Clare farmers will receive money under the EU emergency dairy compensation fund on a flat rate basis, Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen confirmed today.
According to the local Fianna Fail Deputy and Minister of State: “The fund is part of a package of measures agreed at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers. The Commission made EUR300 million available to support dairy farmers across the EU who were severely affected by the fall in milk prices. Each Member State’s share was calculated based on their milk production in the 2008/2009 year, and on this basis Ireland received EUR11.5 million. Member States must make the payments by the end of June 2010, and are required to notify the Commission of the method of allocation by the end of March.”
He continued: “The Department has decided to allocate the money on a flat rate basis after consulting with the various stakeholders in the dairy sector. I believe this is the optimum method of allocation to those dairy farmers most affected by the crisis. The Department has already notified the Commission of this decision, and in order to keep red tape to a minimum, Minister Brendan Smith has decided that dairy farmers will not have to submit an application for payment. The Department will pay eligible farmers in the most efficient way possible, using the Single Payment System. Arrangements are currently being finalised and I expect payments to issue within the next few weeks.”
“This payment will be a welcome boost to dairy farmers, who have experienced serious difficulties over the past year. The Department will continue to maintain close contact with the EU Commission and the Council of Ministers to ensure that market measures are activated at appropriate levels to support the market”, concluded Minister of State Killeen.
The exact amount payable to each farmer will not be known until the data has been processed to identify eligible cases, but it is estimated to be around EUR580 per farmer.
According to the local Fianna Fail Deputy and Minister of State: “The fund is part of a package of measures agreed at the Council of Agriculture and Fisheries Ministers. The Commission made EUR300 million available to support dairy farmers across the EU who were severely affected by the fall in milk prices. Each Member State’s share was calculated based on their milk production in the 2008/2009 year, and on this basis Ireland received EUR11.5 million. Member States must make the payments by the end of June 2010, and are required to notify the Commission of the method of allocation by the end of March.”
He continued: “The Department has decided to allocate the money on a flat rate basis after consulting with the various stakeholders in the dairy sector. I believe this is the optimum method of allocation to those dairy farmers most affected by the crisis. The Department has already notified the Commission of this decision, and in order to keep red tape to a minimum, Minister Brendan Smith has decided that dairy farmers will not have to submit an application for payment. The Department will pay eligible farmers in the most efficient way possible, using the Single Payment System. Arrangements are currently being finalised and I expect payments to issue within the next few weeks.”
“This payment will be a welcome boost to dairy farmers, who have experienced serious difficulties over the past year. The Department will continue to maintain close contact with the EU Commission and the Council of Ministers to ensure that market measures are activated at appropriate levels to support the market”, concluded Minister of State Killeen.
The exact amount payable to each farmer will not be known until the data has been processed to identify eligible cases, but it is estimated to be around EUR580 per farmer.
