Published: Thu, 27 November 2014
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Irish farmers will receive €27.2 million in reinstated Direct Payments from the European Commission in the coming months, according to Sean Kelly MEP.
“€27.2 million will be paid in additional Direct Payments to Irish farmers, or 868 million in total to European farmers, following the reassessment of the agricultural crisis reserve. Direct aids to farmers were reduced by 868 million in financial year 2014 for the purpose of the crisis reserve. However, this reserve was not required so the monies will be reinstated as Direct Payments.
“The support measures taken from August 2014 in the wake of the Russian embargo on EU agricultural products, will only lead to EU expenditure for the 2015 budget,” Mr Kelly said in welcoming the announcement.
“In a positive step, unused amounts of the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund in the 2014 budget were mobilised to prevent a cut to farmers’ payments.
“Thanks to this latest Commission decision, Irish farmers will benefit from €27.2 million in vital top-up payments which are required to supplement incomes on many family farms. The reimbursement should be made no later than 15 October 2015 and the relevant authorities will be in touch with farmers in relation to this,” Mr Kelly added.
