Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Almost 1,000 farmers have not been paid their basic payment scheme payment because the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine states it is awaiting a software update to allow it to finalise their applications. This is unacceptable. It is not an acceptable reason not to pay the farmers a payment that has been due to them since 16 October. Farmers are depending on it to pay for rations, to pay contractors and to live. The Taoiseach should investigate this and get the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to make sure that his Department pays the more than 1,000 farmers who are awaiting their basic payment scheme money.

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