Michael Collins (Cork South West, Independent)
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934. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the options that will be available to farmers that do not have Internet access for 2018 when applying for area aid in view of the fact the application is due to move to an online procedure from now on. [46431/17]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Under EU Regulations, there are specific requirements with regard to aid applications for area related schemes.  One such requirement is that all applications are required to be submitted online from 2018 onwards. Farmers can apply online themselves at www.agfood.ie, or authorise an approved agricultural agent to do so on their behalf.

In recent years there has been steady growth in the number of farmers who apply online for the Basic Payment Scheme, and in 2017 some 114,000 farmers did so.  In order to support this move to online application, my Department has put a range of supports in place to assist applicants.  For example, in 2016 and 2017 officials from my Department held 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.

It is intended that a similar range of supports will be put in place to support the move to 100% online applications in 2018.  While these supports have not been finalised at this stage, it is expected that they will include the provision of online and written guidance materials, the provision of telephone helplines and a further series of support clinics for farmers around the country.  In advance of the 2018 application period, farmers will be notified of the range of different  supports that my Department will be making available.

The supports offered in previous years have been well received by farmers, and I am committed to supporting farmers in applying online in 2018 to ensure that they can avail of the benefits that online application offers.