Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 142: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when payments under the REP scheme, including 2010 balance payments, will be awarded to farmers; the reason for the delay with same; if interest will be awarded due to this delay; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24316/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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REPS 4 is a measure under the Rural Development Programme, 2007-13, and is subject to EU Regulations which require detailed administrative checks on all applications to be completed before payments can issue.

These administrative checks have been completed and of the 30,300 farmers due a payment in respect of 2010, approximately 750 applicants are currently awaiting their initial 75% payment for the year. This is due to queries which have arisen during these administrative checks. Outstanding queries are being rectified on an ongoing basis, including through correspondence with applicants, and payments issue as soon as the queries are resolved. My Department is also currently making arrangements to process the outstanding 25% payment to farmers in instances where penalties have been imposed. I now expect that these outstanding payments will commence in October to approximately 2,000 farmers with penalties.

Arrangements are also well advanced to issue payments in respect of 2011 and I expect that these payments will commence in November.