DEAR SIR:

It is with some amusement and more frustration I see press releases from Minister Creed and his department urging applicants for TAMS II to submit their payment claim forms. I have undertaken works under the young farmer capital investment section. My claim form and numerous certs were submitted in April and cleared all hurdles by early July. Since then, it can apparently proceed no further as the software is not in place to progress the application. The local department people have been helpful and apologetic but can do no more and cannot even do a farm visit to check the work is completed as there is no facility for them to record this. I am owed €80,000 from the grant and have plenty of bills to pay. So I call on the minister to stop paying lip service to how he is encouraging younger people into farming and get his department to pay out what is due and well overdue at this stage.