The Department of Agriculture has declined to provide any information on alleged irregularities in the transfer of entitlements to the benefit of one of its staff.

Co Wicklow farmer Paul Delamere told the Irish Farmers Journal last week that a Department official allegedly appropriated his payment entitlements by signing his name on official documents in 2010 and 2011.

Despite a complaint to the gardaí and intervention by an IFA county chair and head office with the Department at the highest level in the following years, Delamere said the issue was still not resolved.

The Irish Farmers Journal put detailed questions to the Department, including why no action had been taken in response to the serious allegations, who had claimed the disputed entitlements in the intervening years and whether the official was still employed by the Department.

“The Department is not in a position to comment on individual cases,” a spokesperson replied in a one-line statement.