Approximately 5,000 farmers have not received their first payment under the single farm payment scheme for 2018. This has been an extremely difficult year for farmers’ incomes, with falling prices and weather conditions. I ask that extra resources be put in place to ensure that those 5,000 farmers will be paid before the Christmas recess.

I thank the Deputy for his question.

I will mention that to the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. We obviously want to ensure that people are paid what they are owed as quickly as possible and that farmers receive their payments well before Christmas.