Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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6. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine when the digitisation of all maps will be completed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48389/14]

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Over the past few weeks, it has come to my attention that there are many farmers who have not received their direct aid scheme payments. There seems to be a problem with the digitisation of the maps. Could the Minister inform us when this will be finished and how soon the farmers will be able to get their money? If the digitisation is not done, they obviously cannot get their money.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I can confirm that there is currently no delay with the digitising of maps. The majority of farmers, 98%, have been paid. Each year, my Department receives over 130,000 applications from farmers under the direct aid schemes, which are funded or partially funded by the European Union. The schemes involved include the single payment scheme, the disadvantaged areas scheme, REPS and AEOS. Under EU regulations, all applications must be subjected to robust administrative checks prior to payment. The main element of the administrative check is an area assessment. This is achieved by using the detailed database of individual land parcels. This is known as the land parcel identification system, LPIS, which currently records electronically some 1 million individual land parcels and which is required to be kept fully updated. This is done by the Commission because it audits us in this regard.

The Department’s systems in this critical area must meet demanding EU and national audit requirements. In 2014, my Department has received approximately 122,000 applications under the single payment scheme from applicants who hold entitlements or have applied for the transfer of entitlements under the scheme. Only valid applications under the single payment scheme that fully comply with the requirements of the EU legislation are paid. Consequently, all applications under the scheme are subject to administrative checks.

Cases that do not pass the validation process go into error and cannot be paid pending a resolution of the error concerned. These errors include over-claims, dual claims and incomplete application forms. My Department enters into correspondence, mainly through the issuing of inquiry letters to farmers, to resolve these error cases. This year, 26,850 farmers submitted maps for updating of the LPIS. There is no delay in the digitising of these maps, except where queries have arisen over the outcome of the digitisation process and are the subject of correspondence with the farmers concerned. In virtually all cases, digitisation of areas is required in advance of applications being fully processed for payment. I can assure the Deputy that there is no delay in the digitisation of the results of inspection cases and that the vast majority of inspection cases have been processed to finality and are paid.

To date, a total of 119,539 applicants, accounting for over 98% of all applicants with entitlements under the single payment scheme, have been paid a total of €1.142 billion between advance and balancing payments. The processing of the remaining unclear cases remains a priority, with twice-weekly payment runs being made to pay on applications that have been cleared for payment.

In other words we are working as fast as we can. The vast majority with which there were no problems have been done. The only cases that have not been paid are those with outstanding queries which we are trying to clarify. We are making payments twice a week to try to get through that list.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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My understanding from a company in Dundalk which was digitising the maps and from farmers who have been checking it, is that they were told there was a delay whereas the Minister is saying there is not a delay. It is good to know that there is not a delay on the digitising of the maps. Obviously, what the Minister is saying is that other problems are holding up payment.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Some of them require inspections to back up the maps.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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I know that takes time. What I am dealing with specifically is the maps. My understanding is that when farmers telephoned asking about their payments they were told the maps were gone for digitisation and were not back and there appeared to be a delay.

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I can understand why that would be the perception because there were significant delays in digitisation a couple of years ago relating to the agri-environment options scheme. There has also been concern for a number of farmers in regard to the LPIS review and the accuracy of maps and so on. The mapping and digitisation and the change of system that has been in place for a year has caused many concerns and in the past caused many delays for AEOS which was very frustrating in the Department in terms of trying to overcome those delays. I do not think that is the problem now. If it is, I will look into it and we will fix it, but my understanding is that digitisation of maps is not the reason for the delay at the moment but I will certainly check it out.

Michael Fitzmaurice (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Will the Minister please look into it?

Simon Coveney (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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I will, of course. I will come back to the Deputy if there is a problem.