Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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294. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers awaiting first instalments under the basic payment scheme and the areas of natural constraint scheme; the corresponding value of payments outstanding; if he will ensure that a partial payment is made to all farmers while outstanding issues are being resolved; and the corresponding number awaiting the final instalment. [42890/15]

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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In relation to the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) and Greening Payment, I am pleased to confirm that advance payments began issuing in Ireland on 16 October, 2015.   This is the earliest that payments can commence under the governing EU Regulations.  In addition, I can confirm that the level of the advance payment was set at 70% for 2015 rather than the normal 50%.  The increase in the advance payment for 2015 is, in particular, due to the difficulties encountered in the dairying and pigmeat sectors.

Ireland is among the earliest to pay the BPS in the European Union and to date, of the approximately 121, 500 eligible applicants, 11 5,930 farmers have received payments totalling €1.006 billion.

In relation to the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme, I can confirm that payments commenced, on schedule, on 23 September 2015. To date, of approximately 102,350 applicants with eligible designated lands, a total of 83,864 farmers have received payments totalling €178.6 million.  There are no advance payments or instalments under this scheme. It should be noted that many farmers cannot be paid until early 2016 when they comply with the stocking requirements of the scheme.

As outstanding cases under the BPS, Greening and ANC are processed and are cleared of any outstanding error, they will be sent for payment.  My Department is prioritising the processing of all such outstanding cases with regular payment runs continuing over the coming weeks.