Co Clare Farmers Win EC Boost

It has just been confirmed that advance payments of 70% in the Single Payment Scheme - worth almost €31.5m - have commenced to Co Clare farmers.

Tony Killeen, the Fianna Fail TD and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, revealed this week that some 5,562 Clare farmers will start receiving their payments from next Monday (October 19th).

Meanwhile, Minister of State Killeen confirmed that the 30% 'balancing payments' would begin issuing with effect from 1 December.

"Following on from the payment to date of €200m under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, this is further welcome news for Co Clare farmers and for the local economy as a whole," stated Minister of State Killeen.

The North Clare T.D. said that the earlier payment of and a higher level of payment in the advance payment follows the Irish Government's involvement in extensive negotiations at EU level.

"The outcome of negotiations in Brussels is very satisfactory, with advance payments being made a full six weeks earlier than provided for under the rules of the Scheme and the level of advance payment set at an unprecedented 70%.

"This advance payment represents a positive response by the EU Commission and will be of great benefit to recipients in the context of monetary difficulties that are particularly real for many Clare farmers in 2009," he explained.

The Minister also referred to a further positive change in relation to modulation deductions in respect of 2009 payments.

"In previous years, a linear modulation deduction was taken from every SPS payment made.

"Deductions pertaining to the first €5,000 of payment were then refunded later in the scheme year.

"From 2009 onwards, the modulation deduction will only apply to cases with a net payment amount of over €5,000.

"The change will mean that Irish farmers will no longer have to wait for up to six months for a modulation refund, which amounts to almost €35m in 2000."

(BMcC/GK)