100,000 farming families to benefit from on time payments of Disadvantaged Area Scheme

Fine Gael Sligo/Leitrim Senator and Seanad Spokesperson on Agriculture, Michael Comiskey, has today (Wednesday) welcomed the on target commencement of payments under the 2013 Disadvantaged Area Scheme to 60,000 applicants valued at €125 million. Senator Comiskey was speaking from the Ploughing Championships in Laois. I am aware of the volume and complexity of the applications.

“I am delighted that payment runs for the Disadvantaged Area Scheme will commence today, and continue twice weekly, with payments being made as they become eligible. It is expected that a cumulative value of €190 million will be paid out by the end of the year.

“While there is no prescribed payment date by which payments should commence, this week in September has long become acknowledged as the earliest possible payment date.

“I am grateful to the Minister for Agriculture, Simon Coveney, and his Department for their work in ensuring that the payments continue to issue in a timely manner to thousands of applicants.

“The economic importance of the Scheme cannot be understated. It supports in excess of 100,000 farming families, whose ability to farm is restricted by the physical attributes of their environment.

“This support contributes hugely to the maintenance of a viable rural community as the majority of payments will be spent locally. The Scheme has been very successful in avoiding land abandonment.”