€80m in EU money given to local farmers

More than 80 million euro was given in EU single farm payments to farms in Kilkenny and Carlow last year.

The figures, which were published on the Department of Agriculture’s website, also show that a farm in Piltown received the second highest amount in the country at €316,000.

Farm organisations have criticised the decision to publish names of farmers and details of their payments – claiming it’s breaching their privacy and leaving them vulnerable to burglaries.

However, the Department says it has no choice in the matter as it’s part of EU regulations.

County Kilkenny farms benefited from the fourth highest overall amount at €52.8m while Carlow is 7th from last on €27.4m.