29/05/2012
Ulster Unionist MEP, Jim Nicholson, has urged DARD to process the remaining Single Farm Payment applications as a matter of urgency to help relieve “intense financial pressure” on the farms concerned and called for improvements to be put in place to ensure that the backlog in the system is a “thing of the past”.
In a statement Jim said: “I have been contacted by several farmers from right across Northern Ireland who are still waiting to receive their 2011 Single Farm Payment (SFP) payments. The delay in these payments not only puts the farm enterprises concerned under intense financial pressure but there are also wider implications for many other businesses, because of this I have repeatedly raised this matter with DARD officials and the Agriculture Minister.
In the Minister’s recent response it was revealed that the remaining inspection cases would be completed by the end of July, this is clearly unacceptable as it falls outside the EU’s payment window which runs from 1 December to 30 June. Although the Minister also outlined that she has met with the main banks to ask for them to take the delay in payment into account - and while I would hope that banks will be flexible with those farmers still awaiting their SFP payments - the banks are out of the Minister’s control. What is however within the Minister’s control is ensuring that farm mapping, inspections and the general processing of applications are all improved and made fit for purpose.
It is vitally important that the remaining claims are processed and paid as quickly as possible to relieve the pressure on farm businesses. Secondly, the improvements to the system must be real and meaningful to ensure that applications are processed efficiently and effectively so that such a backlog in the system is a thing of the past.”