Dozens of staff whodole out EU farm cash are based here

“The number of permanent administrative staff employed to process Single Farm Payment (SFP) applications as of April 2010 and April 2012 were 66 and 76 respectively,” Farms Minister Michelle O’Neill said.

They were all located at Orchard House.

“The above figures include those staff directly responsible for the processing of approximately 37,800 Single Application Forms (SAF) including the acknowledgement of these forms, transferring claim information from application forms to the Department’s databases, carrying out administrative checks on all claims, resolving queries by telephone or letter, applying inspection findings to claims, applying adjustments and reductions and authorising payments,” she stated.

Small numbers of staff are brought in on casual basis during the spring and summer.