Firm paid €4.2m for SFP scheme work

A company which helps run the €1.234bn per year single farm payment scheme has earned more than €4.2m in payments for services to the Department of Agriculture over the past four years.

In 2008, Accenture was paid €385,604 for Single Payment System development and maintenance. This increased to €1,821,643 in 2009, and €1,639,708 in 2010. The payment to Accenture was €365,195 in 2011.

Technology consultants Accenture have helped the department since 2003 to develop the internet-based mapping system used to process EU funding entitlements to Irish farmers.