NEWS

Most Single Farm Payments due by Christmas
By Staff Reporter

MINISTER Michelle Gildernew has announced the targets for 2009 Single Farm Payments.
Outlining the timetable, the Minister said: "We will begin to make Single Farm Payments during December and most farmers will receive payments before Christmas. 
"I recognise the current financial difficulties that many people are experiencing in the current economic climate and these payments will be a significant boost to our local farmers at this time. Additionally, the improving exchange rate means that farmers will get a substantial benefit from the stronger Euro.
"We are aiming to make 83% of payments by the end of December and 90% by the end of January.”
The Minister also explained that EU rules permit DARD to make payments only when eligibility has been fully established and that this means that not all claims can be paid immediately. The Minister said: "My Department is required to carry out administrative and on-farm checks to verify claims before a payment can be processed. Many of the remaining cases require complex assessments which take longer to complete. 
“For example, this year’s inspection process identified a need for many map changes because of boundary changes and other changes that reduce the area eligible for payment, such as, encroachment of scrub and buildings into eligible land. 
"In many cases, the changes need to be applied to previous year’s claims before the 2009 payment position can be calculated. This means that payments in inspection cases take longer to process and, in some cases, may result in penalties being imposed. I can assure farmers, however, that all possible steps are being taken to ensure that all cases are paid the correct amounts at the earliest possible date."


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