A total of 71 applications for funding under the young farmers’ scheme and regional reserve have been rejected by DARD because the evidence to support ‘‘head of holding’’ status did not come from a qualified, independent accountant.

In answers to questions submitted by north Antrim MLA Robin Swann, Agriculture Minister Michelle O’Neill said that the requirement to have independent verification by an accountant was in line with the requirements adopted for similar schemes by other paying agencies in Britain and the Republic of Ireland.

Member

For an application to be accepted by DARD, the accountant should have been a member of organisations such as the Consultative Committee of Accountancy Bodies (CCAB), The Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (CIMA) or the Association of Accounting Technicians (AAT). Also eligible are members of The Chartered Institute of Taxation (CIOT) and The International Federation of Accountants (IFAC).

“Any applicants who have had their applications refused, because their accountant is not a member of one of the acceptable accountancy bodies, can ask their accountant to provide them with details of the body they are members of, or affiliated to, and the applicant can forward these to the Department for consideration,” said the minister.