229. Deputy Dan Neville asked the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the status of a payment to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick under the young farmers dairy aid scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4116/16]

In early December I announced details of a direct aid package of €26.4m for the dairy sector. This support payment originates from a package of measures proposed by the EU Commission in response to the significant price deterioration experienced by primary dairy farmers in 2015. A flat rate payment of €1,395 has been paid to the c.18,000 dairy farmers in the country, and an additional top-up will be paid to those recipients who are successful applicants under the Young Farmer Scheme.

The person named received the flat rate dairy payment of €1,395 on 22 Dec 2015. If he is a successful applicant under the Young Farmer Scheme he will receive the additional top up in mid-March 2016 when that scheme has been finalised.