Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Mr. Tony Killeen, T.D., has reminded Clare farmers that the closing date for receipt of completed applications for Single Payment Scheme applications is 15th May 2009.Minister of State Killeen described the Single Payment Scheme form as the most important form that a farmer completes in the entire year. “Depending on the farm enterprise, this one form covers a farmer’s application not only for the Single Payment Scheme but also for the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme, the Upland Sheep Payment, the Energy Crops Scheme and the Protein Premium Scheme. It is also an essential form for the purposes of other Department schemes such as REPS and Forestry”, he said. Minister Killeen confirmed that the large number of online applications received to date suggested a further increase in the take-up of this facility in 2009.
Applications received after 15 May will be penalised with a loss of a cumulative 1% of payment per day in the period up to 9 June and a complete (100%) loss of payment after that date.
