Farmers are finding it "next to impossible" to comply with the complexity of forms they have to fill out, one of their representative organisations claimed yesterday.
The ICMSA's farm services and environment committee chairman, Mr John O'Connor, described the extent of paperwork to be completed as "a red-tape nightmare". He said some of the £4 billion funding available for farm schemes was not being taken up as a result.
"Farmers are overburdened by excessive administrative systems. A more rational, commonsense approach by the Department of Agriculture, Food and Development in the implementation of the schemes would ensure a rapid uptake of the schemes," he said.