The public will soon be able to access full information on monies paid to farmers and others under the various EU schemes.
Currently, this information can sometimes be acquired through the Freedom of Information route but those who do not want their names and the amount they receive published have an appeals procedure which can prevent disclosure.
Four of the top earning Irish recipients have been able to prevent disclosure of this information but this will now end with recent agreement in Brussels on the financial rules of the union.
A final agreement was reached to reform the management of the EU budget and to simplify access to EU funding at the end of last month. It will be phased in from next May. The European Parliament said this would boost the delivery of the EU programmes under the 2007-2013 financial framework.
Dalia Grybauskaitë, commissioner for budget and financial programming, said EU funds would now be easier to access, particularly for small beneficiaries, and at the same time be more transparent and better accounted for.
The names of beneficiaries of agricultural and structural funds would have to be disclosed to public opinion, thus ensuring transparency in the use of taxpayers' money. It is expected this will be in force here in two years.
The commission also said it would have a new tool to prevent fraud and corruption with the setting up of a central database of organisations excluded from EU funding. Ms Grybauskaitë said national authorities had committed themselves to put in place efficient internal control systems and make necessary checks on EU funds under their management.