Brian Ó Domhnaill (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I agree with Senator Michael Comiskey. The full disadvantaged area payment was made to a percentage of farmers about ten days or two weeks ago. I have been following this up with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and understand a second run of disadvantaged area payments will be issued by the Department this Friday. Therefore, farmers can expect their payments in the early part of next week. However, I urge the Minister to fast-track payments to farmers in the light of the difficulties they are experiencing and to ensure adequate provision will be made in the budget. There is talk of a €54 million cut to the agriculture budget next week as part of the overall budgetary process. That would be devastating for farmers. If that cut is to be made, the Minister must consider making it in the area of administration or other elements of the budget. It should not affect farmers' incomes. There is a genuine need for a ewe premium scheme to be boosted and for a cow suckler welfare scheme.

I agree with Senator Marc MacSharry on the diabolical circumstances that are, unfortunately, affecting medical card holders and those applying for medical cards. Some 1,100 people per month are losing theirs. This is affecting those who really need them. I am not sure whether this is a move by the Minister for Health to reduce expenditure ahead of the budget or whether it is a move by the HSE, but it is having a drastic effect on those on low incomes. It needs to be addressed urgently. We should debate the issue of medical cards, their processing and the difficulties being experienced by people between the ages of 18 and 25 years as a result of their social income being too low to qualify for a medical card. The latter problem is an anomaly in the system.