Leitrim councillor says that farmers are concerned about BISS delay

North Leitrim Sinn Fein Cllr Padraig Fallon told the Leitrim Observer this week how significant concerns have been raised by farmers to the announced delay to Basic Income for Sustainability Scheme (BISS) and Areas of Natural Constraint (ANC) payments this year and that he has raised the issue with Teachta Claire Kerrane the party’s Agri spokesperson.

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue TD, has been made aware of these concerns since April, stated Cllr Fallon, but to date no measures have been taken by the Department to ensure payments are made on time. 

Teachta Kerrane has made clear to the Minister that the announced change in payment date for the BISS and ANC schemes are completely unacceptable and has been raising the issue for months, said Cllr Fallon.

Cllr Fallon said: “I am being contacted by Farmers who are only now being made aware of delays to the payments as we are approaching September. Farmers will be expecting their payments to be made this month as usual and instead are now finding they are facing delays of up to a month, which will cause stress and worry for many.

“Farmers and farm organisations have highlighted that a delay to payments will cause havoc over the coming months, as bills and repayments are due. This is on the back of a very difficult financial year for Farmers as prices across the board have risen sharply.

“On raising this with the Minister, he has insisted that because this is the first year of the new CAP and new IT systems are in place, payment delays cannot be helped.

“The Minister said the Department has done everything they can around payment dates, but this is simply not good enough. I understand it is challenging, but the Department must ensure that Farmers receive their payments on time.

Sinn Fein have written to Minister McConalogue again this week, to reinforce how serious this matter is for farmers and to urge him to take action to avoid delays."