Publication of CAP Beneficiaries Data - Background
The EU Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) was initially established to guarantee secure supplies of food for Europe's citizens but is now a multi-faceted policy whose primary objectives are market-oriented sustainable food production, supporting the incomes of farmers, preservation of the environment and rural development.
In Ireland the agri-food industry is our largest indigenous industry, having a turnover of €22bn in 2009. The wider sector, including primary production, accounts for 7.4% of employment, 9% of exports and 6.3% of Gross Value Added. The CAP supports the development of the sector through a combination of direct payments to farmers, financial assistance towards investments in rural development and environmental protection and market support measures.
Council Regulation 1290/2005 requires the Department to publish, on its website, certain details on beneficiaries of schemes funded or co-funded by the European Agricultural Guarantee Fund (EAGF) or the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). These schemes are crucial elements of EU and national policy aimed at sustaining and developing this vital national industry and reinforcing the critical role of the farming community as custodians of our rural environment. Following a European Court of Justice judgement in 2010 only data relating to beneficiaries who are legal persons are being published.
Disclaimer
This information is published exclusively for the purpose of complying with the terms of EU legislation and is not intended for direct marketing or any other use. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of data and the legal status of payees named in this publication. If beneficiaries have any questions or concerns about the accuracy of their data or legal status they should write to: Payments Section, Accounts Division, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, Government Buildings, Farnham Street, Cavan.
