evidence: MORE than 38,000 farmers and rural projects across Northern Ireland shared nearly £350million of European Union (EU) funding in a single year, according to the latest breakdown of figures. [...] CAP funding is likely to be at the centre of debate in Northern Ireland ahead of the UK referendum on EU membership on June 23rd as over 70% of all European money coming into Northern Ireland typically goes to the Department of Agricultural and Rural Development (DARD). The department has also confirmed that in the last 10 years (2005-2014) CAP Single Farm Payment alone – which is the main agricultural subsidy scheme for farmers and one of the CAP funding schemes - totalled £2.5billion in Northern Ireland. Direct EU payments to farmers represent 87% of annual farm income.