Page 110 of the programme for Government refers to farm gate investment. The Taoiseach and the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine are well aware that in excess of 70 questions have been asked in this House on the targeted agricultural modernisation scheme, TAMS, programme, and the failure to pay farmers who have been approved. The excuse is that the computer system is not working. When will a commitment be made on a payment date for the farmers involved, many of whom have been offered loans from the banks, which completely defeats the purpose of the scheme?

I do not know anything about the failure of a computer system in that regard but over the years the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, and the Minister, have been very diligent in attempting to have farmers paid promptly. In some cases farmers are paid a portion of the money to which they are entitled in advance. I will follow up on the point Deputy Breathnach raised but he can take it that the Minister is anxious that farmers are paid on time.

I call Deputy Aindrias Moynihan on the same matter.

Does the matter relate to promised legislation?

Some farmers who have expended cash and done the work as recently as last January, who appeared to have approvals, have not been able to collect them. The Minister said the payments would be made in June and July. Up to 4,000 farmers are affected. When farmers try to access the website, they find it is not active and the option of drawing down the payment is not available to them.

Deputy Moynihan's point is made.

In the meantime they are borrowing money to carry out work and making repayments on it.

A parliamentary question or Topical Issue would appear to be the best option in terms of getting a response.

I will ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine to note the points made by the Deputies. I am sure there is a reason the payments have not been issued. I will have the point the Deputy raised cleared up.