Hold-up in payments is still an ongoing problem

FARMERS who haven’t yet received their advances on the ANC and BPS payments should immediately respond to any queries from the Dept. of Agriculture, Galway IFA have urged.

However, according to Galway IFA Chairperson, Anne Mitchell, the Dept. of Agriculture, should not withhold payments on the basis of any pending inspections.

“While the majority of farmers have received their payments, there are still people waiting for their money, and after an extremely difficult year they are really in a very difficult financial situation.

“The Government and the Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed, are refusing the current plight of farmers and under no circumstances should the money be held back because of any pending inspection,” said Anne Mitchell.

She added that the Dept. of Agriculture had application forms for the schemes since last May which gave them ample time to have any inspections carried out before the payments date.

“It is important though that if farmers have been contacted by the Dept. of Agriculture with a query that this is responded to promptly.

“If a farmer is any doubt about the query or the information required then they should get advice from their consultant or indeed from ourselves in the IFA,” said Anne Mitchell.

She said that some farmers in the West of Ireland still hadn’t received their ANC (Areas of Natural Constraint) payments, now over a month after the payments run had started.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.

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