The start of the 70% advance of the Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) will benefit 11,548 farmers in Cork Fine Gael Senator Jerry Buttimer has said.

Over €700 million to 111,000 farmers will now be sent out to farmers across the country.

Senator Jerry Buttimer said: “This advance payment is a welcome for farmers here in Cork and the payments should start hitting bank account in the coming days.

“My Fine Gael colleague Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed also confirmed to me that the level of the advance payment is set at 70% for this year rather than 50% as provided for in the EU legislation.

“These payments will benefit 11,548 farmers here in Cork and will have positive knock on effects to our rural communities as a whole.

“The remaining 30% and other BPS-related payments such as Young Farmer Scheme and National Reserve top-ups will be paid in December.

“The Agriculture and Food sector is a strategic priority for Fine Gael. We recognise that farm families are the heartbeat of the rural economy and our vision for the sector will inspire the next generation to continue the tradition of family farming,” Jerry Buttimer said

Minister for Agriculture, Michael Creed added that “the advance BPS payment and the ANC payments taken together mean that over €880 million has now issued to Irish farmers in the last month. These payments provide a significant financial boost for individual farmers and the wider rural economy.

“I was delighted to secure an increase in the ANC scheme allocation for 2018. This €25 million increase will provide direct financial support to farmers in the most marginal areas of the Country.”