Farmers urged to submit Single Payment Scheme applications on time
There is a 25-day period after May 17 during which late applications may be submitted, but those received in this period will be subject to late penalties, at a cumulative rate of 1% per working day.
Applications received after Friday, June 11, will be subject to 100% penalty, in accordance with the governing EU regulations.
Agriculture Minister Brendan Smith said it is clearly in the interest of all applicants to avoid such penalties and for that reason he urged everyone concerned to ensure they get their applications in to his department on time.
He also reminded those farmers who are availing of the services of an agent for the completion and submission of their application to ensure the form has actually been submitted. This is particularly relevant where an agent has been engaged to submit the form using iNet, the department’s online application facility.
“Experience has shown that some farmers have made the mistake of believing that, simply by engaging an agent to do this work, the form has actually been submitted.”
Mr Smith also advised those farmers who use iNet themselves not to make the mistake of saving a draft of the form and then failing to submit it.
“It is essential to be very prudent in this regard,” he said, stressing that ultimately it was the responsibility of individual farmers to ensure their applications were submitted on time.
Mr Smith again urged farmers to ensure that they check the maps, which had been posted to them in recent weeks. He also said it is possible for farmers who have submitted their application forms by May 17 to submit an amendment form by May 31.
IFA deputy president Eddie Downey has, meanwhile, urged the Department of Agriculture to keep their local offices open until midnight on Monday to ensure all applications are received.
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