Dairy Compensation Fund Payments Commence

The local T.D. said he was delighted that payments, worth 11.5 million euro in total, were issuing so speedily, particularly given the difficulties experienced by dairy farmers over the past year.

This fund is part of a package of measures agreed at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers to support dairy farmers across the EU who were severely affected by the fall in milk prices. Each Member State's share of the EU funds was established using their milk production in the 2008/2009 year, and on this basis, Ireland received 11.5 million euro. The rate payable is 590 euro to each dairy farmer, who produced milk during the 2008/2009 milk quota year.

According to Minister of State Killeen: "Having consulted with the various stakeholders in the dairy sector, it has been decided to allocate the money on a flat rate basis. This decision has enabled the Department to make the payments at the earliest possible time without the need for farmers to submit applications for payment".

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- High-resolution images of Tony Killeen, Fianna Fail TD for Clare, and Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, with special responsibility for Forestry, Fisheries and the Marine, may be downloaded from www.dunphyprimages.com
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy PR at media@dunphypr.com or 086-8534900