Payments made to farmers under the Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) have often been credited with keeping rural Ireland alive, but they are also boosting areas outside the State.
Details of payments paid through the Department of Agriculture show that 15 people outside Ireland received payments under the CAP programme, totalling €93,252.26, in the period October 16th, 2013 to October 15th, 2014.
Furthermore, 289 people in Northern Ireland received payments of more than €2.5 million in the same period.
Under the regulations, direct payments under support schemes can only be made to applicants whose land is situated in the member state where the application is made. However, there is no stipulation regarding the postal address of the farmer.
Farmers receive payments in return for looking after farm land and meeting environmental, animal welfare and food safety standards.
The figures have come to light following the obligation on all EU member states to publish details of CAP beneficiaries by May 31st. The details are published on the Department of Agriculture's website.
The most far-flung recipient was James Buckley, with an address in the US. He received €10,765.34 under the single farm payment scheme and an environmental scheme.
Highest payment
The highest payment to someone outside the island of Ireland was to a
Seamus Fitzpatrick
, with an address in the UK. He received €15,114.80, mostly in the form of a single farm payment and an environmental scheme payment. The second highest payment to an applicant outside Ireland was made to a
Francis Molloy
, also in the UK, and totalled €13,281.26.
Of the 289 farmers with addresses in Northern Ireland, the highest payment, more than €56,000, went to a Hilary Patterson in Co Tyrone.
Applicants with addresses in the Republic have claimed payments abroad. The UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs website shows that payments of £27,358.63 (€37,606.42) were made to farmers with addresses in this State.
The payments were all made through the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development in Northern Ireland.
