Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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161. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the number of farmers in County Kerry waiting for BPS and ANC payments for 2018 to issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52492/18]

Michael Creed (Cork North West, Fine Gael)
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Payments under the 2018 Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) scheme commenced on the 17 September.  A total of 7,630 applications were received from farmers in County Kerry who hold eligible designated ANC lands. To date a total of 6,888 of these applications have been paid and payments are continuing to issue on a weekly basis.  It is not possible at this point to accurately ascertain the number of the remaining applicants who will be paid under the scheme.  In particular, this is due to the fact that individual farmers who have yet to meet their stocking density requirements may or may not do so by the end of the year depending on their farming practice/decisions.

In relation to the 2018 BPS, payments commenced on schedule on the 16 of October and balancing payments also commenced at the start of December.  There are currently 7,561 applications in county Kerry, of which 7,435 are paid.

Twice weekly pay runs will take place to ensure any of these cases that become clear for payment are paid as quickly as possible.  In cases where material required in response to queries from my Department is outstanding, I would urge farmers to respond to any outstanding queries at their earliest convenience.