Irish farmers have been reassured that state ministers are continuing to lobby European officials for an advance payment of the 2008 Single Payment.

Junior Agriculture Minister Tony Killeen said: "My colleague, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Brendan Smith, has already formally applied for an advance payment to over 123,000 Irish farmers in 2008.

"This week he pressed the case of an advance payment when he met the EU Agriculture Commissioner, Mariann Fischer Boel at a Council of EU Agriculture Ministers meeting in Annecy, France," he explained.

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"Minister Smith has said he is optimistic that his application for an advance payment will be presented at a meeting of the EU Management Committee on Direct Payments this week and receive formal approval shortly thereafter," said Minister Killeen.

Minister Smith's approach to the Agriculture Commissioner to advance 50% of the payment was prompted by the very wet summer, which seriously affected farming in Ireland.

"If Minister Smith's application is approved, the Department will commence payment of 50 per cent of the 2008 Single Payment Scheme in all cleared cases with effect from 16 October, with the balancing payments being made from 1st December," added Mr Killeen.

(PR/JM)