Coveney welcomes record uptake by farmers availing of online facility

MINISTER for Agriculture Simon Coveney has welcomed the fact that a record number of farmers had availed of iNet, his department’s online application facility, to lodge their 2011 Single Payment Scheme applications.

The 54,000 forms lodged online represent an increase of 25% over 2010 and an increase of over 600% since iNet was introduced in 2007, when just 7,500 applications were lodged online.

“I am delighted to see the figures for 2011 iNet” the minister said, “and am very encouraged by the continued increase in its usage, year on year. All concerned, farmers, their agents and my department, continue to gain from the benefits that the system offers and I would again strongly urge anyone who hasn’t yet decided to use the system to at least consider doing so in the future.”