Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 86: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, further to Parliamentary Question No. 14 of 11 March 2010, the progress that has been made in dealing with the problems that have caused delays in processing REP scheme payments; when all outstanding payments will be made; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16716/10]

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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Out of 29,376 farmers due payments in REPS 4, 100% payments have issued to over 21,000 as of 23 April 2010, with a further 1,342 payments issuing this week. The processing of REPS 4 payments is governed by EU Regulations which require exhaustive administrative checks and on-the-spot inspections. In most parts of the country, the processing of payments is well advanced and the majority of participants have received their full payments for 2009. In a significant number of cases, however, the administrative checks raised issues and queries which required further detailed examination.

My Department's staff have been working to resolve these as quickly as possible. Many of these cases require the applicants' planners to amend the farm plans that were submitted originally. The applicants concerned have been made aware of the position and the applications will be further processed without delay on receipt of amended plans. My Department is working to resolve all outstanding issues and queries and my objective is to ensure that all outstanding payments issue as quickly as possible.