Seán Ó Fearghaíl (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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Question 37: To ask the Minister for Agriculture; Fisheries and Food if farmers in disadvantaged areas will receive the full payment for this year in September under the disadvantaged area scheme. [17626/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The Disadvantaged Areas Scheme involves the processing of over 100,000 applications from farmers annually and under the Scheme in excess of €220 million is paid. The Scheme is part funded by the EU and forms one of the measures included in Ireland's Rural Development Programme (2007 to 2103).

I can confirm that the necessary progress in processing applications is being made which will ensure delivery of payments under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme to the farmers concerned, as and from the latter half of September 2011. Furthermore, I have decided that the full amount due will issue at that stage, unlike last year, when an advance payment was made, at a rate of 75%.

The decision to opt for the advance payment in 2010 was taken when it became apparent that processing of the unprecedented number of maps, which farmers had submitted in 2010 in order to have various ineligible areas digitised, would not be completed by mid-September. This decision ensured that the maximum value of payments issued to the greatest number of applicants at the earliest possible date. That decision was appropriate and correct at that time, given the volume of maps that needed to be digitised. I am confident that this situation will not reoccur as the volume of maps requiring digitisation this year is closer to the annual norm, which means that full 100% payments should commence in September.

While there is no regulatory timeframe laid down as regards the timing of payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, my Department has committed to making payments as early as possible. It is recognised that second half of September is earliest date payments can realistically commence following the processing of applications and the initiation of all eligibility inspections, which is a requirement of the EU Regulations. It is simply not possible to commence payments earlier that this.

This target has been met each year over the lifetime of the current Rural Development Programme and, indeed, during the lifetime of the previous Programme. In conclusion, I am satisfied that the necessary inspections will be completed in sufficient time to allow Disadvantaged Area payments to commence, as usual, in the latter half of September.