As the Taoiseach is well aware, farming at any time is a precarious way to make a living. Unfortunately this year a number of unforeseen circumstances have resulted in farmers suffering extreme difficulties. The price of cattle is on the floor and they are having a really tough time. Although I am only one Deputy in Kerry, yesterday I came across five farmers whose areas of natural constraint, ANC, payments were held up. These are people who diligently do their paperwork and do everything right. I am not criticising the excellent people working in the Department who are doing their best. I ask the Taoiseach to ensure they have the additional resources required to ensure that farmers awaiting payments will get them without undue delay.

The Minister has secured agreement to advance 85% of the payments for the basic payment scheme, BPS, which is due to commence on 16 October. I believe more than 90% of the ANC payments have been made; there may be some technical delays. The green low-carbon agri-environment scheme, GLAS, is the next one due for payment with which there have been problems. In the past two years considerable work has been done to deal with some of the technical issues more efficiently. The feedback at the National Ploughing Championships was that farmers were fairly satisfied that if they had a concern, it was being answered as quickly as possible.