Danny Healy-Rae demands payments for 9,000 farmers waiting two years
Danny Healy-Rae told the Taoiseach that over 9,000 farmers are waiting for their acres payments, many for more than two years, and said they are financially strapped. He described the payments system as "broken down" and called for it to be scrapped or for at least 70-80% of owed funds to be paid to keep farmers afloat.
He cited a Farmers Journal figure of 9,300 farmers still awaiting payments and said many constituents have not been paid after prolonged waits of up to two years.
He warned farmers are financially strapped, have bills to pay, and after an "awful hard winter and a long spring" many will go under if payments are not made promptly.
He said the current system is broken down and "must be scrapped," urging interim payments of 70 or 80% of what farmers are owed to prevent businesses from collapsing.
The Taoiseach responded that numbers had been reduced but about 9,000 remain waiting. He noted the scheme expanded, that the Minister had made advance payments (some exceeding entitlements), and said he would speak to the Minister of Agriculture to see what could be expedited to conclude the outstanding payments.
Payment delays
He cited a Farmers Journal figure of 9,300 farmers still awaiting payments and said many constituents have not been paid after prolonged waits of up to two years.
Financial strain on farmers
He warned farmers are financially strapped, have bills to pay, and after an "awful hard winter and a long spring" many will go under if payments are not made promptly.
Demand to scrap the system
He said the current system is broken down and "must be scrapped," urging interim payments of 70 or 80% of what farmers are owed to prevent businesses from collapsing.
Government response and next steps
The Taoiseach responded that numbers had been reduced but about 9,000 remain waiting. He noted the scheme expanded, that the Minister had made advance payments (some exceeding entitlements), and said he would speak to the Minister of Agriculture to see what could be expedited to conclude the outstanding payments.
We publish thousands of recordings to make Irish politics transparent and resistant to manipulation. Spotted an error? Report it — together we are building a reliable archive of Irish politics.
Other speeches
Tego samego dnia All speeches from this day →
Rose Conway-Walsh
Rose Conway-Walsh Challenges Garda Handling of Mother's Day Protest
Sharon Keogan
Sharon Keogan: US tariffs an 'existential' threat to Ireland
Michael Collins
Michael Collins demands debate on delayed farmers' payments
Brian Stanley
Brian Stanley: Questions delay in free HRT rollout after budget pledge
Richard Boyd Barrett
Richard Boyd Barrett warns of ambulance staffing crisis
Paul Murphy
Paul Murphy: Primary schools at risk as funding crisis deepens
Transcript
Taoiseach, there are over 9,000 farmers waiting for their acres payments, many of them for over two years. Many of these farmers are financially strapped at this time. No other group or individuals would wait that long for their money. These people have bills to pay too. What we've been told is that the system is broken down. If we had an old tractor that the lorry broke down for two years, it would be well-timed to call Hammond Lane or cot metal to take it away and scrap it. This system that they have must be scrapped and at least pay 70 or 80% of what these farmers are owed. See, will they keep them going? They will go under. They're after an awful hard winter and a long spring and they're struggling for money. And tis theirs, they're entitled to get it Taoiseach. And I can't understand that after two years that this isn't fine-tuned, I'll see why many of these farmers are still without being paid. 9,300 we see in the Farmers Journal this week. And many of them are coming to us. Deputy, your time is up. Thank you. Deputy, thank you for raising the issue. My understanding was that numbers had been reduced, but 9,000 still waiting. It's too many, although what happened was the scheme expanded to accommodate everybody. Then when the Minister paid out what you suggested, he did make advance payments. Some of them were over what people might have been entitled to, and then people were concerned about having to make payments back. But in any event, I'll talk to the Minister of Agriculture in respect of what we can expedite this and get this concluded.