No one to hear calls

THE plight of a farmer who telephoned the Department of Agriculture’s Single Payment helpline 30 times in one day, but failed to make contact with anyone, has been raised by Fine Gael Agriculture and Food Spokesperson, Denis Naughten, TD.

He said he has received numerous complaints from farmers who cannot get through to the Single Payment unit or, if they do get through to the helpline, can only have their query recorded, and are not actually assisted with answers to their questions.

He called on Minister Mary Coughlan to immediately allocate staff in each District Livestock Office to deal specifically with queries associated with the Single Payment forms.