The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Simon Coveney TD, today urged farmers or their approved agents to use the Department's on-line facility, iNET, for the submission of their 2011 single payment applications.

Minister Coveney said that "in 2010, almost 45,000 applications were lodged through iNET, both by individual farmers or approved agents working on their behalf. There are many benefits to the system, particularly in terms of the built-in validations, which prevent applicants from making certain errors, and I would strongly encourage those farmers and agents who have not yet signed up to iNET to do so and use this option for 2011."

The system includes a facility to view maps. On-line applications will be acknowledged by the Department immediately as they are lodged. The Minister said that "a significant new development this year is the facility to submit maps via iNET, adding further to the benefits and attractiveness of the system. Analysis of the issues which delay processing of applications show a very high percentage are delayed because of basic errors or omissions on the part of the applicant. I believe strongly that the on-line application facility is better for farmers, provides greater accuracy and is more cost-efficient all round."

The Minister reminded farmers that, in addition to the Single Payment Scheme itself, the SPS application is also the means of application for a number of land-based schemes e.g. the Disadvantaged Areas Scheme and the Grassland Sheep Scheme. 

The Minister emphasised that the closing date for receipt of applications under the 2011 Schemes is 16 May 2011, regardless of whether applications are submitted on-line or the traditional paper application. "As this is the latest date allowable under EU rules, there is absolutely no prospect of extending it" the Minister confirmed, urging all applicants to ensure that they lodge their forms on or before this date. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Note for Editors

Anyone interested in learning more about the system should log onto www.agfood.ie or telephone the dedicated helpdesk at 1890 252 118.  Dedicated Lo-Call numbers are available to assist in relation to any issues concerning the 2011 Schemes:

Section

Counties

Telephone Number

Single Payment (1)

Cork, Offaly, Waterford and Westmeath

1890 252 236

Single Payment (2)

Clare, Kildare, Limerick, Wexford and Roscommon

1890 252 235

Single Payment (3)

Longford and Wicklow

1890 252 242

Single Payment (4)

Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Cavan, Leitrim, Louth and Sligo

1890 252 243

Single Payment (5)

Tipperary

1890 252 598

Single Payment (6)

Galway, Kerry, Mayo and Meath,

1890 200 502

Queries regarding online Registration

All counties

1890 252 118

agfood.ie Helpdesk

Helpline for applicants/Agents who are submitting their application online

All counties

The Lo-call number above for the relevant county.

Disadvantaged Areas Scheme

All counties

1890 200 114

Transfer of Entitlements

All counties

1890 200 560

Inheritance Enquiry Unit

All counties

1890 200 560

Consolidation of Entitlements

All counties

1890 252 241

National Reserve

All counties

1890 252 051

REPS Derogation

All counties

053–9163400

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date Released: 30 March 2011

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