Michael McNamara (Clare, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The other part of payments for farmers in the common areas scheme is voluntary measures. Obviously, they have to be approved in advance. They are going to be approved in April. Farmers want to know whether they will be reimbursed in this calendar year if they carry out those measures, which are going to involve up-front expenditure to pay for troughs, fencing and so on. I suppose they are slightly suspicious. If they are approved for the measures and carry them out this year, when will they be paid? Can the Minister give an undertaking that it will happen in this calendar year, if the expenditure is in this calendar year?

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