Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, on 6 October I announced important flexibility to the lime-spreading deadline under the national liming programme. While the deadline of 31 October remains in place for receipt of claims, and for payment for lime, applicants now have until 31 March 2024 to spread their approved quantity of lime. Approximately 38,500 farmers have been approved for the programme. The extension to the spreading deadline was granted in response to the very challenging weather conditions this year which have significantly impacted soil trafficability.

The programme is supported by the Exchequer as a once-off measure in 2023 in response to the war in Ukraine. There is no funding provision available for the programme next year. Claims for payment, including invoices and receipts with proof of payment, therefore must be submitted by 31 October. This is necessary to allow all administrative checks to be completed this year in order to facilitate payments in 2023 and ensure farmers get paid the funding to cover the money they paid out this year.

On the issue of cashflow on farms, I accept there have been changes to payment dates this year due to the significant changes arising from this being the first year of the CAP strategic plan. As the Deputy is aware, I wrote to farmers in March to outline the payment dates this year. We are delivering on those payment dates. Indeed, on Tuesday, 90% of applicants for a single farm payment or BISS payment had payments issued to their bank accounts. Those payments are landing in bank accounts as we speak and more will arrive in the coming days.

Last week I announced an advance payment under the areas of natural constraint, ANC, scheme. That involved payments totalling €179 million to more than 85,000 farmers. The eco scheme will be paid next Tuesday. We wanted to accommodate farmers as much as possible. We took significant steps in that regard. The team is closely monitoring the intake. I encourage farmers to purchase lime. It makes a lot of sense for them to do so, even without a grant. The grant is an added incentive for farmers to do something that will improve soil fertility but also particularly improve farm profitability and level.

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