Sheep farmers not under investigation for over-claiming ewe premiums will be paid £28.5 million in EU premiums by mid-July, the Minister for Agriculture, Mr Walsh, said yesterday.
The Minister said alternative arrangements had been necessary this year due to the foot-and-mouth crisis and the discrepancies found on the Cooley peninsula.
During the cull carried out on the Cooley peninsula, Department officials found that more than 6,600 ewe premiums had been over-claimed and in 17 cases, farmers were claiming for non-existent sheep.
Mr Walsh said his Department was continuing to make progress on checking applications under the 2001 Ewe Premium Scheme.
The Department has still not lifted the controls on movement of sheep and for the first time since the EU premium was introduced, the Department will be able to fully reconcile ewe numbers with claims made by farmers.
Sources indicated last night that discrepancies have been turning up in Cos Kerry, Carlow, Donegal, Mayo and Waterford.