Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 384: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in County Kerry that have received their 2011 disadvantaged area aid payments; the total amount paid; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39697/11]

Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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Question 385: To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in County Kerry that have not yet received their 2011 disadvantaged area aid payments; the total amount owed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39698/11]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 384 and 385 together.

The following tabular statement shows the position regarding applications and payments to County Kerry 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 €212 million have issued to date, representing over 93% of applicants, I remain confident that the full budget for the Scheme will have been exhausted by year-end.

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.