Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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80. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine if he will provide an update on delays to the basic income support scheme, and areas of natural constraints scheme; the action his Department is taking to ensure payments are made on time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25110/23]

Charlie McConalogue (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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The new CAP 2023-2027 has commenced this year and payments will issue in the fourth quarter of the year across a very broad range of schemes. With this being the first year of the new CAP Strategic Plan, a whole range of new schemes is being introduced along with substantial changes to existing schemes, over a relatively short time period.

We are fully committed to making payments to farmers under the various schemes at the earliest date possible and to the maximum number of farmers possible. I know first hand the critical importance of these payments to all farmers. This commitment to farmers is evidenced in the very high payment rates achieved across all schemes over the last number of years in both EU and Exchequer funded schemes.

Almost €1.8bn will be paid to farmers across the country for 2023 schemes. At EU level, Ireland ranks amongst the most efficient Member States in getting payments to farmers expediently and in line with the legal requirements of relevant attendant EU Regulation, and will continue to do so.

Again, I am committed to ensuring the quickest possible issuing of payments to all our farmers.