It is welcome that 75% of the fodder aid put in place last spring, which was a very difficult one for farmers, has been approved. This is welcome because many of the co-operatives and marts were waiting for it and in dire straits. Is it possible to have a county by county breakdown of the disadvantaged area payments? We are receiving many calls from farmers who have not received their payments. The money was due the week of the national ploughing championships which were held a couple of weeks ago. Many farmers are still waiting and we are receiving figures suggesting the payout rate is very low. May we have a breakdown of the payouts? If farmers do not receive the disadvantaged area payment, they are not entitled to receive the single farm payment which is due to be paid on 16 October. It is very important that we have the disadvantaged area payment backlog sorted such that the single farm payment can flow after it.

I agree with Senator Michael Comiskey. The full disadvantaged area payment was made to a percentage of farmers about ten days or two weeks ago. I have been following this up with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine and understand a second run of disadvantaged area payments will be issued by the Department this Friday. Therefore, farmers can expect their payments in the early part of next week. However, I urge the Minister to fast-track payments to farmers in the light of the difficulties they are experiencing and to ensure adequate provision will be made in the budget. There is talk of a €54 million cut to the agriculture budget next week as part of the overall budgetary process. That would be devastating for farmers. If that cut is to be made, the Minister must consider making it in the area of administration or other elements of the budget. It should not affect farmers' incomes. There is a genuine need for a ewe premium scheme to be boosted and for a cow suckler welfare scheme.

I agree with Senator Marc MacSharry on the diabolical circumstances that are, unfortunately, affecting medical card holders and those applying for medical cards. Some 1,100 people per month are losing theirs. This is affecting those who really need them. I am not sure whether this is a move by the Minister for Health to reduce expenditure ahead of the budget or whether it is a move by the HSE, but it is having a drastic effect on those on low incomes and needs to be addressed urgently. We should debate the issue of medical cards, their processing and the difficulties being experienced by people between the ages of 18 and 25 years as a result of their social income being too low to qualify for a medical card. The latter problem is an anomaly in the system.