farmers may have made a prudent decision, because of cash-flow difficulties, not to invest.

That is entirely understandable. However, we have attempted to communicate with all farmers in an effort to encourage drawdown of the funds that we have provided under the budget. I assure Members and farmers that substantial funds are provided for under the rural development programme. There is €601 million for 2017, the highest provision ever. It is our ambition to pay every farmer who has an entitlement, subject to the statutory audits and checks that are part of every scheme.

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