Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1232. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide support to a person (details supplied) in County Galway to assist them make an online 2017 basic payment scheme application; if departmental officials that are proficient in Irish will be visiting locations in this area, which is in the Gaeltacht, shortly to assist with the online application; when these visits are likely to occur in view of the fact the closing date for BPS applications is 15 May 2017; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20524/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently has a range of supports in place to assist applicants for the Basic Payment Scheme to apply online.  This is in light of the fact that, under EU Regulations, all applications are required to be online from 2018.  Officials from my Department have been holding clinics in a number of locations around the country to provide one-to- one assistance to farmers in making their applications online and to answer any queries regarding the application process individuals may have.

Officials in my Department were in Tuam, Co. Galway on the 24^thof April, along with Ennis, Co. Clare on the 25^thof April and Ballina, Co. Mayo on the 26^thof April.  Support is also available to applicants on completing an application online form by contacting the Department’s Direct Payments Helpdesk on lo-call 0761-064420.  The Department also has produced a number of "how to" videos which are available on the Department’s YouTube channel online or on www.agfood.ie.

Staff in my Department’s offices in the Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois are also available Monday to Friday, from 9.30 to 5.30, to provide assistance to applicants who call into the office.  Staff will also be available to meet with farmers at our offices in Farnham Street, Cavan and Derryhallagh, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim on a number of dates in advance of the BPS closing date of the 15^thof May.

While officials proficient in Irish were not in attendance at the clinics held, there are officials in my Department who can address any queries through Irish.  With this in mind, an official from my Department will contact the person named directly with a view to ascertaining what support may be required.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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1233. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine his plans to provide support to a person (details supplied) in County Galway to assist them make an online 2017 basic payment scheme application; if departmental officials that are proficient in Irish will be visiting locations in this area, which is in the Gaeltacht, shortly to assist with the online application; when these visits are likely to occur in view of the fact the closing date for BPS applications is 15 May 2017. [20525/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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My Department currently has a range of supports in place to assist applicants for the Basic Payment Scheme to apply online.  This is in light of the fact that, under EU Regulations, all applications are required to be online from 2018.  Officials from my Department have been holding clinics in a number of locations around the country to provide one-to- one assistance to farmers in making their applications online and to answer any queries regarding the application process individuals may have.

Officials in my Department were in Tuam, Co. Galway on the 24^thof April, along with Ennis, Co. Clare on the 25^thof April and Ballina, Co. Mayo on the 26^thof April.  Support is also available to applicants on completing an application online form by contacting the Department’s Direct Payments Helpdesk on lo-call 0761-064420.  The Department also has produced a number of "how to" videos which are available on the Department’s YouTube channel online or on www.agfood.ie.

Staff in my Department’s offices in the Old Abbeyleix Road, Portlaoise, Co. Laois are also available Monday to Friday, from 9.30 to 5.30, to provide assistance to applicants who call into the office.  Staff will also be available to meet with farmers at our offices in Farnham Street, Cavan and Derryhallagh, Drumshanbo, Co. Leitrim on a number of dates in advance of the BPS closing date of the 15^thof May.

While officials proficient in Irish were not in attendance at the clinics held, there are officials in my Department who can address any queries through Irish.  With this in mind, an official from my Department will contact the person named directly with a view to ascertaining what support may be required.