Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number and value of 2011 disadvantaged area payments which have been made to applicants in County Roscommon; the number and value yet to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29339/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The tabular statement shows the position regarding applications and payments to County Roscommon herd-owners under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

There are no delays in payments to farmers under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, in relation to which there is no regulatory payment date – however, it is generally recognised and indeed acknowledged in the Farmers' Charter, that a payment target of late September of the year in question is the most realistic.

Payments commenced, on target, on 22 September, with payments issuing to those farmers whose applications had been confirmed eligible for payment at that time. I can confirm that my Department has, in the interim, continued to pay individuals, as their cases became clear, with payment runs taking place twice a week. This is normal practise and will continue on an ongoing basis, as necessary. In this regard, while I am pleased to note that payments worth in excess of €173 million have issued to date, representing almost 80% of applicants, I remain confident that the full budget for the Scheme will have been exhausted by year-end.

As ever, the working relationship between my Department and the farming community greatly assists in the processing of these Schemes. Where in-house checks reveal anomalies in applicants' applications, the necessary correspondence issues immediately. By replying to all such correspondence as quickly as possible farmers ensure the rapid resolution of issues, thereby allowing their payments to be made.

In the specific case of DAS, however, issues arise each year in relation to the required minimum stocking density of applicants' holdings, usually affecting in the region of 10,000 farmers. These are cases where my Department cannot confirm adherence to this requirement through the established computer-based animal systems and, therefore, the individuals concerned are required to submit the necessary hard-copy evidence. Farmers can only do this, obviously, when they are satisfied that they have met this requirement for the requisite three consecutive month period. Therefore, there are unpaid DAS applicants who have not yet satisfied this requirement.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 224: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the number and value of 2011 disadvantaged area payments which have been made to applicants in County Leitrim; the number and value yet to be paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29340/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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The tabular statement shows the position regarding applications and payments to County Leitrim herd-owners under the 2011 Disadvantaged Areas Scheme.

There are no delays in payments to farmers under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, in relation to which there is no regulatory payment date – however, it is generally recognised and indeed acknowledged in the Farmers' Charter, that a payment target of late September of the year in question is the most realistic.

Payments commenced, on target, on 22 September, with payments issuing to those farmers whose applications had been confirmed eligible for payment at that time. I can confirm that my Department has, in the interim, continued to pay individuals, as their cases became clear, with payment runs taking place twice a week. This is normal practise and will continue on an ongoing basis, as necessary. In this regard, while I am pleased to note that payments worth in excess of €173 million have issued to date, representing almost 80% of applicants, I remain confident that the full budget for the Scheme will have been exhausted by year-end.

As ever, the working relationship between my Department and the farming community greatly assists in the processing of these Schemes. Where in-house checks reveal anomalies in applicants' applications, the necessary correspondence issues immediately. By replying to all such correspondence as quickly as possible farmers ensure the rapid resolution of issues, thereby allowing their payments to be made.

In the specific case of DAS, however, issues arise each year in relation to the required minimum stocking density of applicants' holdings, usually affecting in the region of 10,000 farmers. These are cases where my Department cannot confirm adherence to this requirement through the established computer-based animal systems and, therefore, the individuals concerned are required to submit the necessary hard-copy evidence. Farmers can only do this, obviously, when they are satisfied that they have met this requirement for the requisite three consecutive month period. Therefore, there are unpaid DAS applicants who have not yet satisfied this requirement.