AGRICULTURE Minister Michelle O’Neill today announced that a record number of farmers had used the Department’s Single application online service in 2012.
Each year the Department attracts around 38,000 Single Applications from farmers and although the majority of these are submitted on paper, an ever increasing number are now turning to the online application channel.
The Minister said: “I am encouraged that more and more farmers are using my Department’s Single Application online service in favour of the paper application. The fact that over 8,000 farmers have chosen to use it is clear evidence that this particular service is increasingly popular.
“The fast, efficient and easy to use Single Application online service is designed to reduce the likelihood of farmers submitting their claims with basics errors. This enables my Department to process claims more quickly and increases the likelihood of the payment being included in the first batch processed.”
In 2005, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development first launched its Single Application online service attracting just 93 applications in its first year. Since then, the Department has worked closely with users of the service to introduce a range of new features making it easier to use and more attractive to farmers who continue to submit paper applications.
Commending the service to all farmers, the Minister was quick to acknowledge the support of users in helping to improve and refine the Single Application online service. She said: “My Department continues to develop close working relationship with farmers’ agents who, as key users of the online service, are providing very valuable feedback to help improve the facility and so attract more to use it.”
If you would like to find out more about the service, why not contact the Department’s Online Services team in the first instance on 0300 200 7843 or go to http://www.dardni.gov.uk/onlineservices
