DAERA excels on Advance Direct Payments

The Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) today announced that 97% of farm businesses in Northern Ireland have been paid an Advance Direct Payment. The payments were made to 23,278 farm businesses totalling £190million, and represent an increase on 2017 payments.

For the third consecutive year record numbers of farm businesses will receive Advance Direct Payments representing 70% of their claim value. Over 67% of farm businesses subject to land inspections are included in these numbers. This year’s record achievement, which exceeds last year’s record of 94%, is a further endorsement of DAERA’s transition to online services, with 100% of Single Applications submitted online in 2018.

Advance Direct Payments could only be made on fully verified claims and the Department successfully obtained permission from the European Commission to make Advance Direct Payments at 70% of claim value rather than 50%. Northern Ireland remains the only region of the United Kingdom to issue Advance Direct Payments.

Balance payments, or full payments for those unable to receive an advance payment, will be made from 3 December 2018.

Notes to editors: 

1. The exchange rate for 2018 is €1 = £0.89281.
2. Direct Payments in the UK are paid in sterling except where the farmer elects for payment in Euro by the deadline for submission of Single Applications.
3. Payments will be made in the chosen currency by electronic transfer into the farm business bank account.
4. Advance Direct Payments totalling £182.7million were made to 22,493 farm businesses in November 2017.  
5. Follow DAERA on Twitter and Facebook. 
6. All media queries should be directed to the DAERA Press Office on 028 9052 4619 or via email. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer on 028 9037 8110.

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