Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill has urged farmers claiming Single Farm Payment to ensure that they have provided bank account details to her Department to enable payment.
In 2014, over 700 farm businesses do not have valid bank account details registered with DARD. This information is critical to the payment of SFP and all other subsidies. At present, over 300 of these businesses have valid, error-free SFP claims but have not provided bank account details.
Highlighting the importance of this information, the Minister said: “I urge farmers claiming SFP to ensure that they have provided bank account details to DARD. Over the coming weeks, my Department will be writing to hundreds of farmers who have not provided bank account details. Farmers receiving these letters must complete the enclosed form to ensure their 2014 payment can be made.”
Under European Commission rules, the Department is only permitted to make subsidy payments electronically through the Bankers Automated Clearing System (BACS).
The Minister added: “BACS is a quick and secure method of making payments and farmers can have confidence in the system.”
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