Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

236. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will open temporary offices in all towns in County Kerry in order to allow farmers to submit their single farm payment applications in view of the fact that it will speed up the process, as farmers are under pressure as a result of the fodder crisis, many of whom currently travel very long distances to be able to hand in their forms to his Department in Tralee; if he will take into consideration that the online service is not a viable option for a large number of farmers who need a Department office within a realistic commutable distance for applications as complex and as important as the single farm payment and many are not computer literate and others due to poor health and medical conditions cannot travel to Tralee; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23281/13]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

In order to improve its service to farmers, the Department has decided that it will acknowledge - either by text message or by post - all SPS application forms received in 2013. This is intended to assist those farmers, who had forgotten to submit their application as happens in many instances every year. In some instances, farmers are unaware that they had forgotten to submit their application until they are informed that no application has been received when they make enquires about the non-issue of their payments during the autumn.

In order to be in position to carry out this process, it was necessary to provide that 2013 SPS forms together with entitlement related applications should be submitted directly to the Department's Single Payment Unit, Portlaoise.

Forms may be submitted on-line and an increasing number of farmers are availing of this option by submitting their application themselves or by using an agent approved by the Department. Such agents are either staff of Teagasc or agricultural consultants. In 2012 over 65,000 on-line applications were received and it is likely that over 70,000 will be received this year. I strongly urge farmers to use this option themselves or with the assistance of an approved agent. Such applications are easily traced, are acknowledged electronically and are more readily processed for payment

In addition applications may be hand delivered or returned by post to the Single Payment Unit in Portlaoise in the pre-addressed envelope sent out to every 2012 applicant under the 2013 Single Payment Scheme. An Express Post receipt is attached to each return envelope sent out and provides an acceptable proof of postage for retention by the applicant. A registered post receipt is also an acceptable proof of postage if such is required by my Department. The option of posting the application form in the return envelope provided is available at all Post Officers throughout the country. The Single Payment Unit in Portlaoise will remain opened until midnight tonight to accept applications.

I am very aware that some farmers seek information from my Department when completing their SPS application forms. Anyone with a query of this nature should contact the designated lo-call number for their county as printed in the Terms & Conditions of the SPS circulated to all 2012 applicants at the beginning of April. Farmers are well aware of these numbers and thousands of queries are received every year on the Department's lo-call numbers during the period from the issue of the blank application forms until the closing date for the receipt of applications on 15^th May .

The change in the procedure for the submission of paper applications will mean that many application forms will be received on an earlier date in the Single Payment Unit than in previous years. This in turn will greatly assist the early scanning of forms and the issuing of acknowledgements to farmers and indeed the processing to completion of such applications.