€29.8 million has been paid to farmers in Clare under the 2016 Basic Payment Scheme.
A total of 6,285 applications were received for farmers in the County under the Basic Payment Scheme with 5,607 farmers paid to date. Nationally payments worth over €714 million are currently being issued to more than 109,000 farmers.
Minister of State for Employment and Small Business, Pat Breen believes the payments will make life easier for farmers. “In times of price volatility for farmers, it is crucial that these payments are issued in the most efficient way possible to farmers here in Clare who so depend on them.
“Minister Creed has prioritised the delivery of these payments at the earliest possible date allowable under EU legislation and it is good to note also that with the move to full online application by 2018, the Department of Agriculture will be able to introduce further efficiencies into the processing of payments”.
Payments to farmers under the Areas of Natural Constraints (ANC) Scheme also continue to issue as cases are confirmed for payment. Under the ANC Scheme, €177 million has been given to some 82,000 farmers since payments commenced in mid September. The advance BPS payment and the ANC payments taken together mean that Irish farmers have received over €890 million in the last month.