Commencement Of Advance Payments To Clare Farmers

The local T.D. said that Clare farmers would receive payments totalling EUR22,547,715.

"I am delighted to see that these payments, worth in excess of EUR532 million nationally, have begun issuing this week to 90% of SPS applicants, some six weeks earlier than the normal commencement date for SPS payments," the Minister said.

‘These payments will provide a very welcome boost for County Clare’s farm families, particularly at this time of the year’, stated Minister Killeen.

The Junior Agriculture Minister paid tribute to his colleague Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith TD who has repeatedly pressed the case for an advance payment of the 2008 Single Payment.

According to Minister Killeen, ‘Minister Smith recently met the EU Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel at a Council of EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in France. This approach to the Agriculture Commissioner to advance 50 per cent of the payment was prompted by the very wet summer, which seriously affected farming in Ireland.’

Minister of State Killeen pointed out that the SPS payments followed the payments under the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, which began issuing three weeks ago.

"To date, over EUR227 million has been paid out under DAS. Payments continue to issue as cases are cleared, and I would urge farmers to respond to outstanding correspondence", concluded the Minister.

In order to facilitate those farmers with specific queries relating to their SPS payments, a number of dedicated Lo-call numbers have been allocated

The SPS Lo-call numbers are as follows:
1890 252 235: Cavan, Clare, Limerick and Roscommon;
1890 252 236: Cork, Westmeath;
1890 252 242: Kildare, Laois, Leitrim, Longford, Waterford and Wicklow;
1890 252 243: Carlow, Kilkenny, Louth, Monaghan, and Sligo;
1890 252 244: Donegal, Dublin, Offaly and Wexford;
1890 200 502: Galway, Kerry, Mayo and Meath;
1890 252 598: Tipperary.

-ENDS-

Notes to Editor:
- For further information please contact Mark Dunphy of Dunphy Public Relations on 00353868534900 or media@dunphypr.com
- High-resolution images of Minister Killeen are available

Mark Dunphy
Dunphy Public Relations
www.dunphypr.com
media@dunphypr.com
00353-868534900